Irish Americans are Americans who trace their roots from Ireland. More than 30 million Americans, representing about 10% of the total Americans, are Irish population according to the 2019 American Community Survey done by the United States Census Bureau (Lee & Casey, 2007). B etween the 17th to mid-19th centuries, Irish immigrants started traveling to America, and most of them came from the Irish province of Ulster. Others came from other provinces, such as Connacht, Munster, and Leinster. Between 1845 and 1855, more than 2 million adults and children left Ireland seeking greener pastures in America (Lee & Casey, 2007). The majority of the refugees were impoverished, and others were suffering from various diseases and starvation. Irish Immigrants left their country due to famine that killed approximately 1.5 million individuals within three years, which led to great bitterness and anger at the British masters for offering minimal aid to their Irish subjects (Lee & Casey, 2007). The immigrants who arrived at the American soil settled in New York, Boston, and other towns where they lived in challenging conditions. Most Irish immigrants managed to survive, but their offspring became part of American, bringing a unique and diverse culture.
Causes of Irish Immigration
The leading cause of Irish migration to America was due to poverty and starvation in Ireland. Gustave de Beaumont, a Frenchman who visited the nation in the 1800s, wrote about the country's experience. He argued that the conditions of the Irish were like those of Indians and Negro in the chain. He found many beggars across the nation. The housing conditions were also terrible (Workman, 2019). According to a census report in the 1840s, more than half of the Irish population, especially those in rural areas, had no windows, lived in mud cabins, and no furniture other than the stool and pigs were sleeping with people in the same house; manures were found in the doors (Workman, 2019). There were also numerous early marriages with no money and possessions to raise a family. The couple could only build a mud hut and move in together without any means to survive.
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The primary cause of poverty in Ireland was rampant competition for land. The country was not industrialized, and the few industries present were collapsing. Fishing was also minimal, and fishers had no techniques. Additionally, there was no agriculture because vast tracts of land were owned by English protestants who stayed aboard. The majority of these owners only came to check on their land once or twice a year. The properties were managed by middlemen who divided the lands into small proportions to increase the revenue. In the process, the land became small thus, no hired workers were needed. In 1835, more than half of Irish laborers had no employment, and the only way they could survive was to grow potatoes in small pieces of land. Most of the Irish families depended on potatoes as the fundamental source of diet, and 40% of the entire land consisted of potatoes with only a small portion consisting of milk and fish (Lee & Casey, 2007). Inadequate land to grow potatoes made them seek other means of livelihood abroad.
Another cause of Irish migration to America was the blight strike that took place in the 1840s. In summer 1845, potato farming was flourishing and was harvested in October (Lee and Casey, 2007). Within a few days, potatoes started rotting. Scientists started investigated the problem and found out that 50% of the actual potatoes were not fit for human consumption (Lee & Casey, 2007). In 1846, people started to panic, and food supplies began to disappear. People started eating grass, leaves, and barks of trees. The fever from eating the rotten potatoes spread significantly. By 1847, all potatoes were wiped out (Workman, 2019). The shortage of seeds to plant crops was wholly eradicated.
The famine took its toll on many Irish people. According to Workman (2019), about 1.5 million died between 1846 and 1851 due to the potato famine. Many died because of starvation, while others succumbed to diseases due to weak immunity and food loss (Lee & Casey, 2007). By 1847, numerous diseases arose, such as diarrhea, famine fever, and dysentery. Individuals migrated to various towns to beg for food and crowded in workhouses. The beggars were infested with lice, typhus, and releasing fever. No medical attention was available for sick people. In one region, about 50 healthcare providers died due to fever (Workman, 2019). This aspect led to huge emigration to America.
The Course of Irish Migration
The first wave of Irish migrants comprised of Ulster Presbyterians and began in the early 18 th century. Many of them arrived in Boston between 1715 and 1751 (Barrett et al., 2006). Most Ulster immigrants stayed in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston. They faced religious discrimination due to the English Penal Law imposed on Roman Catholics and non-Anglicans. Revs. James McGregor, James Woodside, James McSpartan, and John Moorhead were the leaders that led immigrants to America. Massachusetts Governor Samuel Chute offered the immigrants free land after two Ulster Ministers, Rev. Thomas Craighead and Williams Homes, wrote a letter about Ireland's challenging situation. After the land grant offer, many immigrants traveled continuously for three years.
Consequences of Irish Migration
The Irish immigrants became part of the massive workforce in America. More than 5 million Irish men arrived in the country between 1820 and 1930 (Lynch-Brennan, 2014). These peopled assisted transforms the nation into modern America. Many of them joined construction works to build bridges, highways, railroads, and skyscrapers, which are still in good condition to date. Irish women who had minimal or no skills became servants who did the cooking, cleaning, and babysitting. However, the immigrants were underpaid, mistreated, and abused because history showed that Americans did not welcome new influx and movements (Workman, 2019). They endured the pain until when they were recognized as Americans.
Irish immigrants contributed to the development of workers` unions. Millions of Americans are currently celebrating Labor Day courtesy of significant Irish Americans, such as George Meany, Mary Harris, Terence Vincent Powderly, and Mollie Maguire. These people fought for employees` rights, eradicated child labor, and improved the working environment. Their legacy spread across the country in the 20 th century due to improved trade unions that are still gaining prominence to date.
Historical Evidence of Irish Immigration
The most famous custom that has been brought to the American culture due to the Irish population is the celebration of St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick is a significant figure in Irish history and is honored on March 17 th each year due to his contribution to American history (Miller et al., 2003). Many Americans spend money on cabbage, bacon, beer, and rainbows to celebrate Irish symbols in the American culture. There was a massive spread to Catholicism because of the immigrants who came in the 17 th and 18 th centuries.
Conclusion
Irish immigrants are no doubt part of American history. They brought many things to America and left lasting effects on the economic, political, and social dimensions. They are the reason for diverse nationalities, religious diversity, customs, and celebrations. Personally, I am interested in the research because what we are experiencing today, like Labor Day and St. Patrick's Day celebrations, is due to the Irish population. I thought Irish immigrants were welcomed to the country, but I realized that they received much hostility from the residents, such as being abused and underpaid. To pursue further research on the study, the researcher should focus on Irish immigrants' political consequences. This aspect is because some Irish Americans participated in the Declaration of Independence, meaning that they came and organized themselves effectively until they got an opportunity in the political environment.
References
Barrett, A., Bergin, A., & Duffy, D. (2006). The Labour Market Characteristics and Labour Market Impacts of Immigrants in Ireland. Economic & Social Review , 37 (1). https://www.esr.ie/vol37_1/01_Barrett_article.pdf
Lee, J. J., & Casey, M. (2007). Making the Irish American: History and heritage of the Irish in the United States . NYU Press.
Lynch-Brennan, M. (2014). The Irish Bridget: Irish Immigrant Women in Domestic Service in America, 1840-1930 . Syracuse University Press.
Miller, K. A., Schrier, A., Boling, B. D., & Doyle, D. N. (2003). Irish Immigrants in the Land of Canaan: Letters and Memoirs from Colonial and Revolutionary America, 1675-1815 . Oxford University Press.
Workman, T. L. (2019). Famine and diaspora in the Emerald Isle: An Gorta Móhr: The Irish Potato Famine and its impact on Irish immigration (Doctoral dissertation, Southern New Hampshire University). https://academicarchive.snhu.edu/handle/10474/3571
