Irish Immigration to the US.                                    Visual Presentation.

 

        In 1845, because of overpopulation and unequal distribution of land between catholic irishmen and protestant englishmen, the great hunger struck the people of Ireland. In 1845-48 the main Irish crop, potato, was destroyed three years in a row by the potato blight. Over a million people died of hunger in Ireland. For the region with a total population of six million this was a total disaster.

          Hunger , discrimination and constant humiliation by British at home made many Irishmen leave their home in search of better place to live. Some people went to Canada, New Zealand, Australia and other Briitish colonies of that time. But most of the immigrants went to the United States..

           Most of the new immigrants could only afford the cheapest tickets. Thats why the conditions at the ships that people could afford were terrible. Many people died before the end of the thirty-forty days trip.

During the period between 1840 and 1860 millions of Irishmen left their homes to different countries. Approximately three million came to the United States prior to 1860.

 

        Irishmen had very hard time finding jobs in America. Men had to work at the most dangerous places for the smallest salary.  Women usually worked as servants in the houses of rich people.     

                                  

In 1850s and 1860s, when the period of adaptation to the new country passed and Irish people started feeling that America is now their home, they became more active in different social events and politics. In the northeastern part of the United States some Irishmen even became mayors of large cities. Davy Crocket (on the picture) for instance was one of the first Irishmen to serve in Congress.

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