Irish Immigration to the United States The Irish Famine

Immigration numbers reached their peak in the late 1850’s

European Immigration: 1840-1920 Europeans immigrated to the US in huge waves during these years Old Immigrants: Western Europe 1840-1890 New Immigrants: Eastern Europe 1870-1920

II. Europe unequally affected by migrations Economic migrations which increased with unemployment e.g. Irish emigration after Great Famine

An Emigration of Poverty: Irish Emigration in the 19th Century Ireland: Land of Exodus 1. Product of British colonization Colonized in 17th Century by Great Britain and annexed to United Kingdom in 1800 Irish population majority Catholic Colonizers from England and Scotland predominantly Protestant

2. The Irish: A Tradition of Immigration Middle Ages: religious migrations of monks to evangelize the continent Modern Era migrations for religious and military reasons 18th century for economic reasons Up to 1815, around 11,000 people per year emigrated to Great Britain but also towards America Between 1815 and 1848, 1 million Irish cross the Atlantic and 500,000 leave for Great Britain – Beginning of the “great emigration of paupers”

3. An Emigration of Paupers Irish immigrants of first half of 19th Century : proletariats doing the hardest labor (terracing, drainage, building mining galleries…) (e.g. Erie Canal in Great Lakes region) Vast majority wind up in packed urban ghettos – their arrival is very poorly viewed by the Anglo-Saxon population (in U.S. and U.K.)

B. The Great Irish Exodus (1845-1890) 1. Why does emigration increase? From 1845-1854, around 2.3 M left Ireland, more than 200,000/year for 5 yrs Potato Blight (food staple of Irish population) caused a famine which led to 1 million deaths and incited more than a million Irish to emigrate to the U.S.

Potato Production during the Great Famine 1844-1857

Evictions Multiplied Tenants could no longer pay rents to the landlords who then proceeded to evict tenant families generating numerous departures which remained significant until the 1890’s. Eviction of 300 tenants by Mrs. Gerrard from the village of Ballinglass, Co Galway, on March 13, 1846

The Irish Famine: a national phenomenon but mixed in its regional impact Which regions are most affected?

Immigration to the United States Push and Pull Factors for the Irish Few immigration restrictions Famine Unemployment US industrialized in the late 19th century (= JOBS!!!) Abundant land Religious persecution of the Irish Catholics by the English (Protestants) No social class restrictions Oppressive governments in Europe Write push or pull after each factor

Atlantic Voyage Steerage: cheapest “seats” on a steamship Ellis Island Cramped disgusting quarters 14 day trip Ellis Island Inspection before entry to the US Physical Examination Questions Politics???, Criminals???, Can You Work???, and Do You Have Some Money??? 2% were denied admission 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island 71% of all immigrants 21% of Americans today can trace their ancestors to Ellis Island

How did the United States React? 1. Nativism Favoritism towards native-born Americans Socially acceptable discrimination against non- natives

2. Irish Integration in U.S. society Irish immigrants were the 1st to feel the impact of Nativism They swelled the ranks of urban slums and their social ascension was slow Poorly viewed by Anglo Saxon Protestants who rejected them

The Irish were accused of threatening the basis of the American nation because of their Catholic faith loyalty to the Pope, Political Machines (Democratic Party)

Irish Paupers populated urban slums called tenements where misery, lawlessness and poor hygienic conditions reigned

Dilapidated Golden Flats - Tenement* slum housing *a run-down and often overcrowded apartment house, esp. in a poor section of a large city

Gangs of New York Rioting in New York between “natives” and Irish newcomers

Irish Integration into U.S. Society today Circa 1870 Irish immigrants settled in large Northern cities (New York, Boston, Chicago); obtained social integration thanks to trade union movement and political life (Democratic Party) In 1880, New York elected its first Irish Catholic mayor Some success stories (e.g. Ford) In 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first Catholic President descendant from Irish immigrants, was elected Today 15-20 million Americans have Irish origins