1. IRISH IMMIGRATION AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY (EARLY 1900s)
Between 1820 and million Irish immigrants came to the United States.
In the 1840s Irish immigrants made up ½ of all immigrants to the United States.
In the 1850s they comprised 1/3 of all US immigrants.

2. Reasons for Immigration
Poor economic opportunities in Ireland (most were farmers with little chance to improve their lives)
The great potato famine (1 million Irish citizens died of starvation; another 1.5 million fled to the United States)

3. Living Conditions in the US
Most Irish immigrants spent everything they had to book passage on a ship to the US. They arrived in major urban centers (like New York City) with nothing.
Forced to live in tenement buildings (old, dirty, overcrowded apartments with minimal natural light, poor ventilation and sometimes no running water).
Disease was common
Poverty created additional hardships such as alcoholism. The drunken Irishman was a common stereotype in the 1800s and 1900s.
Most worked as unskilled laborers. Women worked in factories (long hours, dangerous conditions, low pay). Men worked in coal mines and on railroads. They took jobs that no one else wanted.

4. Living Conditions continued
Irish immigrants often turned to crime in order to get money for their families. 55% of those arrested in 1859 in New York City were of Irish descent.

5. Discrimination
The Irish were thought to be stupid, lazy and unclean by many Americans.
They were often refused job opportunities. Signs displaying No Irish Need Apply (NINA) were common.
Persecuted for their religion (Catholicism) because most white Americans at the time were Protestants.
Nativist Party: believed that the Irish would steal the jobs of native-born Americans. They tried to make it more difficult for Irish immigrants to gain citizenship and impossible for them to hold public office. They believed that the presence of Irish immigrants would prevent a skilled, well- educated middle class from forming in the United States.

6. Racial Tension
In the 1800s there was tension between Irish immigrants and African Americans. They had many common factors with their experiences in the United States, but these commonalities did NOT unite them.
Competition for the same low-paying jobs (in the North)
Irish immigrants hired to work dangerous, low-paying jobs in the South because slave owners felt that slaves were too valuable and didn’t want them to die. Built resentment between Irish and African Americans.
The Conscription Act of During the Civil War the North needed additional soldiers to fight. Irish immigrants were forced to join the army. Freed blacks were not required to fight--- volunteer only if they wanted. Immigrants who had enough money could buy their way out of military service (almost none had the money). Created tension between white and black. Race riots in the streets were common.

7. Evolution of Irish Identity
The Irish refused to give up their religion. Because they were white and spoke English when they arrived, they were quickly able to take control of the Catholic church in the US. This helped them to become more powerful and establish permanent residency in the US. They retained their own identity.
Eventually, they got better jobs (police officers, firemen, teachers). Each generation became more successful.
Typically part of the Democratic Party (worked for the good of the common people).
Became a powerful political force in this country. First Catholic president of the US (John F. Kennedy).
Historically considered one of the most successful immigrant groups in this nation’s history

8. Political Cartoons of the Day