Irish ImmigrantsIrish Immigrants

An 1850 census showed that 961,719 Ireland-born An 1850 census showed that 961,719 Ireland-born people were living in the United States. The people were living in the United States. The numbers of Irish immigrants per year in the United numbers of Irish immigrants per year in the United States are as follow: 92,484 in 1846, 196,224 in States are as follow: 92,484 in 1846, 196,224 in 1847, 173,744 in 1848, 204,771 in 1849, and 206,041 1847, 173,744 in 1848, 204,771 in 1849, and 206,041 in 1850. (From in 1850. (From http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEireland.htm, Irish Immigration) These overwhelming numbers , Irish Immigration) These overwhelming numbers had an enormous effect on American society. Once had an enormous effect on American society. Once the Irish arrived in America, most found jobs as the Irish arrived in America, most found jobs as unskilled workers for the mines, railroads, or unskilled workers for the mines, railroads, or canals.canals.

When the American Civil War broke out, about When the American Civil War broke out, about 210,000 Ireland-born Americans joined the war, 210,000 Ireland-born Americans joined the war, mostly with the Union. Though most Irish-mostly with the Union. Though most Irish-Americans felt the threat of losing their jobs if Americans felt the threat of losing their jobs if slaves were to be freed, the majority supported the slaves were to be freed, the majority supported the Union. Because of the large Irish population in Union. Because of the large Irish population in large cities like New York City, Boston, and large cities like New York City, Boston, and Chicago, Irish-Americans were able to gain political Chicago, Irish-Americans were able to gain political jobs. Between 1820 and 1920, 4,400,000 Irish jobs. Between 1820 and 1920, 4,400,000 Irish people had come to the United States, a number people had come to the United States, a number only surpassed by Germany and Mexico.only surpassed by Germany and Mexico.

Irish Emigrants About to Set Sail for America Irish Emigrants About to Set Sail for America from Liverpool, c. 1847from Liverpool, c. 1847

"The departure of  the Irish from  their stricken land "The departure of  the Irish from  their stricken land was a mass migration on an epic scale, and in the was a mass migration on an epic scale, and in the villages and towns of Ireland a way of life, a villages and towns of Ireland a way of life, a communal culture, and an ancient language  were communal culture, and an ancient language  were wiped out. At the same time, the arrival of the wiped out. At the same time, the arrival of the Famine Irish in America transformed the young Famine Irish in America transformed the young republic so profoundly that the flight of the hungry republic so profoundly that the flight of the hungry from Ireland became a milepost in U.S. history. The from Ireland became a milepost in U.S. history. The Famine Irish immigrants were the original huddled Famine Irish immigrants were the original huddled masses. They came not with dreams and plans, but masses. They came not with dreams and plans, but with the modest goal of staying alive."with the modest goal of staying alive."

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