The Irish People

The Irish people are an ethnic group from Ireland, an island in Northwestern Europe. They decided to emigrate to the United States for one mayor reason, which was the Great Famine. Potatoes were the main crop grow in Ireland. In 1845, a potato blight which is a potato disease overtook the fields of Ireland.  This disease killed millions of Irish people. Crops stilled contaminated for five years. Many people were dying of starvation. Starving families leave their homeland and emigrate to the U.S with more hope of having a better life and escaping from this disaster. 

Their journey to the U.S was long. The weather conditions and sea sickness made the trip difficult for some people to sail to Canada which their fares were cheaper than those of the U.S. About 3.5 million people had immigrated to the US between 1820 and 1880.  The U.S census in 1850 said that approximately 961,719 people living in the United States were born in Ireland. Many of them lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and New Jersey. 

Life for Irish immigrants was hard, because many of them arrived without resources or capitals. Their problem was the lack of skill. Also, they accepted they were poor. Irish laborers build their own communities. As time past by, some of them became police men or fire men. Others worked  at unskilled or semiskilled occupations such as plumbers, boilermakers and steamfitters. At first, high class society forced the Irish to work for long hours for a minimal pay. Then, they were needed for expansions and constructions of canals, roads, bridges and for working in small industries. When the economy got stronger, the Irish immigrants were finally well welcomed to the Americas. 

A traditional Irish family

I think immigration is necessary for those people who are looking for a better future. Many people look for a place with better jobs opportunities and a easier way of living. Immigration should not affect no one except if there is an overcrowded population. People deserve to be comfortable with their jobs and enjoy their life! If I would immigrate to the U.S, I think it would be very hard. This is because, your life would be like starting from zero. It would be kind of sad, because you will be obligated to leave you things, your family, and your friends.  But at least, it would be for a good reason.Although, you will get to met new people and have a different and easier life.

Bibliography:Immigration Through Time Article

                                     The Immigrant Experience in Amer