There has been an Irish immigration wave with the Irish migrating to America for many reasons. The first wave of immigration occurred in the year 1970. The arrival of the Scots-Irish noted it. Majorly occurred in North America, describing the people who migrated from Ulster and were the Presbyterians who had roots in Scotland and England instead of Irish Catholics. The Irish people migrated to America between the years 1717 and 1775. They found the land overpopulated by the British colonies. As a result, they occupied the mountainous areas, thus surrounding the colonies (Doyle, 2021); the potato from Ireland to America became the staple crop that enabled the people to grow economically. In this regard, the essay will expound on the consequences of the Irish Emigration to America.
The Irish emigration led to the religious conflicts that emerged in America. Religious conflicts exacerbated the Irish immigrant’s poor living conditions and willingness to work for low wages. Catholics and Protestants migrated to the United States cities, which resulted in attacks that led to vigorous violence (Charting and understanding Irish women’s emigration in the twentieth century, 2018). For instance, in 1831, the Protestants burned the St Mary’s Catholic Church in New York City. In 1844, riots that occurred in Philadelphia led many to death. A large number of people were murdered due to religious conflicts.
The emigration of the Irish led to discrimination in America. In 1840, the anti-immigrants and the anti-catholic sentiment produced groups such as the nativist American Party. The nativist American party fought foreign influences hence promoting the ideals of the traditional American (O’Hanlon, 2017). The party was referred to as “Know-Nothings” because their response to questions about their activities was “I know nothing about it.” In 1854, the American party admitted to helping the natives born in America. Foreigners and Roman Catholics were discriminated against in America.
References
Charting and understanding Irish women’s emigration in the twentieth century. (2018). Moving Histories, 19-45.
Doyle, A. (2021). Irish speakers and their experience of emigration to North America. Roczniki Humanistyczne, 69(11), 63-88.
O’Hanlon, O. (2017). Models for Movers: Irish women’s emigration to America. Irish Studies Review, 25(4), 518-520.