Introduction
Migration plays a significant role in society, having effects in the past and modern times. In general, people who migrate not only inside their country but also to other nations seek better opportunities. For instance, among the well-known migrations is the 19th-century Irish migration to the United States, with thousands of new residents experiencing challenges in a new country. However, instead of being primarily ignorant and unskilled, Irish immigrants succeeded by creating organizations, supporting a political party, and finally conquering the stigma of hostility.
Causes of Migration
First, it is crucial to see the causes of the event. Thousands of immigrants from Ireland arrived in New York throughout the 19th century (Schlichting, 2018). A “combination of push and pull factors” has always been the primary force behind American immigration (Schlichting, 2018, p.101). Millions of people in Ireland had no option but to emigrate because of the potato famine (Schlichting, 2018).
At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the Irish immigrated to New York and discovered a thriving industry with a need for skilled and unskilled workers (Schlichting, 2018). Despite how difficult living in New York City turned out to be, there was always employment, whether on the docks, as the Irish discovered, or as construction workers and machinists in the city’s earliest industries (Schlichting, 2018). Therefore, the main causes of the Irish migration were unfavorable economic conditions, including famine and poor employment, which they had to seek in another country.
Evolution of Migration
The course of the event was extended since it took time for the Irish to assimilate. Irish immigrants abandoned a rural way of life in a country without advanced industries (Library of Congress, n.d.a). Not ready for the industrialized, metropolitan areas of the U.S., many immigrants discovered many challenges in this situation (Library of Congress, n.d.a). By American standards, these immigrants were penniless even though they were not among the least fortunate people in Ireland. The poorest needed to raise the minimum amount for transit ships to America (Library of Congress, n.d.a).
Besides being exposed to the challenges of urban life, the immigrants were oppressed. Other ethnic groups in the United States occasionally showed animosity toward Irish immigrants, who were additionally suspected of spreading illness and held responsible for the unhygienic circumstances in which many of them resided (Library of Congress, n.d.a). However, forming organizations and building a political presence over time helped the new residents.
Participants of Migration
Tammany Hall politician William “Boss” Tweed was one of the most significant participants in Irish-American society. Irish immigrants were integrated into Tammany Hall by boss William M. Tweed (Ellis, 2018). The judge naturalized a few thousand new residents he appointed prior to the election of 1868 (Ellis, 2018).
Tweed made various gifts to charitable groups, especially religious organizations, and significantly increased the public payroll (Ellis, 2018). However, later, Andrew H. Green was appointed as acting comptroller with complete financial power (Ellis, 2018). As a result, the lives of the Irish improved with more opportunities coming their way, and, despite Tweed being replaced, Irish residents formed their communities and political presence.
Consequences of Migration
There were many immediate and long-term consequences. For many Irish immigrants, the immediate effects of their relocation to the United States were challenging since they experienced prejudice, hardship, and a lack of opportunities. Irish immigrants frequently started their careers at the bottom of the professional ladder and took on the low-paying, hazardous professions that other employees frequently shunned (Library of Congress, n.d.b). While many Irish American men worked in the coal mines and constructed railways and canals, women became domestic helpers or maids (Library of Congress, n.d.b). However, with roles like policeman, firefighter, and teacher that were politically appointed throughout time, many Irish Americans rose the professional and social ladder (Library of Congress, n.d.b).
On average, Irish Americans of the second and third generations had higher levels of education and wealth than their parents. As discussed by Collins and Zimran (2019), compared to their fathers’ beginnings, they dramatically closed the occupational status gap as adults and virtually caught up with sons of Americans whose fathers were in a comparable position in 1850. In this way, economic assimilation is demonstrated in the long term.
The Irish residents not only proved their skills and created organizations, such as William M. Tweed, finally eliminating the stigma, but they also supported a political party, with Catholic Irish Americans being engaged in the American Civil War. The Copperheads, a phrase used to describe Democratic detractors of the Lincoln administration throughout the Civil War, were popular among Irish-American Catholics (Quist, 2009). Catholics made up the majority of the participants in the destructive antidraft rioting of 1863, the draft rioting in Port Washington in 1862, and the anti-black unrest in Cincinnati in 1862 (Klement, 1994). This way, the Catholic Irish-Americans showed their involvement in politics by showing their contempt for injustice and resisting the violation of rights.
Conclusion
Hence, Irish immigrants succeeded instead of being mostly illiterate and unskilled by founding groups, establishing a political party, and ultimately overcoming the stigma of hostility. The main driving force behind immigration to the United States has always been a combination of push and pull influences. The duration of the event was prolonged since it took the Irish time to integrate.
William “Boss” Tweed, a politician for Tammany Hall, was one of the most important figures in Irish-American society. The Irish residents supported a political party, with Catholic Irish-Americans fighting in the American Civil War, demonstrating their abilities and founding and supporting organizations like William M. Tweed, which helped erase the stigma.
References
Collins, W. J., & Zimran, A. (2019). The economic assimilation of Irish Famine migrants to the United States. Explorations in Economic History, 74, 30-50. Web.
Ellis, D. M. (2018). New York: State and City. Cornell University Press.
Quist, J. W. (2009). Copperheads: The Rise and Fall of Lincoln’s Opponents in the North by Jennifer L. Weber. The Journal of American History, 96(2), 552-553. Web.
Klement, F. L. (1994). Catholics as Copperheads during the Civil War. The Catholic Historical Review, 80(1), 36-57. Web.
Library of Congress. (n.d.a). Adaptation and assimilation. Web.
Library of Congress. (n.d.b). Joining the workforce. Web.
Schlichting, K. C. (2018). Waterfront Manhattan: From Henry Hudson to the High Line. Johns Hopkins University Press.