Irish Immigration
Sean Halpin
RST 223
April 12, 2006
Dr. Dennis Castillo
The Irish Movement across the Atlantic
The Irish Potato Famine
During the 1800 's, the Irish population relied heavily on the farming and eating of potatoes grown on land that was not owned by them. The land they cultivated and grew their crops on was owned by strangers. In 1845, a catastrophic blight struck potato crops all over Ireland. The sudden wilting of all potato crops lasted five years and brought about starvation, disease, and death. This also brought massive immigration to North America. These immigrants from Ireland came not only to Ellis Island in New York, but also to Gross Isle near Quebec, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. They settled on the east coast of the United States and in the British North America, which became modern day Canada. With them, the Irish brought their heritage, customs, and religious backgrounds.
The potato, a crop that is very nutritious and easy to grow in the wet, Irish soil crowed out the oats and wheat in the Irish diet. More than three million Irish men, women, and children ate nothing but potatoes in the years before the potato famine. As Ireland 's population tripled in size in the years before the famine, many people were driven to the mountains and bogs in search of land. Many also left their homeland in search of new land in other countries, especially across the Atlantic Ocean. The Irish were among the first European settlers to North America in the early 1600 's, and from the 1700 's through the 1900 's many more arrived. During the mid 1800 's there was a major increase in immigration from Ireland to North America due to the potato famine that plagued the country. According to the journal article, After the Famine: Emigration from Ireland, 1850-1913, between 1850 and 1913 more than 4.5 million men and women left Ireland for a new life overseas . This was after the potato famine; however, many were seeking greater opportunity that North
RST 223
April 12, 2006
Dr. Dennis Castillo
The Irish Movement across the Atlantic
The Irish Potato Famine
During the 1800 's, the Irish population relied heavily on the farming and eating of potatoes grown on land that was not owned by them. The land they cultivated and grew their crops on was owned by strangers. In 1845, a catastrophic blight struck potato crops all over Ireland. The sudden wilting of all potato crops lasted five years and brought about starvation, disease, and death. This also brought massive immigration to North America. These immigrants from Ireland came not only to Ellis Island in New York, but also to Gross Isle near Quebec, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. They settled on the east coast of the United States and in the British North America, which became modern day Canada. With them, the Irish brought their heritage, customs, and religious backgrounds.
The potato, a crop that is very nutritious and easy to grow in the wet, Irish soil crowed out the oats and wheat in the Irish diet. More than three million Irish men, women, and children ate nothing but potatoes in the years before the potato famine. As Ireland 's population tripled in size in the years before the famine, many people were driven to the mountains and bogs in search of land. Many also left their homeland in search of new land in other countries, especially across the Atlantic Ocean. The Irish were among the first European settlers to North America in the early 1600 's, and from the 1700 's through the 1900 's many more arrived. During the mid 1800 's there was a major increase in immigration from Ireland to North America due to the potato famine that plagued the country. According to the journal article, After the Famine: Emigration from Ireland, 1850-1913, between 1850 and 1913 more than 4.5 million men and women left Ireland for a new life overseas . This was after the potato famine; however, many were seeking greater opportunity that North
Bibliography: Carpenter, Richard P. "The sadness of saying goodbye Ireland exhibit recalls the era of emigration." Boston Globe 12 Oct 1997, City Edition ed.: M.9. Carpenter, Richard P. "The Irish and Saint John." Boston Globe 10 May 1998, City Edition ed.: M.12. Guinnane, Timothy W. "The Great Irish Famine and Population: The Long View." The American Economic Review May 1994: 303-308. Hatten, Timothy J; Williamson, Jeffrey G. "After the Famine: Emigration from Ireland, 1850-1913." The Journal of Economic History Sep. 1993: 575-600. Phillips, Barbara D. "TV: 'The Irish in America '." Wall Street Journal 26 Jan 1998, Eastern Edition ed.: pg 1. Moran, Gerard. Sending Out Ireland 's Poor: Assisted Emigration to North America in the Nineteenth Century. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2004.