Why They Came to America
Why They Came To America
Abstract
The Irish, Germans and Scandinavians came to the United States for many reasons, freedom, comfort, independence and a chance of a better life. Each one of these groups of people had similar reasons for taking the long hard journey across the Atlantic Ocean, some came by choice and others like the Irish didn’t have a choice. Some were hailed as heroes and others as foolish daredevils. Some carved their place into this country with ease and others faced poverty and disease. Needless to say they all found their way into America and changed the face of American culture.
Why They Came To America
When you think of immigrants coming to the shores of the United States pictures of Ellis Island come to mind, people with all their worldly processions on their back with hopes of a better life, an American dream "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" This was not necessarily the case, not for the Irish immigrant s that had no choice but to leave their family and homes to escape starvation.
(Phoenixmasonry, Inc, "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, 2010)
In 1845 blight struck the potatoes crops in Ireland; the potatoes being the main staple of the Irish people’s diet they were devastated. The Irish people were oppressed by British rule and forced live in huts with a small plot of land beside to grow potatoes. All other crops were exported and the Irish faced starvation and disease. The British found it to be cheaper to pay for passage to the United States then to support and individual for a year in the work house. (Gjerde, 1998)pg 103 The people of Ireland soon became the greatest export. (Oracal Think Quest)
If one survived the voyage to the United States they had many obstacles yet to face. Some found their way to the countryside and settled
Abstract
The Irish, Germans and Scandinavians came to the United States for many reasons, freedom, comfort, independence and a chance of a better life. Each one of these groups of people had similar reasons for taking the long hard journey across the Atlantic Ocean, some came by choice and others like the Irish didn’t have a choice. Some were hailed as heroes and others as foolish daredevils. Some carved their place into this country with ease and others faced poverty and disease. Needless to say they all found their way into America and changed the face of American culture.
Why They Came To America
When you think of immigrants coming to the shores of the United States pictures of Ellis Island come to mind, people with all their worldly processions on their back with hopes of a better life, an American dream "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" This was not necessarily the case, not for the Irish immigrant s that had no choice but to leave their family and homes to escape starvation.
(Phoenixmasonry, Inc, "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, 2010)
In 1845 blight struck the potatoes crops in Ireland; the potatoes being the main staple of the Irish people’s diet they were devastated. The Irish people were oppressed by British rule and forced live in huts with a small plot of land beside to grow potatoes. All other crops were exported and the Irish faced starvation and disease. The British found it to be cheaper to pay for passage to the United States then to support and individual for a year in the work house. (Gjerde, 1998)pg 103 The people of Ireland soon became the greatest export. (Oracal Think Quest)
If one survived the voyage to the United States they had many obstacles yet to face. Some found their way to the countryside and settled