1. Irish Immigration
By Ally Powers, zach rivera & connor ryan

2. Period of migration:
• Starting in 1816, Irish immigrants were slowly
coming to America
• The Irish people heard of the opportunity to farm
their own land and make much more money to
support their families
• When they arrived, they learned of many new
opportunities, other than farming and took
advantage of those jobs

4. Reason for migration:
• In 1845, the Great Potato Famine began sweeping across
Ireland
• ¾ of the crop was destroyed leaving people without food and
money
• This caused many people to come and try living in America
• 2 million people (a forth of the population) immigrated to
America to start over
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Z23tbYOHHAI

5. AREAS OF
SETTLEMENT:
• Many of them settled in New York, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and New Jersey
• They settled in big cities because that was where all
of the jobs were
• Some of them lived on the road, building railroads
across America
• Many stayed along the coast because they had no
money or food and they couldn’t afford to go to far
away from the port they came into

6. Ports of entry:
• Colonial Period:
Before, during, & after American Revolution
New York
Philadelphia
Charleston
• Mid -19th Cent. to 1900: Westward Expansion,
Civil War and Industrialization Periods
New York
Boston
From Canadian Maritime Provinces by train
to the United States
Philadelphia

7. Most of the irish population flocked to cities
for factory jobs. North dakota, south dakota,
Minnesota and some parts of new england such
as- Massachusetts, connecticut & new jersey
were mainly effected by irish immigration.

8. Obstacles in the u.s:
• The Irish people faced many problems during the
time of their immigration
• One being prejudice: The Irish were viewed by many
as “dirty, lazy, and stupid”
• They were blamed for the problems with the
economy and were held responsible for the
unfavorable views toward American society
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkFqa6je80c

9. OBSTACLES
IN THE U.S:
Another problem would
be the religious issues
faced between the Irish
Catholics and the many
protestant Americans
Many verbal and
physical attacks ensued,
including the burning
of St. Mary’s Catholic
Church in New York City
in 1831

10. The first
ghettoes:
First Irish immigrants
wanted to find cheap land
and establish farms in
Colonial America
Those from Ireland were
among the most impoverished
who came to America
Immigrants who came after
the Colonial Period from
Ireland were too poor to
purchase land
Many Irish came as
indentured servants for
cost of the voyage, followed
by about 4 years of
servitude

11. Irish
Immigration

12. Irish contribution to
U.S:
• The Irish helped radically in
many ways in American history
• Nine of the people that signed
the constitution were of Irish
descent
• 19 of America’s presidents are
proud to be called Irish
• The Irish also contributed to
building several railroads, canals,
and schools still used today

13. famous
irish:
Many Irish Americans
have helped shape the
country into what it is
today, the most famous
being George
Washington, our first
president
Washington led America
through the Revolution
and helped build our
country’s foundation

14. famous
irish:
Walt Disney also
claimed Irish heritage
We all know Disney as
the creator of Walt
Disney World and a
legendary
entrepreneur

15. Immigrant
labor:
Unskilled factory workers-
included children
Irish males provided labor with
railroads, canals & roads
War with Mexico and the Civil War
provided opportunities for Irish
males; during the Civil War, they
enlisted as they entered the U.S. at
New York’s Governors Island
Because they could speak English,
young Irish women came as
indentured servants to work as
domestic servants in the homes of
wealthy Americans

16. Famous irish:
• One famous actor of Irish
heritage would be Harrison
Ford
• He captivated audiences
with his roles as Indiana
Jones and Hans Solo

17. Famous
Irish:
Many more Irish men
and women have
assisted with our
country and made very
successful names for
themselves, including
Georgia O’Keefe, Bill
Clinton, Alfred
Hitchcock, and many
others

18. Fun facts!
-In the winter of 1851, hundreds of Irish
immigrants arrived in New York City aboard the
British ship Montezuma
-After months at sea, the immigrants were hungry,
thirsty; and cold, But they were lucky to be alive
-People called overcrowded vessels like the
Montezuma "coffin ships." On average, 15 percent
of the immigrant passengers on these ships died
while at sea.
-Not long after the Montezuma docked, the New
York Tribune wrote: "It is really lamentable [sad]
to see the vast number of unfortunate creatures
that are almost daily cast on our shores,
penniless ...”

19. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEireland.htm
• http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/irish-immigrants.htm
• http://memory.loc.gov/learn//features/immig/irish5.html
• http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/courses/ed311/kafai/Team%204/immigration#anchor2210832
• (http://www.ceolas.org/misc/heritage.html)
• (http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/washington/essays/biography/1)
• (http://www.irishabroad.com/irishworld/irishamericamag/)
• (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08132b.htm)