Free Essay

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In: Miscellaneous

Submitted By hhelmstadt
Words 507
Pages 3
I belong to several different ethnic groups. Some of the ethnic groups that I belong to include Native American, Irish American, and English. The one I’ve decided to discuss for this paper would be Irish American. I am very proud of my Irish heritage. Millions of Irish people have immigrated to America since the 1800s. When Irish immigrants came over to America, a majority of them had little to nothing. They looked for work to start new lives in a new country. Irish immigrants were very hard laborers. Irish American’s were segregated immediately upon arrival to America. They were unwanted and clearly unwelcome. They were sent to “poor” area’s to reside in and were forced to live in area’s the size of a small bedroom with their entire families. They were ill a lot of the time due to sewage and poor ventilation to where they were residing. Many also had mental illnesses caused from alcohol problems.
Irish Catholic’s was also a big issue to Irish immigration. American’s were worried that Irish Catholic immigrants would not be loyal to the Church of Rome. Irish Catholic’s were very stereo typed. People thought that all Irish Catholics were violent alcoholics and were all in Irish gangs. Although it didn’t help them much, many Irish American’s did turn to violence when being faced with severe discrimination. Like anything else being stereo typed, few people took the time to actually get to know Irish Catholics and assumed that they were all the same. Due to discrimination and prejudice, it was extremely hard for Irish American’s to start new lives and or continue forward. Irish American’s were feared and hated upon due to stereo typing. There were signs up for job positions that would read “No Irish need apply”. Irish immigrants were redlined. Redlining is to discriminate against by refusing to grant loans, mortgages, or insurance. Irish American’s were also affected by Dual Labor Market. Dual Labor Markey is the division of the economy into two parts: primary and secondary. At the time, Irish Americans were considered the poorest immigrants in America. Due to Dual Labor Market, Irish American’s were kept poor by only being given the lowest paying job positions. Not only were these job’s the lowest paying, but they were the most strenuous hard working jobs available. Irish American’s worked in mining, quarrying, bridge building, and railroad construction. By the 1900s Irish American’s living conditions had begun to improve. The work and contributions from them are incomparable. Irish American’s worked hard and slowly but surely made their way out of a whole that they were placed into unwillingly. The Irish came to America in search for better lives. Many came because of the infamous Potato Famine. Like anyone else, black, white, green or Asian, discrimination is intolerable and although Irish American’s had to deal with this horrible situation for such a long period of time, things only continue to get better.

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