Irish

           The Irish started to migrate to the United States by the 1820's and one main reason was because of the Potato Blight in 1845. The Potato Blight dealt with the potato harvest that stated to engender fungus, it spread like wild fire through the crops. In about 5 years there was about a million Irish individuals dead from the fungus potato. This is what spiked the jolt in the Irish to leave Ireland and acquire a fresh new start in America. Although, there was still a growth of immigration before the tragedy in the early 19th century due to living conditions, religious conflicts, economic conditions, and lack of political involvement  the Irish wanted to obtain a new life style where they could actually look forward to a future.

      The Irish settled in the middle colonies, particularly in Pennsylvania due to the fact that it was a major port of debarkation. Basically a debarkation is a place where an ample amount of trade or business occurs. However, in a few decades the Scotch-Irish were moving southward to the Great Philadelphia Road which was considered the major road in actually starting a new like in the southern colonies. By the 1760' The Irish had reached South Carolina once they kept moving down Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and then onto North Carolina Piedmont region. These individuals most likely became Indian fighters and frontiersmen. 

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        The United States government policies and programs affected the Irish immigration patterns such as their lifestyle, it had changed dramatically. In Ireland the lifestyle consisted of a life that was mainly farming and rural work, industrialization had not hit them like the United States. It was difficult for the Irish to adapt to the new line of work because they had never worked in a factory before. Also they were very poor in Ireland and were a bit more enriched financially in America but the prices of objects were high which didn't help them. The Irish were pushed from there customs and tried to be more "American" because they need transition to there new lifestyle.

The Americans were not very found of any newcomers that would come to the United States; thus, the Irish were no exception in this sad truth about the American nation. They felt threatened by the “unique” individuals because these men were skilled  workers while most Americans were just regular workers and wanted more pay. The Irish were not accepted by the Americans they would be generalized with the African Americans due to the fact of the low social and economic status. Both of the ethnicitys felt that were they worked they were being treated unfairly that the white people were taking advantage of them. Also they did not enjoy each other company they shared ones hate for one another. They could have united and tried to change things to try make the workplace or treatment better. 

          The United States government policies and programs affected the Irish assimilation when they had came to make a new life in this new nation; however, their new lifestyle dramatically changed. In Ireland the lifestyle consisted of a life that was mainly farming and rural work, industrialization had not hit them like the United States. It was difficult for the Irish to adapt to the new line of work because they had never worked in a factory before. Also the living/ housing situations were the Irish had to live they were crowded and were section houses. It meant that the Irish were cramped into one bed room with about 2 families in each tiny room and there was about 10 families per building. These places and many others that were from Ireland were not clean or acquired the full health code, Americans felt that the Irish did not deserve the cleanliness of the streets or homes they deserved scum.

         The economic conditions impacted the immigrants experience because they were low in the social latter, they came to this county in hopes of a better life. In reality it was promised that the Irish were going to have a job and a home in America but it did not specify what exactly the Irish were going to obtain. The Irish

would get the most dangerous jobs that usually Americans wanted to avoid like servants, domestic workers, coal miners, build canal and construct railroads. In West Virginia the coal companies felt that they owned the Irish workers that were acquiring there product. However, in further generations the Irish started to climb the social latter due to education. They would become policemen, firemen, and teachers, the Irish started to become weather. 

       The cultural heritage affected the Irish placement of settlement due to the fact that they had different customs but they gained some acceptance form the Americans when they started to for get there traditions. However, the Irish did not mind because they were free and could practice there religion not like in Ireland. For many years the Irish in Ireland were controlled by Britain, they would have to follow there instruction and decisions. In the United States there was an ample amount of Irish living there and it made them obtain a powerful political force. The Irish influenced the Democratic Party and the Catholic Church. The Irish gave more to America than just money with the workplace it gave them political individuals that would run the county. For instance, the late President John F. Kennedy who only wanted to make America a better place for all individuals not only the people that were on top of the social latter.