Ethnic Groups and Discrimination

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination Week 3

Jennifer Ryan

8-07-2010

Eth/105

ROHALD MENESES
When the Irish immigrated to the United States in 1850 after the great potatoes famine in Ireland, the Irish natives were poor and without money, although prejudice did not seem to affect the Irish they were subjected to prejudice and segregation. Because the Irish fit in with the white race upon entry to the United States they were not discriminated against like the African Americans and Asian immigrants who were often denied entry into the United States because of their color and ethnic characteristics. However the Irish were poor and forced to live in the filthiest neighborhoods and alleys most lived in basement or apartments that were not properly ventilated and damaged by sewage.
The social status of the Irish forced them to take job that were often dangerous like building railroad, these people were forced to take these jobs because no employer would give an Irish man or women a decent job. At this time in history cites needed hard manual laborers because the Irish were unskilled and poor they worked for the lower wages other ethnic groups would not. People were threatened by the Irish because of their hard working ethnics and because of their catholic religion signs for employment would often say “Irish need not apply.” (Hy Kinsella, 1996-2010.para3.) Catholic Churches were often burnt down and riots occurred protesting Irish Immigrants, America in the 1850’s recognized the Irish as poor, filthy criminal who would work for pennies, many feared their upward movement in society, but eventually the Irish overcame the new world that showed then so much prejudice and discrimination. After entering the county the Irish were not only affected by poverty and prejudice other events also plagued the Irish but some things moved the Irish up in society.
The dual labor market affect the Irish, because employers were not willing to give uneducated and unskilled people... [continues]

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