Irish Immigration In The Late 1800s

Time and time again, it has been noted that there is an immigration problem in the United States. Whether it be through legal or illegal means, there is always a problem. Samuel F.B. Morse believed that the Irish Catholic immigrants were part of a big conspiracy with the Roman Catholics, to take over the United States. They were nothing but danger to native Americans. It is a belief that many Americans shared during 1835, but held no real base of truth. The Irish Catholic immigrants that were coming into the United States during 1835, were escaping the mess that the British had started in Ireland. There were no jobs, opportunities, or hope of a better future. People were sleeping on dirt and had to live off of potatoes alone. It was
The massive numbers of immigrants, most from Ireland sparked this “native born” vs. “foreign” view in the United States. The nativists wanted to protect the interests of the "native-born" Americans against foreigners. During this time, there was slavery in the South and westward expansion under the belief of Manifest Destiny. America was colonizing under the belief that God wanted them to expand towards the Pacific Ocean. America was trying to disband the immigrants that were coming, and try to assimilate them. The Irish were the stubborn immigrants who refused to assimilate, because they tended to stick together. “The Irish Catholics in an especial manner clan together, keep themselves distinct from the American family, exercise the political privileges granted to them by our hospitality, not as Americans, but as Irishmen, keep alive their foreign feelings, their foreign associations, habits, and manners. Is this mixture and these doings favorable or unfavorable to American character, and national independence? and is this a religious or a political question? (Page 24)” The Irish did not assimilate. They kept to their beliefs and way of life. They were grateful to be in America since anything was better than what Ireland had to offer. Since, Ireland was still under British control, there was little to no room to express themselves. They were proud people, who only wanted a better
He has been taught that the Catholics are evil, and that America will suffer at the hand of them. He was against immigration, even though he went to England to study. The Irish came because they were sought after and the living conditions in Ireland were unbearable. American businessmen, merchants and boat owners are to blame for the massive numbers that came in. They advertised for workers, and that America was the land of opportunities. Morse should have gone after the evils of capitalism, and colonization rather than blame Irish immigrants who had no fault in their