Irish Immigration
"By a historical coincidence, the need for labor in America for these public works occurred just as thousands were being forced to emigrate from Ireland. In 1820, advertisements for workers.... were placed in Irish newspapers. The response was a flood of laborers, most willing to work for low pay under conditions shunned by other groups." -Jim Redd |
Reasons to Emigrate from Ireland
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Irish Immigration and Settlement Patterns
Video Clip From: Personal Interview with Ana B. Koval, President and CEO of the Canal Corridor Association
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During the I&M Canal Construction
"For weeks previously, hundreds of Irish immigrants had been lured to Chicago with the promise of labor, and there was plenty of it. One hundred miles separated the Illinois River from Lake Michigan and it took twelve years for the project to be completed."
-PBS: The American Experience After the Completion of the I&M Canal
"...When the Illinois and Michigan was completed, many workers naturally moved into the booming town of Chicago with all the jobs it had to offer, particularly in the building trades. Others remained in the vicinity of canals when other industries offered employment."
-Peter Way |
Racial Association
"The first Irish community appeared in Chicago in 1837. Most were attracted by the work offered on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. By 1843, foreign-born Irish made up 10% of the 7,580 people in the city." -Cynthia Linton Video Clip Source: Illinois in the Gilded Age: 1866-1896: Settlement and Immigration
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In summary, Irish immigrants seeking refuge from political violence, looking to enterprise, or escape the Great Potato Famine resettled in Illinois and found employment laboring on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. They would go on to form formidable labor groups.