What problems did the Irish face in America? What factors helped them overcome these problems? Which do you think was the most important factor? Why?

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

The problems that the Irish faced in America were many and of different nature. The Irish people that arrived as immigrants to the United States in 1845 were poor people, most of them, peasants that suffered from the Potatoe Famine that already had killed almost one million people in Ireland.

As soon as they arrived in America they realized that language was going to be a major problem. They did not speak English. They spoke Irish.

Another problem was that they were primitive workers and did not know how to work in the modern farm fields of America. That is why they took whatever job was available in Boston or New York. Women worked as servants. Men cleaned the streets or the docks.

Another problem was the religious segregation. Irish were Catholics in a Protestant country. Many times, American people rejected the Irish due to their religious background.

The factors that helped them overcome these problems were their will, their strength, and the way they faced moments such as the Civil War, serving for the Union Army.

After the Civil War, Irish people were prepared to get better jobs in the American industries. They participated in the labor rights movement and even help organize the formation of unions. They also started to participate in political groups of the time and get into politics and started to run for some offices.