What would be a reason my family came from Ireland...?

Question

I have a project to do about where my family came from and why...I know they came from Ireland around 1907 but I don't know why...what would be a reason they would come because I have no idea!Please help =)

Answer 1

The Potato Famine was in the 1840s, so we can set that aside. Most of Northern Ireland was caught in a major political battle with Britain. The Ulster Irish were given their independence...but the majority of them were Anglican. The Catholics were kept under the control of the British and were in a bloody fight to also get their independence. That fight escalated to the point of terrorism and murder. Those who had distant family in the US had been told about the opportunities in the New World and it sounded a lot better than what they'd gone through in Ireland. Since there was a massive earlier wave of immigration to the US and Canada, those two places were much more appealing than the rest of Europe where they didn't speak the language. Canada was still under the control of Great Britain at that point, though, so they were just as antagonistic towards Catholics as it was back home. The US by contrast was so large that you could literally just get lost in the crowd and start a new life without all the fears. There were jobs for men and women who were willing to work hard and there was a lot of land that wasn't settled and was being sold very inexpensively if you were willing to work for it. They were willing to work as hard as it took.

Answer 2

There is a good chance that there was no land available to farm or jobs that could support a family..

America has golden streets and a good life for anyone who could work for it.

Many of my ancestors came because recruiters went through the country side telling everyone that there was land to be had and a better life for the children.

Some had relatives that were already here, extolling the riches that could be had.

So many reasons, but it boils down to America being a land of opportunity.

Answer 3

to get away from the potatoe famine in ireland.

Answer 4

A lot of the Irish came to Boston and parts of New york for jobs and a new life.  Unfortunatley what most people don't realize is tha the Irish were treated worse than what the slaves where.