Discrimination against German and Irish Immigrants
The Declaration of Independence states, "All men are created equal,", but, taking a look at our nation's history, we can clearly see that this statement is not valid. This was not accepted by the thousands of slave owners based in the South and the people who enforced oppression upon women's rights as equals. The nation's relatively newly-established independence, escalating prejudices against blacks, differing viewpoints regarding slavery, monetary inflation, and antagonism to women's basic rights created an uncomfortable, unstable time for minorities and a colorful history for our nation. During the Revolutionary War, people from diverse backgrounds and religions fought for freedom, liberty, and equality. After they had achieved their objective and built their new way of life, others had the same dream too. People in the mid 19th century had the same desire to have equal rights without subjugation by an overpowering government that the original settlers had had. Emigrants from all parts of the world came to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and many other cities. Most had heard about the line that read, "All men are created equal," and many discovered its doubtful validity upon arriving in the United States. Two of these
Between 1800 and 1900, five million Germans immigrated to the United States. They left their home country due to over-population, a search for political freedom, and a desire to own their own land. They were also plagued with revolutionary ideas that aimed to unite the German states under a republican form of government like that of the United States. The German Unification process began in 1849 to form one complete country. Many weren't pleased with this idea, having created their identities with German states such as: Hannover, Bavaria, and Prussia. The provisional government could not decide on a form for the new Germany, and the old order was restored. The failure of the ideas of unification caused the frustrated, defeated upper/middle class Germans to immigrate. (Encarta, German Unification) Many moved to the frontiers in Ohio and Mississippi valleys, others settled near Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, while others still joined their fellow Germans in Pennsylvania "Deutsch" Country. They were skilled farmers and artisans who helped to make important contributions to agriculture, business, and industry. They were easily accepted into American society and were a useful addition. They were active in the government and hardly opposed mainstream ideas, with exception to prohibition and slavery. Before the immigrants had arrived in the United States, the Americans had initiated a strong temperance (non-alcohol) movement. For moral reasons, and because they thought that self-denial would make them better people and more hard working, capable, and upright citizens, they did not engage in drinking. Irish and German immigrants, however, began to arrive in the U.S. and brought with them their love for pubs and taverns. When the Irish and Germans brought the liquor establishment with them to America, instead of proving that they could introduce a new enjoyment to the country by using alcohol moderately, they abused the drink, and caused a great increase in drunkenness, fighting, and crime among themselves as a result. Prohibitionists then proposed state laws to ban the manufacture and sale of alcohol altogether. Germans opposed prohibition not only because of their fondne
Some common words found in the essay are:
Irish Germans, Catholic Irish, Potato Famine, Germans Irish, Declaration Independence, Civil War, America German, Enrollment Act, York City, Irish Americans, york city, created equal, irish immigrants, irish german immigrants, discrimination irish, 19th century, irish americans, german americans, civil war, agriculturally technologically unskilled, unskilled irish, technologically unskilled,
Approximate Word count = 1476
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
