IRISH: THE FORGOTTEN WHITE SLAVES
Many Irish people moved to America in the 18th century. There were reasons for the moves. In 1748 the potato harvest failed yet again. The potato was the bulk on the food plates just as fries and rice are today. The Irish people were starving ! They had been used as slaves for almost 150 years, by the English, who claimed Ireland as their own. The triangular trade route had been taking people from Wet Africa but it became cheaper and quicker to move the Irish from the Western ports of Liverpool. In return cotton was imported which increased output of linen, but eventually put mill owner out of business when modernisation arrived.
Ireland,in the 18th cent., was a part of Britain and totally under the control of Parliament in London. Land grabbers,from England, were taking advantage of the bad harvest and buying up land,from farmers,at crazy low prices. There was much resentment, which resulted in guerrilla attacks. Sir Arthur Wellesley,later coming to fame in 1815, when he fought Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo,was dispatched to Ireland to quell the insurrectionists, who were the forerunners of the IRA
The Irish moved to Scotland,as my forebears did,having sold their farms. In Scotland,my ancestors worked in the open cast mines in Plains,Lanarkshire. The Irish could dig!! The Industrial Revolution was in full swing and canals and railways were being constructed in England. The Irish dug most of the canals. They were called the Navigators which was shortened to 'Navies' which is still in use today.
Some went to dig in America,the new land. They dug for Gold in the Klondike of California. They took over from the Chinese,building railways. They were broke and they dug for very little money,a tent and some food.
The Irish were used and totally abused by a young America.
Many Irish people moved to America in the 18th century. There were reasons for the moves. In 1748 the potato harvest failed yet again. The potato was the bulk on the food plates just as fries and rice are today. The Irish people were starving ! They had been used as slaves for almost 150 years, by the English, who claimed Ireland as their own. The triangular trade route had been taking people from Wet Africa but it became cheaper and quicker to move the Irish from the Western ports of Liverpool. In return cotton was imported which increased output of linen, but eventually put mill owner out of business when modernisation arrived.
Ireland,in the 18th cent., was a part of Britain and totally under the control of Parliament in London. Land grabbers,from England, were taking advantage of the bad harvest and buying up land,from farmers,at crazy low prices. There was much resentment, which resulted in guerrilla attacks. Sir Arthur Wellesley,later coming to fame in 1815, when he fought Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo,was dispatched to Ireland to quell the insurrectionists, who were the forerunners of the IRA
The Irish moved to Scotland,as my forebears did,having sold their farms. In Scotland,my ancestors worked in the open cast mines in Plains,Lanarkshire. The Irish could dig!! The Industrial Revolution was in full swing and canals and railways were being constructed in England. The Irish dug most of the canals. They were called the Navigators which was shortened to 'Navies' which is still in use today.
Some went to dig in America,the new land. They dug for Gold in the Klondike of California. They took over from the Chinese,building railways. They were broke and they dug for very little money,a tent and some food.
The Irish were used and totally abused by a young America.
No comments:
Post a Comment