"The Irish Problem," November 5, 1854 | State Historical Society of Iowa

This newspaper article from 1854 relates how declining Irish immigration will not lead to a labor shortage in the United States because the author is predicting a rise in immigration from Germany.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, "The Irish Problem," The New York Herald, pp. 4, 5 November 1854

Description

This article from The New York Herald in 1854 describes a decline in immigration from Ireland. The author hints that this could potentially lead to a shortage of labor in the United States. The author, however, believes that unrest in Germany will likely lead to a rise in immigration from Europe and that a labor shortage will be avoided.

Transcript of "The Irish Problem" Newspaper Article

Printable Excerpt of "The Irish Problem" Newspaper Article

Source-Dependent Questions

How does the author describe the condition of Ireland? How does this article from 1854 compare with the description of Ireland from the 1851 article. Cite evidence from the text(s).
According to this author, what do Irish immigrants provide to the United States?
Why does the author believe the decline in immigrants from Ireland will not hurt the United States in the long run? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.
Based on this article and other sources in this set, what can you conclude about the importance of immigrant labor to the United States?

Citation Information

"The Irish Problem," The New York Herald, pp. 4, 5 November 1854. Courtesy of Library of Congress