Economic Conditions

Irish immigrants entered the workforce by taking up the menial and dangerous jobs that were often avoided by other workers (Library of Congress, 2001). Irish laborers were often used to replace those workers that demanded higher wages because it was known that the Irish were desperate for work and would accept any low-paying job available. As a result the Irish would live in poor developed communities and neighborhoods because they didn’t have the money and financial help to live anywhere more suitable. Because they lived in poor conditioned areas they would develop diseases and become ill (Library of Congress, 2001). There were occasions where families were told by their landlords that once they arrived in Canada an agent would meet them and pay them according to the family size. However, there was never no agent and the promise of money, food, and clothing was false and the families were left with no money and had to look for a home (The History Place, 2000).