Labor History

1. Every immigrant group has its own unique labor history. Describe the labor history of your immigrant group.

The United States is a country with a long history of immigration, and each immigrant group has its own unique labor history. For example, the Irish immigrants who arrived in the early 19th century faced harsh conditions and discrimination. They were often confined to jobs as manual laborers or servants, and their working conditions were often poor. In response, the Irish formed their own labor organizations and fought for better working conditions. Eventually, they were able to gain a foothold in politics and other professions, and their children became some of the most successful immigrants in American history.

In the late 1800s, Irish immigrants began coming to America in large numbers, fleeing poverty and religious persecution and caste oppression at home (Ignatiev, 2012). Many of these immigrants were unskilled workers who were willing to accept low wages and dangerous working conditions. As a result, they were often exploited by their employers and faced discrimination from native-born Americans. As OHara (2001) points out, Irishimmigrantworkers usually were hired for the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs an employer had to offer (p. 23). They were seen in most cases like second-class citizens, sometimes on the same level as Chinese immigrants who were basically treated like slaves.

However, the Irish immigrants were not content to accept their situation. They banded together to form organizations that would help them improve their working conditions and protect their rights. In some cases, these organizations turned into powerful unions that gave the Irish a voice in American society. The labor history of Irish immigrants is thus a story of struggle and perseverance in the face of adversity. Thanks to their efforts, future generations of workers would enjoy greater protections and opportunities. They often combined their Catholic roots with their labor organizational aims, drawing on the encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, who encouraged Catholics to organize around their Catholic identities and to form Catholic unions. Thus, the Irish formed unions like the Holy Order of the Knights ofLabor, which combined the need for labor organization with the Catholic principles that many Irish still held in America (Brighton, 2011).

In the mid-19th century, Irish immigrants established a number of organizations aimed at helping those who were struggling to adjust to life in America. These organizations provided social and financial assistance, as well as advocating for the rights of Irish immigrants. They also got involved in politics. For example, Tammany Hall, a political machine based in New York City, offered Irish immigrants a way to gain power and influence. Tammany provided them with financial assistance, jobs, and other forms of support. In return, the Irish immigrants votes helped Tammany win elections and maintain control of the city. The relationship between the Irish immigrants and Tammany Hall was not always smooth, but it was an important one. Together, they helped to shape the course of American history (Golway, 2014).

Overall, the situation for the Irish immigrants in America was never great, and while many started off as indentured servants the more that came over the more they saw the need to organize. They organized for the rights of laborers and their people, eventually pushing into politics and electing one of their own to the White House in 1960John F. Kennedy.

2. Interview someone who is a member of a union. What is the history of his/her union? How does he/she feel about the importance of unions today?

Unions have been a part of American society for over 150 years, and their importance is still very relevant today. I interviewed Paul, a Hispanic American, who goes by the nickname of Pablo. He is member of a...…place for immigrants. Overall, South American immigrants have made many valuable contributions to American society. And for these reasons, I believe that the USA should continue to welcome new immigrants from anywhere in South America.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of South American immigrants coming to the United States. Most of these immigrants come from countries like Brazil and Peru, and they typically take low-skill jobs in industries like agriculture and construction. While some Americans worry that these immigrants are taking jobs away from native-born workers, studies have shown that this is not the case. In fact, most immigrants complement the existing workforce and help to spur economic growth. Additionally, immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to start their own businesses, which creates even more jobs for the economy. Ultimately, it is clear that South American immigrants play a vital role in the US economy.

The vast majority of South American immigrants enter the United States through family reunification channels (Abramitzky et al., 2016). The second main pathway is employment-based immigration, which accounts for about one in five arrivals. Many South American immigrants enter low-skilledjobs in sectors such as construction, food manufacturing, and personal care. In 2016, nearly one-quarter of employed South American men worked in management, business, science, and the arts. This is a higher share than other foreign-born groups. However, South American women are less likely than men to work in these high-skilled occupations. Only 15 percent of employed South American women worked in management, business, science, or the arts in 2016. This is partly due to the fact that many South American women are primary caregivers for their children. In 2016, nearly half of all South American immigrants were women, and among all immigrant groups this group is near the top of female immigrants to the US (Abramitzky et…