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Article: Irish immigrants and the rise of Tammany hall: in the 1800s, Irish immigrants in New York City built a corrupt political machine. (American History).
- Article from:
- Junior Scholastic
- Article date:
- February 21, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In the winter of 1851, hundreds of Irish immigrants arrived in New York City aboard the British ship Montezuma. After months at sea, the immigrants were hungry, thirsty; and cold. But they were lucky to be alive.
People called overcrowded vessels like the Montezuma "coffin ships." On average, 15 percent of the immigrant passengers on these ships died while at sea.
Not long after the Montezuma docked, the New York Tribune wrote: "It is really lamentable [sad] to see the vast number of unfortunate creatures that are almost daily cast on our shores, penniless and without physical energy to earn a day's living."
Within 20 years, Irish immigrants ...