Why were so many Irish immigrants disliked by Americans? (2 reasons)
There were several reasons why many Irish immigrants were disliked by Americans:
1. Religion: Most Irish immigrants were Roman Catholic, which was seen as a threat to the largely Protestant American population. Anti-Catholic sentiment was high during this period, and many Americans feared that the Irish would try to replace Protestantism with Catholicism.
2. Job competition: The influx of Irish immigrants during the mid-19th century coincided with a recession and high unemployment rates in the United States. Many Americans saw the Irish immigrants as a source of cheap labor who would take jobs away from native-born Americans, and this led to resentment and hostility towards them.