Historical Event

Writing Plan

I. Describe the historical event that you selected. Why is this event significant?

The historical event I selected is the social and economic challenges faced by the Irish immigrants in the 19th Century. I chose this event because it had a significant impact on both the culture and history of America. Understanding the event and reasons that led to the immigration of millions of Irish citizens for an unknown life in America was a very important history in the United States.

II. Describe at least two secondary sources that you could use to research your historical event. Your sources must be relevant to your event and must be of an appropriate academic nature. In your description, consider questions such as: What are the similarities and differences in the content of your sources? What makes them appropriate and relevant for investigating your event? What was your thought process when you were searching for sources? How did you make choices?

Collins, W., & Zimran, A. (2018). The Economic Assimilation of Irish Famine Migrants to the United States. The Many John Kellys: Economic Assimilation of the Famine Irish in America . doi: 10.3386/w25287

History.com Editors. (2017, October 17). Irish Potato Famine. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/irish-potato-famine

The journal article by Collins and Zimran would be a great secondary article to use for describing the economic challenges faced by the Irish Immigrants. This article offers a detailed explanation of how the lives of the Irish Immigrants changed were saved after taking refuge in the U.S.

The second article from history.com talks about the nature of the famine that occurred in Ireland. It explains how the famine took place as well as the thousands of lives that were affected.

Both of these sources are relevant to my paper, the first source gave a detailed explanation of the lives of the Irish Immigrants, how they fared while living in the U.S as well as the social and economic challenges they faced by other races. The second article explains the event behind the sudden move to the U.S. My thought process when searching for sources was being able to find credible resources related to the historical event I chose. I found it better looking for sources that explained why the Irish people Immigrated and how they fared after their immigration.

III. Describe at least two primary sources that you could use to research your historical event. Your sources must be relevant to your event and must be of an appropriate academic nature. In your description, consider questions such as: How do these sources relate to your secondary sources? What do they add to your understanding of the event? What makes them appropriate and relevant for investigating your event?

Hannah Curtis, “A Letter from Ireland Tells of the Suffering Caused by the Potato Famine,” HERB: Resources for Teachers, accessed January 26, 2020, https://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/692.

1865). New and popular songs: A collection of the most popular songs of the day, comprising sentimental, comic, Negro, Irish, national patriotic, military, social, convivial, and pathetic songs, ballads, and melodies. Philadelphia: Simpson & Co..

I chose these primary sources because they give a first-hand account of the events that transpired during the famine in Ireland. These sources are related to my secondary sources because they are actual descriptions of what happened during the famine in Ireland versus a secondhand description and opinion. The first source is about a victim of the famine who writes to her brother about her anger and sufferings while the second source is a song written by an Irish Immigrant as he embarks on his journey to the United States. The sources are relevant and appropriate for my research topic because it not only gives historical information but also their feelings and state of mind when the famine occurred.

IV. Based on your review of primary and secondary sources, develop a research question related to the historical event you selected. In other words, what would you like to know more about?

What are the natural disasters that occurred in Ireland that led them to immigrate to the United States?

V) Identify an audience that would be interested in your historical event and research question. For example, who would benefit most from hearing your message?

An audience that would benefit from my research question are students or individuals interested in learning about the history of Irish Americans. This could also be a large base of students from different levels, and even business individuals interested in hiring Irish Americans. Many people would be interested in knowing how Irish Immigrants fared after they arrived at the United States.

VI) Describe how and why you can tailor your message to your audience, providing specific examples. For example, will your audience understand historical terminology and principles associated with your event, or will you need to explain these? How will you communicate effectively with your audience?

I believe my audience will understand my message. One of the main questions my audience will have is “How can people be so cruel?” Many of the historical events are very easy to understand. I will explain historical terms and events using stories and biographies of people who witnessed the event.

Thesis Statement:

The Potato famine which occurred in Ireland caused the Irish people to migrate to the United States. Many American citizens stated that the Irish Immigrants could not assimilate properly and might undermine the working conditions of the United States. This paper will focus on the social and economic challenges faced by the Irish Immigrants as well as the event that killed millions of people in Ireland.