The West
-Like many Americans at the time, the Irish caught the gold fever and some continued their journey westward in search of opportunity.
-Many of those who headed west went for jobs working on building the first transcontinental railroad which started construction in 1866 (Harvard).
-Irishmen were paid an average of 35 dollars a month and made up a very large portion of the work force (Harvard).
-Irish were not as discriminated as harshly against as the Chinese were but they were still paid very little for very dangerous work.
-Workers were killed by Native American war-parties who were against the railroads being built through their territory. Yet even with the discrimination and danger, the Irish remained hopeful and optimistic