During the potato famine between 1846 and 1848, thousands of Irish died from malnutrition, typhus, dysentery, and scurvy, and millions immigrated to America. Over 38 million people of Irish descent live in the United States. The Irish in America are a diverse group and vary in their beliefs according to acculturation, individuality, and the variant characteristics of culture. Most Irish immigrants initially settled in industrial areas in northeastern United States along the Atlantic Coast. The Irish attained success in America because they spoke the same language, had the same physical appearance as other European Americans, and mastered the political system. They have made significant contributions in politics, the labor movement, the Catholic Church, the arts, and service to their country.
