Molly Maguires essays

Molly Maguires essays The Molly Maguires also referred to, as the Mollies or the sons of Molly Maguire, is not a single person who influenced the birth of the Union, but a group of Irish immigrants who created a lot of controversy. Over all, there have been differing views on the Molly Maguires. Some would say what they did was reprehensible and vicious while, others might contend they were heroes in their time, and did only what they had to do to fight for better working conditions. Regardless of what side of the argument you favor, one thing is sure, they had enough influence to start a new era for working Unions. Since the Mollies went about getting what they thought was right and fair rather cruelly, it is obvious they felt the ends justified the means. In 1700 Ireland, many of the English landlords were brutal to their tenants, by killing them or setting fire to their homes. When they set fires, it was to run a tenant out so that they could raise the rent on the new renter. The Mollies were said to have taken their name from an elderly widow named Molly Maguire who was driven out of her home by fire. The men who came to her rescue decided to take revenge. They called themselves The Sons of Molly Maguire, and would dress up as women, then rob and kill the evil landlords. In Pennsylvania, where the most infamous Mollie acts occurred, the Irish endured much the same things as in Ireland. In the 1860s, Irish immigrants faced similar discrimination many African-Americans endure today. Jobs were not easily found, but if someone was hiring, their help wanted sign usually had Irish Need Not Apply at the bottom. The Irish coalminers were treated like slaves. Although they did receive wages for their work, everything was deducted from their wages. One could not purchase products in any other store than the town store; which was owned and operated by the mine own...