In 1816, around 6,000 Irish immigrants set sail for the United States after experiencing a period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration known as the Great Famine. The Irish began sailing to America in significant numbers by the 18th century. By the time of the American Revolution, a quarter of a million of Irishmen had already immigrated to America. After the Great Famine struck, the potato fields of Ireland in the early 1800’s were completely ruined leaving millions without food. The Irish Famine stimulated a desire to emigrate. Irish left their homeland in search of better living conditions. Even as the boat was docking, these immigrants to America knew that life in America was not going to be easy. Many immigrant groups came to America seeking freedom to worship whom they chose to. Since, anti-Catholic violence was a major reason for the Irish to flee their homeland. Between 1846 and 1900, most Irish immigrants of this period were predominately Catholic. The Irish mostly settled in the middle colonies, especially in Pennsylvania. Most Irish individuals usually worked as coalminers or even by building the railroads. Some even worked as unskilled factory workers, which also included children. In America, the idea was that they would not be discriminated against because of their religion, and the lure of being able to own land was very important to the Irish. When the American Civil War broke out, about 210,000 Ireland-born Americans joined the war, mostly with the union. Irish immigrants found a way to adapt to America since this was their new homeland.