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Irish in America1

Irish in America1 America is a melting pot of different cultures, religions, ideas and identities, a country which over the years has been molded, shaped and changed by its people. There are many historical factors that gone into creating the country as we know it today, but none so influential as the immigration of millions to “the land of opportunity”. The millions of people who came to the United States in hopes of finding a better life greatly affected the course of American history, bring the the country new cultures, customs and beliefs . Irish-Catholic immigrants, “. . . the first great ethnic ‘minority’ in American cities,”(1) had a substantial influence on the industrialization, labor movement and politics of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the beginning, life was not easy for the numerous Irish - Catholic immigrants who fled the Great Potato Famine of 1845 and, “. . . Protestant ascendancy, British colonialism and turbulence in their own country. . . “(2) Because of their lack of funds many Irish immigrants landed in less expensive Canadian ports, and then walked down into the United States.(3) Not only was the ocean voyage difficult, but once reaching the United States, most immigrants found that they were not welcomed with open arms, but rather pushed away because of their religious affiliations. Catholics found themselves the minority and targets of discrimination.(4) Settled Americans saw the new influx of Irish immigrants as a plague, dirtying their streets and neighborhoods, filling their jails and sanitariums, creating public disruption. “Negative stereotypes imported from England characterizing the Irish as pugnacious, drunken, semi-savage, were common and endured. . . “(5) After arriving in America, most Irish immigrants settled in the ports where they had landed, most often in Boston and New York. They had no money to push West and did not have the knowledge and skill to undertake large scale farming in the South.(6) Settling in the urban areas caused great crowding of the cities. The native inhabitants quickly chose to move out of the neighborhoods newly settled by Irish immigrants.(7) Their movement was influenced by the poverty of the newcomers; they did not want to live amongst the immigrant’s squalor. However, the Irish took this unwelcoming behavior in stride,they, “ . . . had a sense of identity and cohesion as a people oppressed by foreigners in their native land,”(8) which helped them to stay together during the rough transition to American life. Irish-Catholics lived in the slums,often cramming 4 families into a 1 family apartment. “Although the basement, attic and tar paper urban dwellings were bleak and depressing, at least American cities provided the company of their own misery-sharing people.”(9) Irish-Catholics depended greatly on their community and so it was a great relief to have support groups in their new home, even if the quality of life was extremely low. The streets were full of garbage and raw sewage flowed through open trenches. Disease was rampant, as were rats and mice. Concentrated almost exclusively in Irish neighborhoods, cholera swept through Boston, along with tuberculosis and typhoid.(10) Life expectancy was 40, but many did not even live to be that old.(11) Irish neighborhoods, such as, “Hells Kitchen,” “San Jaun Hill,” and the “Bloody Ould Sixth,” were tough, with fighting and drunkenness extremely common.(12) Along with the filth, disease and violence, Irish-Catholics endured a large amount of religious intolerance, one of the very things from which they were trying to escape. Anglo-protestant Americans posed a problem for the Irish-Catholic. “Orange Day- the celebration of the victory of William of Orange over the Catholics in Ireland - was a source of annual conflict. . .”(13) Strife broke out between the two groups throughout the year as well, making the Irish-Catholics continually aware of being unwanted. However the Irish stood strong, and assimilation began to slowly occur. Throughout the years, the Irish proved themselves to be a people who were strong and capable of taking an active part in American society. “ Their prowess and patriotic fervor in the Civil War helped to diminish anti-Irish bigotry and discrimination.”(14) The Irish fought bravely and proudly during all of the American wars, making up 38% of Washington's army and fighting under both Union and Confederate flags, (mostly for the Union however).(15) They proved themselves, not only in war, but also in politics. Many Irish “. . . realized that politics would provide them with the potent vehicle for attaining influence and power.” (16) Most Irish arrived favoring the Democratic Party because of the aristocratic oppression in their homeland. The Democratic Party was more supportive of immigrant and labor rights. Because of their numbers, they greatly contributed to the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1801.(17) The Irish began to recognize their influence in politics; after the Civil War, active political involvement among the Irish increased. The Irish began to insert themselves into the world of politics, especially in the cities of New York and Boston. They went to city council meetings, read up on their rights as American citizens and formed an Irish party under the Democratic umbrella. The Irish “machine”, or party, was an influential part of New York's politics, controlling for many years its Democratic headquarters, Tammany Hall. The Irish voted into offices because of their numbers and were able to remain in office because of their cohesion as a people.(18) There were many distinguished Irishmen who greatly encouraged Irish pride and involvement in politics. One of them, Daniel O’Connell, founding father of Irish nationalism, helped to build modern liberal democracy and educated and mobilized the Irish Catholic masses.(19) As the Irish rose to power in politics, becoming mayors and city officials, they began to appoint their own people to municipal jobs such as policemen, firefighters, and teachers.(20) This Irish “machine” had a democratic agenda, focusing on immigrant rights, restructuring of urban areas and changing social conditions. It was credited for creating a program for public disposal of garbage.(21) “ The Irish did not simply takeover the conventional apparatus of politics. They transformed American municipal politics.”(22) However, the Irish “machine” also influenced national politics, helping to lead the government away from laissez-faire economics and making a strong argument for labor rights and union involvement throughout the U.S.(23) Around the same time that the Irish were stepping into the political arena, they also began to take a stand for workers and helped to reform some of the labor laws. This movement toward labor reform stemmed from their own experiences. The Irish worked in mining, quarrying and the building of bridges and rail roads, perilous work where many died.(24) “It was speculated that ‘there was an Irishman buried under every tie.’”(25) After the Civil War, the Irish began to enter skilled trades, especially as managers of bridge building and railroad construction, trades in which they had a great deal of expertise. However, not all Irish attained these higher paying jobs and many were forced to return to the hard, perilous jobs they held before the war. American capitalist injustice in industry was not unlike in principle the persecution by English landlords at home; therefore the Irish began to speak out against injustice and ventured forth into labor organization. An example is a group of anthracite coal miners in Pennsylvania, the Molly Maguires, who, in the 1860’s, violently resisted their Scottish, English and Welsh mine bosses, who were said to be cruel and discriminating. Ten Mollies were found guilty on 9 counts of murder and hanged in 1876.(26) Despite the outcome, this episode did not deter later labor involvement. However Irish organizational practices became non-violent, taking on a more progressive stance. There were a few Irishmen who notably aided the labor rights and union movements. Terrence V. Powderly (1849-1924) was the leader of the Knights of Labor, the first national labor organization. He encouraged workers to join trade unions and to fight for their rights as employees. He later became the United States Commissioner General of Immigration.(27) Peter James Maguire (1852-1906) was another union pioneer. He helped found the American Federation of Labor and was its first secretary and vice president. Irish women have also played substantial in America’s labor movement.(28) Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890-1964) co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920, and then went on to be the leader of the U.S. Communist Party.(29) “Irish American participation in America’s union and labor movement has been and continues to be of vital importance and benefit to the well being of American society.” (30) As one can see, Irish immigrants have greatly affected American society and history. They have come a long way from the years when they were viewed as “leeches”, bringing filth, disease, and drunkenness. They rose to power as political leaders, and union promoters . Some stereotypes still remain in the public’s mind, however. Take for example, Minnesota’s governor, Jesse Ventura. In an interview, when asked about the confusing streets of St. Paul, the governor attributed them to the drunk Irish. Despite the stereotypes, the Irish have acted positively for our country. They changed and molded America, as they gradually became more accepted, and made a name for themselves, not just in politics, labor and industry, but in sports and education as well. The University of Notre Dame is a prominent Irish-Catholic school, while Babe Ruth (1895-1948) was know for his baseball abilities and Jack Dempsey (1895-1983) for his punch.(31) One can learn much from the Irish, about pride, prejudice, commitment and perseverance. We would all do well to acknowledge what the Irish have done for America and what the Irish gave up for America. Bibliography: Bibliography 1) Hansen, Marcus Lee. The Immigrant and American History. 1940, Harper and Row Inc., New York 2) Maldwyn, Allen Jones. American Immigration. 1960, The University of Chicago Press, USA. 3) Sowell, Thomas. Ethnic America. 1981, Basic Book Inc., USA. 4) Dulles, Foster Rhea. The United StateSince 1865. 1959, The University of Michigan Press, USA. 5) McCaffrey, Lawrence J. Textures of Irish America. 1992, Syracuse University Press, New York. 6) The Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 1995, Gale Research Inc, Detroit, MI.

Word Count: 1594

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