Irish-American Nativism & Overcoming Prejudice Through Pride

The Irish in America have overcome rejection and hatred with dignity and hard-work. The resiliency seen specifically throughout the 19th century in the Northeastern United States of America has led to the end of a stigma that had sought to demoralize the millions of Irish-American immigrants. To understand the origins of overcoming prejudice through pride, one must examine the struggles millions went through just to come to America in the first place.

The potato famine in Ireland remains as one of the country's darkest chapters in its long, noteworthy history. During the Irish Potato Famine, the response from the British government was lackluster and shameful. A laissez-faire approach to providing government relief to millions of starving citizens led to millions of deaths and a massive emigration movement to nearby countries and the United States of America. The extreme hunger and disregard that the Irish encountered during this time led to a massive mistrust in government and the feeling that the British did not respect them as human beings.

"The want of national unity, the consequent weakness, and not the free will of its people, have consented to that policy of depletions which leaves Ireland as she is to-day. It is not due her fault...that Ireland is as she is." - George Shea (Source 1)

Ireland was not given proper attention by the British government, and many tragically lost their lives to starvation. The struggles faced by the Irish did not stop at the border of their country, however. Shea directly blamed the "misfortune of Ireland and of England" for the conflicts in a March 1880 address to the Philo-Celtic Society. Racism and discrimination were common against the Irish in Europe, but a wave of xenophobia would soon trouble the emmigrants in the United States of America after their long and deadly trip to North America. Many were forced to be quarantined after their voyage, as illness spread rapidly and was extremely deadly to the malnourished passengers forced into close quarters. A lack of food, water, and medical supplies also doomed many passengers eager to leave Europe in search for a permanent new life in North America.

The Irish Potato Famine led millions to emigrate to the United States of America in the mid 19th-century. Many settled in the Northeastern cities like New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Those that survived the trip across the Atlantic Ocean were poor, hungry, and malnourished. They searched for jobs, but many Americans viewed them as "drunks" or lazy. In reality, many were penurious but resilient, and stood up to the hate they were given. They chose to reject racist stereotypes by embracing their Irish heritage rather than backing away from it.

Some employers went as far as posting signs stating "No Irish Need Apply", as their services would not be needed because of their heritage. This became a rallying song in the form of pride, rather than its intended purpose to make immigrants feel unwelcome. Governor of Massachusetts Henry Gardner led the "Know-Nothing" party in the 1850s in the passing of legislation to "Americaniz[e] America", requiring a 21-year waiting period for immigrants to obtain U.S. citizenship (Source 3). His 1855 inaugural address highlighted his views on the wave of immigrants in Massachusetts cities like Worcester and Boston. The massive push by some politicians to limit Irish-American influence was not a deterrent in their goal to make their new country home. Rather than returning to Ireland after the potato famine's end, the immigrants prioritized pride in the United States, despite receiving a less than ideal welcome.

Harper's Weekly was a New York City, New York based magazine in the mid/late 19th century that focused on American news and illustrations to go along with them. Thomas Nast led a movement of interest in political cartoons during this time. Many of his political cartoons were racist, particularly anti-Irish. In the 1885 publication below titled "The greatest American intimidators North and South" Nast drew a black man and Irish man drinking alcohol from a man in a top hat, likely a candidate for office. The sign on the wall behind the "intimidators" say "vote for rum." This political cartoon depicted the races as inferior.

When the Irish-Americans were able to find jobs, they oftentimes dealt with poor-paying, dangerous conditions. Low wages, long hours, and difficult jobs like coal mining led to countless injuries and deaths. The Molly Maguires, which began as a secret society in Ireland, stood up to Pennsylvania coal mining bosses using violence to protest the conditions (Source 4). However, violence was not the primary response to the hate Irish-Americans received.

"...the Irish of the South and West are not naturally lazy, but most zealous, patient and laborious, the United States can especially and gratefully acknowledge" - George Shea, March 1880

Many Irish-Americans immediately rejected stereotypes that were spread. While some rumors were told implying racist, anti-immigrants sentiments, others printed about them in local newspaper cartoons. The idea that they were lazy, alcoholics, or otherwise degenerates did not lead to them feeling shame. Instead, many joined local groups that would organize to promote Irish literature, history, and the Gaelic language. Their meetings led to a surgency of pride in their heritage. One of those societies was the Philo-Celtic Society in New York City.

The Philo-Celtic Society was formed in 1873 in the Northeastern United States to promote the Irish language and re-establish it into society. Although the Irish language would never become particularly prominent in the U.S., these movements brought thousands of Irish-Americans together in solidarity. Their heritage was celebrated, and not concealed.

Documents, transcripts, and photographs are held in special collections of libraries in universities across the country. The University of South Florida in Tampa holds many of these moments in history, which reminds students that these events are recent in the grand scope of time. The United States is still a young country, and its history is easier to be researched than others. Although anti-Irish labor and social views are extinct in today's society, the battle against general racism has not. An old saying claims "those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it", and there is a lot to learn about overcoming prejudiced views and being proud of your heritage from Irish-Americans.

Works Cited:

1) Shea, G. (1880, March). Address before the Philo-Celtic Society. University of South Florida.

2) No Irish Need Apply. J. H. Johnson, Stationer & Printer, 7 N. 10th Street, Phila. Library of Congress. (1862). Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/resource/amss.cw104040.0/?st=text

3) Irish Immigration and the Know-Nothings. Office of the Secretary of State, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (2022). Retrieved from www.sec.state.ma.us/mus/pdfs/Irish_Immigration_and_the_Know-Nothings.pdf

4) Kenny, K. (1994). Making Sense of the Molly Maguires. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YcGP2Fq9C80C&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&dq=molly+maguires&ots=gPm-wxO4Or&sig=cooGrm-LriWJM9JG3G6DxpwPs5E#v=onepage&q=molly%20maguires&f=false