This is the second part of a two-part series that examines the history of Irish society as we approach St. Patrick’s Day. In the first part, we examine the plight of the Irish in their homeland when their farms were taken over, the famine and deteriorating conditions in Ireland, causing millions of Irish to migrate to the United States, where they also faced harsh conditions. difficult life. In part two, we’ll examine the history of Irish-Americans as they carved out their own place in American society.
Numerous Irish refugees came to the United States as servants. Once in the United States, they had to look for work, which led them to endure hard physical labor for several years to pay off the debt to their lender (the usurer) before they could free themselves of this obligation.
After the War Between the States, there was a period in the United States known as “The Gilded Age” where substantial advances in technology contributed to the rapid industrialization of America. As more and more cities and towns were established, the need for more workers grew. Irish immigrants rounded out the workforce for most of the back-breaking jobs.
Since the stagecoach was becoming obsolete, there was a greater need for faster and more comfortable transportation. The railroad was essential to the growth of the United States, as it solved the transportation problems of the people of the Wild West. Federal grants were generously awarded to the builders, which helped to carry out this gigantic project. The contractors spread the word that they needed hired help at the promised rate of a daily wage of $2.50. This was an even better deal for Irish immigrants, who earned just 50 cents a day working on the East Coast’s Erie Canal. There was no job too difficult for an Irishman to tackle. Strong, burly Irish men answered the call, working fast and furiously, side by side with other ethnic groups. Irish immigrants endured horrendous physical labor and living conditions in order to survive and to send money home to their families.
During the years 1850-1890, the American railroad system expanded prodigiously. As a result of the 200,000 miles of railroads that were laid in 1890, industries were able to ship their products to distant public markets at a faster rate, thus fueling economic growth.
In 1854, there was a riot in New York City resulting from a fight between the “Know-Nothings” and the Irish, during which some forty or fifty people were injured, some fatally. The few police officers who were present did their best to quell the violence, but they could not. Crowds, wild with excitement and out of control, joined the police, beating them with clubs and stones. Shot after shot was fired into the air, including into the population, which finally put an end to the riots.
Who were these “Know-Nothings”? They were Native Americans who resented all immigrants and various ethnicities, especially the Irish who came in large numbers during the 1940s and ’50s. This political party called the “Know-Nothings” was officially known as “The American Party.” The party materialized from secret societies that were against immigrants coming to the United States, going to great lengths to get rid of them. This resulted in fierce altercations between the two groups throughout all the major cities. When asked about the organization or who the leaders of this supposed political party were, they were instructed to say “I don’t know anything.”
Unfortunately, most avenues for economic improvement were closed to these new Americans due to their lack of skills and knowledge. The prejudices that Protestant America formed towards Irish Catholics only made matters worse. Wherever the Irish went in response to classified ads, anti-Irish sentiment arose. Employers put up signs saying “No Irish Needed”. These signs eventually disappeared over the years as new ethnic groups immigrated to the United States and were targeted by this anti-immigrant sentiment. New prejudices replace old prejudices. However, through their persistence, the Irish refugees would find employment in the mills and factories that prospered along the waterways. “The 363-mile-long Erie Canal was built between 1817 and 1825 at a cost of $7 million. The excavation was done largely by Irish immigrants, lured by back-breaking labor for wages of $8 to $12 a month or .50 cents a day.” Irish immigrants who worked on the canal usually stayed, establishing their presence in that area.
Thousands of unskilled Irish immigrants and illiterate workers settled in New York City, taking whatever jobs they could get. They worked as truck drivers, day laborers, streetcar conductors, and shipyard mechanics. Others worked as dock workers, blacksmiths, laborers, and street sweepers. Women would seek employment in a domestic position as a housekeeper or cook.
As a result of Irish immigration, which began during the 1930s until after the Civil War, the Catholic Church grew rapidly. Although Irish Catholics existed during the colonial period, it was not until the 19th century that the achievements of the Catholic Church became more pronounced. St. Joseph’s Seminary, a Catholic institution, was established in Troy in 1864, the Diocese of Rochester was organized in 1866, the Diocese of Ogdensburg in 1872, and the Diocese of Syracuse in 1886. The first bishop of the Diocese of Albany was also became the first American cardinal in 1875. St. Bernard Seminary was established in Rochester and St. Joseph’s in Yonkers in 1896.
Irish-American men were highly praised for their outstanding unflinching bravery in all of America’s wars. They were brave warriors during the Revolutionary War and the American Civil War, including the Vietnam War. During the Civil War, the Irish Brigade made up of four regiments, the 63rd, 69th, and 88th New York and the 29th Massachusetts, became one of the most famous fighting units in the Union Army. Many of these brave soldiers were Irish immigrants from New York. Their involvement in every US military conflict has helped Irish-American men earn the respect and admiration of the American people.
In their determination to excel, Irish-Americans no longer wished to remain at the bottom of the US economic ladder as unskilled workers striving to outdo themselves. This strength of character and pursuit of higher education has given rise to a new role as leading and productive citizens, successful businessmen, political figures, doctors, nurses, actors and actresses, writers, historians, inventors, human rights advocates, women, musicians, opera singers, composers, teachers and much, much more. One of the most rewarding moments for the Irish-American community was watching John Fitzgerald Kennedy become the first Irish Catholic president of the United States.
Well, my dear readers, I guess we’ve come to the end of this extraordinary story, in which I’ve briefly summarized the plight of “Irish Americans: More Than Just a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.” I hope it is water for the mill of your inquisitive mind.
Oh, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate the proud Irish-American culture and have a green beer!