The Irish in the United States

The history of the United States is closely tied to that of Ireland. Waves of Irish-American immigrants arrived at two pivotal points in the nation's history. Protestant Ulster Scots, originally English transplants, participated in the War of Independence. Later, Irish Catholics would build growing cities and railroads and enlist on both sides of the Civil War. Today, there are 33 million people who claim Irish ancestry in the United States, about 10 percent of the total population.[1] Elements of Irish culture are now celebrated by Americans of all backgrounds, most notably through holidays like St. Patrick's Day and Halloween.

The Scots-Irish in Early America

The first major round of Irish immigration to America began in the 17th century. The Ulster Scots, or the Scots-Irish, had previously settled in Ireland during the Tudor era. Through their efforts, they helped establish and preserve the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. But religious conflict soon pushed them west again, this time to the British colonies in America. Most arrived through Philadelphia before spreading along the Appalachian mountains to all corners of the colonies.

There, they became some of the leading voices in the American Revolutionary War. Nine or more Ulster Scots signed the Declaration of Independence. The document itself was drafted by the Irish-born Charles Thompson. It was printed by the Scots-Irish John Dunlap and then read aloud by Captain John Nixon, whose family hailed from Wexford.[2][3] Since then, 22 of the 45 Presidents of the United States have claimed Irish ancestry, the majority of them Scots-Irish.[4]

The Arrival of Irish Catholics

Catholic families began emigrating in large numbers during the 19th century. Due to ongoing religious and ethnic tensions, the two groups remained largely separate. The Catholic Irish, unwelcome with the Protestant majority, clustered in the slums of growing urban centers. These new immigrants, like many others, sought to escape persecution, famine, and bloodshed in their homeland. The potato famine of 1845 brought millions of Irish people to the harbors of the United States.

As the newest arrivals to the United States, the Gaelic Irish faced persecution for many years. They were not considered "white," the standard of power and influence in early America, for decades. Cartoons from the time depicted Irish people as ape-like and dirty. They spread negative stereotypes of drunken and rude behavior. Businesses frequently advertised positions with the caveat, "No Irish Need Apply."[5]

Most of the young people leaving Ireland were aware of the hostility awaiting them in the United States. Their position at home left them with few other options. Younger sons inherited little if any land, and daughters could not be guaranteed a husband for support. Those who found work in Britain or Europe usually enjoyed better wages and a higher standard of living. In western Ireland, "American wakes" were held for the departing as a symbolic funeral.[6]

Life in the Cities and Out West

Despite the discrimination and poverty, the Irish entering America between 1820 and 1860 made up one-third of all immigrants. Nearly 5 million Irish men and women emigrated to America between 1820 and 1930.[7] Young men often found work in construction or joined the military. Single women were typically sponsored by a relative already in America. Girls paid off their debt as domestic servants, which often took years. At one point, 70 percent of the domestic servants in New York were Irish women. Others moved west with the railroads, establishing new businesses in Western towns or settling on homesteads.[5]

Irish Descendants in Modern America

By the mid-20th century, Irish Catholics had, for the most part, been accepted into mainstream American culture. This included the election of President John F. Kennedy in 1960, a great-grandson of Irish immigrants. There are now 25 million more Irish descendants in the United States than Irish people in Ireland. These members of the Irish diaspora are part of a global population of around 80 million.[5][8]

Although Irish-Americans have retained many old traditions, they have also adapted to their new homeland. This has, in many ways, formed a separate Irish-American culture. Corned beef and cabbage, for example, is a popular meal on St. Patrick's Day. It is likely a fusion of Irish bacon dishes and the beef available in New York's Jewish delis.[9] Country and bluegrass music, developed along the Appalachian Mountains, also have their roots in Irish tradition.[10]

The relationship between the Irish diaspora and the Irish is still a subject of discussion today. Increasing communication through the Internet has connected many family members divided by the centuries. Ireland has taken steps to promote tourism among the diaspora community. Since the emigration phase, it has become a nation of immigrants itself, further blurring what it means to be Irish in the 21st-century.[8]

Bibliography

1. "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States," U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, accessed February 14, 2017.

2. Erskine Childers, The Framework of Home Rule (London: Edward Arnold, 1911), 34-36.

3. Duncan A. Bruce, The Mark of the Scots (New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2014), 18-35.

4. "Happy President's Day - 22 of America's Presidents had Irish Roots," Irish Central, February 21, 2017, IrishCentral, accessed April 20, 2017.

5. Jay P. Dolan, The Irish Americans: A History (New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2010), 87-96.

6. Robert Lynd, Home Life in Ireland (London: Mills, & Boon, 1909), 120-121.

7. David M. Emmons, "Irish Catholics and Irish-Catholic Americans," in Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration, ed. Elliott Robert Barkan, vol. 1 (Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2013), 417-426.

8. Sara O'Sullivan, Contemporary Ireland: A Sociological Map (Dublin: University College Dublin Press, 2007).

9. Stephanie Butler, "Corned Beef and Cabbage: As Irish as Spaghetti and Meatballs," History, March 15, 2013, A&E Television Networks, accessed February 22, 2017.

10. Michael C. Scoggins, The Scotch Irish Influence on Country Music in the Carolinas: Border Ballads, Fiddle Tunes and Sacred Songs (Charleston: History Press, 2013).

TOTA

Traditions of the Ancestors

This group is for articles produced or approved by TOTA staff, covering a wide variety of cultures and topics.

View Group