Irish AmericansIrish AmericansByBy

Larissa, Allie, Nikki, KatieLarissa, Allie, Nikki, Katie

Ireland’s GeographyIreland’s Geography

• Ireland is located in Far Ireland is located in Far Western Europe in the Western Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean North Atlantic Ocean

• Ireland’s greatest Ireland’s greatest length- 485 km (302 length- 485 km (302 miles) miles)

• Widest Point- 304 km Widest Point- 304 km (189 miles) (189 miles)

• There is 5, 361 km (3, There is 5, 361 km (3, 500 miles) of coastline 500 miles) of coastline

Geography Continued…Geography Continued…

• Across the South, West, Northwest and Across the South, West, Northwest and East are mountain ranges. East are mountain ranges. – The South-Sandstone Mountains of Cork and The South-Sandstone Mountains of Cork and

Kerry. Kerry. – The West and Northwest- Granite Mountains The West and Northwest- Granite Mountains

and sea cliffs which stretch along the coast. and sea cliffs which stretch along the coast.

• The Northeast- plateaus The Northeast- plateaus

• In the center of the country, there is rolling In the center of the country, there is rolling countryside countryside

Ireland’s Climate Ireland’s Climate

• Spring and Autumn TemperaturesSpring and Autumn TemperaturesAverages 50 degrees FahrenheitAverages 50 degrees Fahrenheit

• Summer Temperatures Summer Temperatures Ranges from 60 -70 degrees Ranges from 60 -70 degrees

Fahrenheit Fahrenheit

• Winter TemperaturesWinter Temperatures Ranges from 40-46 degrees Fahrenheit Ranges from 40-46 degrees Fahrenheit

• Average Rainfall- 40 inches a year Average Rainfall- 40 inches a year

People People

• Population- 3,294,140 people Population- 3,294,140 people • Age Structure Age Structure

• 0-14 years: 21.2% (male 427,017; female 404,191) 0-14 years: 21.2% (male 427,017; female 404,191) • 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 1,322,982; female 1,322,429) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 1,322,982; female 1,322,429) • 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 194,724; female 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 194,724; female

252,797)252,797)

• Language SpokenLanguage Spoken• Irish (Gaelic-along western seaboard)Irish (Gaelic-along western seaboard)• English is mainly used English is mainly used

• Religion Religion • Roman Catholic- 90% Roman Catholic- 90% • Protestant group-10%Protestant group-10%

Church of Ireland (Anglican) Church of Ireland (Anglican) Presbyterian and Methodist religionsPresbyterian and Methodist religions

THE HISTORYTHE HISTORYOFOF

IRISH IRISH IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATION

Major Time PeriodsMajor Time Periods

• The Prefamine Period- years before The Prefamine Period- years before 18451845

• The Famine Period- years 1845-1855The Famine Period- years 1845-1855

• The Postfamine Period- years 1855 to The Postfamine Period- years 1855 to the presentthe present

The Prefamine The Prefamine PeriodPeriod

Reasons for ImmigrationReasons for Immigration

• The religious persecution of the The religious persecution of the Catholics in IrelandCatholics in Ireland

• The restriction of Irish economic The restriction of Irish economic developmentdevelopment

• The presence of industrializationThe presence of industrialization

How they got here, Who How they got here, Who came to the U.S. and What came to the U.S. and What

jobs did they do?jobs did they do?• American ships carried raw materials to England and on the American ships carried raw materials to England and on the

return trip, brought back emigrants from Ireland.return trip, brought back emigrants from Ireland.

• The immigrants were mostly Catholic males.The immigrants were mostly Catholic males.

• They were farmers, laborers, and military and religious They were farmers, laborers, and military and religious protestors.protestors.

• They worked to dig the Erie Canal in New York and worked on They worked to dig the Erie Canal in New York and worked on railways, streets, and sewers. railways, streets, and sewers.

• They worked as carpenters and as blacksmiths. They worked as carpenters and as blacksmiths.

Where did they live?Where did they live?

• The immigrants, during the prefamine period, The immigrants, during the prefamine period, settled mostly in the northeast.settled mostly in the northeast.

• Major ports of entry were Philadelphia, New York Major ports of entry were Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.City, and Boston.

FACTFACT

•By 1840, the Irish made up By 1840, the Irish made up nearly half of all entering nearly half of all entering immigrants.immigrants.

The Famine PeriodThe Famine Period

Reason for Immigration and Reason for Immigration and How they got to the U.S.How they got to the U.S.

• The Potato FamineThe Potato Famine

• The Irish crowded onto shipsThe Irish crowded onto ships called “coffin ships.”called “coffin ships.”

Who came to the U.S. and Who came to the U.S. and What jobs did they do?What jobs did they do?

• Mostly Irish families rather than Mostly Irish families rather than single people came to the U.S. in the single people came to the U.S. in the famine period.famine period.

• Jobs were hard to find. However, Jobs were hard to find. However, clearing forests in Michigan and clearing forests in Michigan and digging gold in California were digging gold in California were popular jobs.popular jobs.

Where did they live?Where did they live?

• During the famine period, the Irish During the famine period, the Irish settled in Boston, New York, settled in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.Philadelphia, and New Orleans.

• Some immigrants moved out west.Some immigrants moved out west.

FactsFacts

• The famine period was the period in The famine period was the period in time in which the MOST Irish time in which the MOST Irish immigrated to the United States at immigrated to the United States at one specific time.one specific time.

• About one and a half million Irish About one and a half million Irish came to the United States in the came to the United States in the famine period.famine period.

The Postfamine PeriodThe Postfamine Period

Reasons for ImmigrationReasons for Immigration

• Failing economic conditionsFailing economic conditions

• Increased political dominationIncreased political domination

Who came to the U.S., What Who came to the U.S., What jobs did they do, and Where jobs did they do, and Where

did they settle?did they settle?

• During the postfamine period, more single During the postfamine period, more single females came than males or families.females came than males or families.

• They became religious sisters, secretaries, They became religious sisters, secretaries, nurses, and store clerks.nurses, and store clerks.

• They settled all over the United States.They settled all over the United States.

FACTSFACTS

• After 1860, more than 2.6 million Irish came After 1860, more than 2.6 million Irish came to the United States.to the United States.

• From 1880 to 1910, the ratio of males to From 1880 to 1910, the ratio of males to females immigrating to the U.S. was .98 to females immigrating to the U.S. was .98 to 1.1.

• By 1910, Irish women made up about a By 1910, Irish women made up about a quarter of teachers working in public quarter of teachers working in public schools in American cities.schools in American cities.

Culture in Culture in U.S. U.S.

Food and Drink Food and Drink

• Agriculture is a vital part of the economyAgriculture is a vital part of the economy• Breakfast is a huge meal Breakfast is a huge meal

• Consists of eggs, rashers (bacon), bangers (sausage), baked fresh tomatoes, fresh Consists of eggs, rashers (bacon), bangers (sausage), baked fresh tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, white pudding, black pudding, fresh fruit, brown bread, or toast, or sconesmushrooms, white pudding, black pudding, fresh fruit, brown bread, or toast, or scones

• Juice or coffee Juice or coffee

• Lunch- soups and sandwiches are popular Lunch- soups and sandwiches are popular • Dinner is the largest meal Dinner is the largest meal

• Lamb is used in many recipes Lamb is used in many recipes Irish Stew Irish Stew Roast Leg of LambRoast Leg of Lamb

• Beef is the traditional Sunday roast Beef is the traditional Sunday roast • Potatoes are important part of diet Potatoes are important part of diet • For dessert-For dessert-

homemade Soda Bread homemade Soda Bread Brown BreadBrown Bread

• Home-brewed beverages, such as tea is popular Home-brewed beverages, such as tea is popular • Beer, whiskey, and cider are important drinks to the Irish Beer, whiskey, and cider are important drinks to the Irish

St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day

• Celebrated on March 17Celebrated on March 17thth

• Not an official holiday in U.S. Not an official holiday in U.S.

• In Ireland= religious holidayIn Ireland= religious holiday

• It is the day that people honor the man who brought the Roman It is the day that people honor the man who brought the Roman Catholic religion to IrelandCatholic religion to Ireland

• Green is of Irish tradition Green is of Irish tradition

• many people wear clothing of green, color their hair green, and many people wear clothing of green, color their hair green, and restaurants add green food coloring to beer on this holidayrestaurants add green food coloring to beer on this holiday

• Famous meal is corn-beef, cabbage, and potatoesFamous meal is corn-beef, cabbage, and potatoes

• Parades and Celebrations are common Parades and Celebrations are common

• New York City’s parade is the biggestNew York City’s parade is the biggest

• Hundreds of thousands of people march for eight kilometers Hundreds of thousands of people march for eight kilometers along Fifth Avenue.along Fifth Avenue.

• Millions of others gather along the street to watchMillions of others gather along the street to watch

Wedding TraditionsWedding Traditions

• Claddagh rings Claddagh rings • shaped as a heart, held by two hands with a crownshaped as a heart, held by two hands with a crown• The heart reflects love, the hands reflect faith, and the The heart reflects love, the hands reflect faith, and the

crown reflects honorcrown reflects honor• right hand with heart facing fingernail= singleright hand with heart facing fingernail= single• left hand with the heart facing fingernail= not married, left hand with the heart facing fingernail= not married,

but taken but taken • left hand with crown facing fingernail=marriageleft hand with crown facing fingernail=marriage

• Wedding Dress Wedding Dress • traditional blue dress, signifying luck. traditional blue dress, signifying luck. • Recently, Irish brides tend to wear off-whiteRecently, Irish brides tend to wear off-white

• Hair Hair • Braided hair because this is considered a “sacred way to Braided hair because this is considered a “sacred way to

keep feminine power and luck”keep feminine power and luck”

Christmas Traditions Christmas Traditions

• Candle in the Window on Christmas EveCandle in the Window on Christmas Eve • It is a symbol to welcome Mary and Joseph as they It is a symbol to welcome Mary and Joseph as they

traveled looking for shelter traveled looking for shelter • Candle is lit by the youngest member of the family Candle is lit by the youngest member of the family

• Holly on DoorsHolly on Doors• Considered bad luck if taken down before January 6Considered bad luck if taken down before January 6th th

(Little Christmas)(Little Christmas)• Irish Ornaments Irish Ornaments

• shamrocks, pigs, leprechauns and bright emerald shamrocks, pigs, leprechauns and bright emerald green glass ornaments with Irish messages on them green glass ornaments with Irish messages on them

• Irish Christmas Meals Irish Christmas Meals • Spiced beef (traditional) Spiced beef (traditional) • turkey, ham, stuffing, and many vegetablesturkey, ham, stuffing, and many vegetables• Dessert- mince pies, Christmas pudding, and brandy Dessert- mince pies, Christmas pudding, and brandy

or rum sauceor rum sauce

Irish in Irish in PoliticsPolitics

As soon as Irish came to As soon as Irish came to America they jumped into America they jumped into

politicspolitics

• Was an opportunity that they did not Was an opportunity that they did not have in Irelandhave in Ireland

• Was a job for a self made man Was a job for a self made man

• Gave them an advantage, control in Gave them an advantage, control in a new land a new land

-Need job and security-Need job and security

The Irish mostly became The Irish mostly became democratsdemocrats

• When first came the Federalists (Whigs) did When first came the Federalists (Whigs) did not like themnot like them

-Saw them as wild and rude -Saw them as wild and rude peoplepeople

-Threat to their power-Threat to their power

• Passed Acts such as Naturalization, Alien Passed Acts such as Naturalization, Alien and Sedition Actsand Sedition Acts

-First charged was Matthew Lyon-First charged was Matthew Lyon

One of first Irishman in politics One of first Irishman in politics is a man named Michael Walshis a man named Michael Walsh

• Ran for congressman as democrat Ran for congressman as democrat against the Whigsagainst the Whigs

-Cut to the point, rough, and -Cut to the point, rough, and sarcasticsarcastic

• Spartan bandSpartan band

-Gain votes and support-Gain votes and support

• 1851 won a seat in congress1851 won a seat in congress

• 1859 died1859 died

Political machinesPolitical machines

• Most Irishmen in politics Most Irishmen in politics worked at the local level of worked at the local level of

governmentgovernment • would form political would form political

machinesmachines

• 2 advantages over other 2 advantages over other immigrantsimmigrants

-Already knew -Already knew English English languagelanguage

-Familiar with -Familiar with American American cultureculture

• Machines had a citywide Machines had a citywide leader called a boss leader called a boss

• Next in power were the Next in power were the precinct captainsprecinct captains

-Put in power by the -Put in power by the bossboss

-Usually was a -Usually was a patronage patronage jobjob

• -They were assigned zones -They were assigned zones (neighborhoods), they were (neighborhoods), they were responsible for getting the responsible for getting the vote for their boss vote for their boss

Political Machines continuedPolitical Machines continued

• Last there was the public Last there was the public who supports the machineswho supports the machines

-Usually the -Usually the machines machines supplied supplied some kind of some kind of service to service to the people in the people in return for return for their supporttheir support

-Before welfare was -Before welfare was popular would help popular would help

out out the poorthe poor-Provided -Provided

immigrants immigrants with social with social services and services and jobs in return jobs in return for their for their votes votes

Mayor Richard J. DaleyMayor Richard J. Daley

• The last well-known political machine The last well-known political machine leader in power leader in power

• The first Chicago Mayor to be elected The first Chicago Mayor to be elected for four consecutive four-year termsfor four consecutive four-year terms

• Known for the Known for the political machine to have political machine to have aided in electing John F. Kennedy in aided in electing John F. Kennedy in 19601960

• known for known for being extremely tolerant of being extremely tolerant of corruptioncorruption

• Daley relayed heavily on his precinct Daley relayed heavily on his precinct captaincaptain

• suprisingly honest for a machine leadersuprisingly honest for a machine leader-perosnal honesty was never -perosnal honesty was never successfully questionedsuccessfully questioned

THE ENDTHE END