Irish Americans

1. Irish Americans By Larissa, Allie, Nikki, Katie

2. Ireland’s Geography • Ireland is located in Far Western Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean • Ireland’s greatest length- 485 km (302 miles) • Widest Point- 304 km (189 miles) • There is 5, 361 km (3, 500 miles) of coastline

3. Geography Continued… • Across the South, West, Northwest and East are mountain ranges. • The South-Sandstone Mountains of Cork and Kerry. • The West and Northwest- Granite Mountains and sea cliffs which stretch along the coast. • The Northeast- plateaus • In the center of the country, there is rolling countryside

4. Ireland’s Climate • Spring and Autumn Temperatures • Averages 50 degrees Fahrenheit • Summer Temperatures • Ranges from 60 -70 degrees Fahrenheit • Winter Temperatures • Ranges from 40-46 degrees Fahrenheit • Average Rainfall- 40 inches a year

5. People • Population- 3,294,140 people • Age Structure • 0-14 years: 21.2% (male 427,017; female 404,191) • 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 1,322,982; female 1,322,429) • 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 194,724; female 252,797) • Language Spoken • Irish (Gaelic-along western seaboard) • English is mainly used • Religion • Roman Catholic- 90% • Protestant group-10% • Church of Ireland (Anglican) • Presbyterian and Methodist religions

6. THE HISTORYOFIRISH IMMIGRATION

7. Major Time Periods • The Prefamine Period- years before 1845 • The Famine Period- years 1845-1855 • The Postfamine Period- years 1855 to the present

8. The Prefamine Period

9. Reasons for Immigration • The religious persecution of the Catholics in Ireland • The restriction of Irish economic development • The presence of industrialization

10. How they got here, Who came to the U.S. and What jobs did they do? • American ships carried raw materials to England and on the return trip, brought back emigrants from Ireland. • The immigrants were mostly Catholic males. • They were farmers, laborers, and military and religious protestors. • They worked to dig the Erie Canal in New York and worked on railways, streets, and sewers. • They worked as carpenters and as blacksmiths.

11. Where did they live? • The immigrants, during the prefamine period, settled mostly in the northeast. • Major ports of entry were Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

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

13. The Famine Period

14. Reason for Immigration and How they got to the U.S. • The Potato Famine • The Irish crowded onto ships called “coffin ships.”

15. Who came to the U.S. and What jobs did they do? • Mostly Irish families rather than single people came to the U.S. in the famine period. • Jobs were hard to find. However, clearing forests in Michigan and digging gold in California were popular jobs.

16. Where did they live? • During the famine period, the Irish settled in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. • Some immigrants moved out west.

17. Facts • The famine period was the period in time in which the MOST Irish immigrated to the United States at one specific time. • About one and a half million Irish came to the United States in the famine period.

18. The Postfamine Period

19. Reasons for Immigration • Failing economic conditions • Increased political domination

20. Who came to the U.S., What jobs did they do, and Where did they settle? • During the postfamine period, more single females came than males or families. • They became religious sisters, secretaries, nurses, and store clerks. • They settled all over the United States.

21. FACTS • After 1860, more than 2.6 million Irish came to the United States. • From 1880 to 1910, the ratio of males to females immigrating to the U.S. was .98 to 1. • By 1910, Irish women made up about a quarter of teachers working in public schools in American cities.

22. Culture in U.S.

23. Food and Drink • Agriculture is a vital part of the economy • Breakfast is a huge meal • Consists of eggs, rashers (bacon), bangers (sausage), baked fresh tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, white pudding, black pudding, fresh fruit, brown bread, or toast, or scones • Juice or coffee • Lunch- soups and sandwiches are popular • Dinner is the largest meal • Lamb is used in many recipes • Irish Stew • Roast Leg of Lamb • Beef is the traditional Sunday roast • Potatoes are important part of diet • For dessert- • homemade Soda Bread • Brown Bread • Home-brewed beverages, such as tea is popular • Beer, whiskey, and cider are important drinks to the Irish

24. St. Patrick’s Day • Celebrated on March 17th • Not an official holiday in U.S. • In Ireland= religious holiday • It is the day that people honor the man who brought the Roman Catholic religion to Ireland • Green is of Irish tradition • many people wear clothing of green, color their hair green, and restaurants add green food coloring to beer on this holiday • Famous meal is corn-beef, cabbage, and potatoes • Parades and Celebrations are common • New York City’s parade is the biggest • Hundreds of thousands of people march for eight kilometers along Fifth Avenue. • Millions of others gather along the street to watch

25. Wedding Traditions • Claddagh rings • shaped as a heart, held by two hands with a crown • The heart reflects love, the hands reflect faith, and the crown reflects honor • right hand with heart facing fingernail= single • left hand with the heart facing fingernail= not married, but taken • left hand with crown facing fingernail=marriage • Wedding Dress • traditional blue dress, signifying luck. • Recently, Irish brides tend to wear off-white • Hair • Braided hair because this is considered a “sacred way to keep feminine power and luck”

26. Christmas Traditions • Candle in the Window on Christmas Eve • It is a symbol to welcome Mary and Joseph as they traveled looking for shelter • Candle is lit by the youngest member of the family • Holly on Doors • Considered bad luck if taken down before January 6th (Little Christmas) • Irish Ornaments • shamrocks, pigs, leprechauns and bright emerald green glass ornaments with Irish messages on them • Irish Christmas Meals • Spiced beef (traditional) • turkey, ham, stuffing, and many vegetables • Dessert- mince pies, Christmas pudding, and brandy or rum sauce

27. Irish in Politics

28. As soon as Irish came to America they jumped into politics • Was an opportunity that they did not have in Ireland • Was a job for a self made man • Gave them an advantage, control in a new land -Need job and security

29. The Irish mostly became democrats • When first came the Federalists (Whigs) did not like them -Saw them as wild and rude people -Threat to their power • Passed Acts such as Naturalization, Alien and Sedition Acts -First charged was Matthew Lyon

30. Ran for congressman as democrat against the Whigs -Cut to the point, rough, and sarcastic Spartan band -Gain votes and support 1851 won a seat in congress 1859 died One of first Irishman in politics is a man named Michael Walsh

31. Most Irishmen in politics worked at the local level of government would form political machines 2 advantages over other immigrants -Already knew English language -Familiar with American culture Machines had a citywide leader called a boss Next in power were the precinct captains -Put in power by the boss -Usually was a patronage job -They were assigned zones (neighborhoods), they were responsible for getting the vote for their boss Political machines

32. Political Machines continued • Last there was the public who supports the machines -Usually the machines supplied some kind of service to the people in return for their support -Before welfare was popular would help out the poor -Provided immigrants with social services and jobs in return for their votes

33. Mayor Richard J. Daley • The last well-known political machine leader in power • The first Chicago Mayor to be elected for four consecutive four-year terms • Known for the political machine to have aided in electing John F. Kennedy in 1960 • known for being extremely tolerant of corruption • Daley relayed heavily on his precinct captain • suprisingly honest for a machine leader -perosnal honesty was never successfully questioned

34. THE END