Model Lessons and Historical Background

1. Model Lessons and Historical Background THE IRISH BRIGADES “Who Never Retreated From The Clash OF Spears”

2. Anti-Irish Cartoons (Circa 1850)

3. Thomas Nast Portrays the Irish

4. Origins of the Nativists/Know Nothings Taxes: Government costs will rise due to the influx of immigrants on the tax and social welfare systems. Language: Immigrants stick to themselves in their own communities and do not learn English. Jobs: Take jobs from citizens. Nationalism: Hold allegiance to their country of origin, not the United States. Ethnicity: Will overpopulate and replace the home culture with their own. Crime: Newcomers form violent gangs and engage in illegal activities like drugs or prostitution. Religion: 1830’s - Tales of sexual slavery and infanticide in convents prompted the burning of a convent in Mass., setting off nearly two decades of violence against Catholics. Anti-Catholic riots were largely centered in the major urban centers of the country and led to the creation of the nativist Know-Nothing Party in 1854, whose platform included a straightforward condemnation of the Catholic Church.

5. In this 1850s cartoon, armed "Know-Nothings" blast into Baltimore in support of their candidate, Thomas Swann. He represented the American Party's anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant platform. Voter intimidation was not uncommon.

6. Did the Irish serve in the military as a method of proving their inclusive worthiness to this nation? • A variety of interests: • Assimilation into the mainstream of American Society? Majority White/Protestant/Middle Class. • Prove their loyalty to America. • Making America a place of safety for future Irish immigrants. • Pay • To develop military skills that they would bring back to Ireland to help promulgate a revolution with Britain Anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudice was evident throughout the nineteenth century, showing that the New York Irish did not gain respect do to their participation in the military during the Civil War. Any advancement made in society was due to the Irish becoming politically active, their entering the Democratic Party, and their loyalty to the Catholic Church.

7. Approximately 185,000 Irish-American immigrants fought on both sides of the American Civil War. Roughly 40,000 for the South

8. The Irish Brigade (Infantry) The Fighting 69th War Cry – “faugh a ballagh” Clear the Way! Served two Union purposes: 1) Britain appeared to be favoring the Confederacy – or coming in on the side of the South. There could be Union-supported consequences in Ireland if Britain intervened (most of the brigade's membership were known Irish revolutionaries), 2) It served to solidify Irish support for the union. The Irish were naturally predisposed to support the Confederacy due to their sympathy with the struggle for independence. They also didn't want a flood of freed slaves to migrate north and compete for the lowly jobs for which they already had to scrabble. Wave the bloody shirt!

9. A brigade is a military unit that is typically composed of two to five regiments or battalions 1861 - The 69th and 88th regiments were organized in New York Throughout its life in the Army of the Potomac, the Irish Brigade was almost always at the foremost position and suffered high casualties as a result Fredericksburg Antietem Gettysburg