1. Modern Irish History and The Irish in America

2. Objectives
Through the use of videos, PowerPoints, and primary sources students will:
Understand significant events in Irish history after 1800
Analyze how the potato famine led to a mass immigration to America and how that immigration effected American culture
Examine how peace finally began to spread through a country that has known centuries of internal and external conflict

3. The Act of Union The Act of Union goes into effect January 1, 1801
This would never have happened without the Irish Rebellion of 1798

4. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 Had it seeds in other revolutions
American, French
In the early 1790s, the Society of the United Irishmen was formed
Catholics, liberal Protestants, Presbyterians joined together for reform

5. Theobald Wolfe Tone Leader of the “Society”
Helped increase numbers to 100,000
Was able to gain French assistance in the form of a navy
Eventually killed himself before his planned execution

6. Two Sides Prepare Orange Order Had support of Britain
English imposed martial law in Irish counties
House burning
Murder
Torture
Pitchcapping
United Irish
Plan was to seize Dublin
Signal to the rest of the revolutionaries to begin attacks throughout Ireland

7. The Rebellion Begins
Begins with an attack in Dublin by the United Irish
Other counties began to attack, but it was not well coordinated
Many atrocities on both sides
Burning individuals
Instant hangings
Civilians murdered

8. After the Rebellion
The last of the United Irish was not killed until 1804
England passed the Act of Union
Estimated 15,000 – 30,000 deaths

9. The Irish Potato Famine (1845 – 1847)
Caused by “blight”
Fungus from Mexico
Destroyed the entire potato crop
Irish grew potatoes because it was more economical
You could grow three times more potatoes than grain on the same land
Click here for a first hand account of “The Famine”

10. England’s role during The Famine
Other crops (wheat and oats) were in abundance in England
Two reasons they did not ship them to Ireland
England could get more money selling them in Europe
They feared the Irish would sell the food and use the money to revolt
England demanded any food sent to Ireland from other countries go through England first

11. Immediate Effects of The Famine
One and a half million died of starvation
Two million emigrated
America
Canada
The population of Ireland decreased 25%

13. The Irish Arrive in America
Over one million arrived in the late 1840s
Click here to find your ancestor at Ellis Island
They faced immediate hatred
Many American cities (Boston) we founded by the English
Now the hated Irish arrived looking poor and desperate

14. The Irish Tenements
There were no laws regarding housing and sanitation
Landlords could charge whatever they wanted
Housing was in such demand that families were living in a one room “house”
Disease (cholera) was common

15. The Irish Enter the Workforce
The Irish were willing to work for less than Americans
An Irish immigrant might earn $1 day at an unskilled job instead of 8 cents a day back home
This lead to a deep hatred against Irish immigrants

16. Fear of the Irish Growth
The Irish represented 43% of the foreign born population (1850)
Irish kept to themselves and were thus viewed as “outsiders”
American Protestants were fearful of the growth of Catholics

17. Riots in the Cities Boston Burned Catholic convents
Philadelphia (1844)
Protestants and Catholics fought
Protestants burned Irish Churches
As a result, when the Irish rebuilt their churches they built the windows high so bricks could not be thrown thorough the windows
Other riots in New York, Baltimore, St. Louis

18. The Irish “Turn the Corner”
The Irish gained respect when the volunteered to fight during the Civil War
Over 140,000 immigrants enlisted
Made up their own regiments

19. The Need for Labor
After the Civil War there was a need for laborers to rebuild the country
The Irish worked as:
Factory workers
Railroad builders
Miners
Boat builders
Actually began to unionize and receive better working conditions

20. The Next Generation in America
Most Irish workers made enough to send money back to relatives
This paid for more immigrants to come to America
The immigrants now gained citizenship and the right to vote
Worked as civil servants, police, and firemen

21. Ireland in the 1900’s Trouble continued between the English and Irish
The Easter 1916 Rising
Eventually Ireland gained it’s independence except for the 6 counties in the North
Became Northern Ireland
Remained under control of the British

22. Violence and “The Troubles”
Bloody Sunday
January 20, 1972
14 Irish protesters were shot and killed by British soldiers
They were protesting British rule of Northern Ireland

23. Finally - PEACE “The Good Friday Agreement” Signed April 10, 1998
Meant to end the violence in Northern Ireland
Established a power-sharing system
Gave the citizens of Northern Ireland more say in government
Provides cultural, social, economic rights
People can be viewed as either British or Irish citizens (or both)

24. Works Cited
"A Timeline of Irish History." Fianna Guide to Irish Genealogy. 29 Mar Feb <
"Belfast Agreement." Belfast Agreement. 25 Feb Wikipedia. 13 Feb <
"Gone to America." The Irish Potato Famine The History Place. 20 Feb <
"Irish Rebellion of 1798." Irish Rebellion of Feb Wikipedia. 16 Feb <
"Island Ireland." Irish History. 2 Feb Feb <
"Passenger Search." Ellis Island. 21 Feb <
"Population Fall in Ireland " 13 Feb <

25. Works Cited (continued)
"Rockefller Center 1932." Image. 23 Feb <
"The Irish Potato Famine, 1847." EyeWitness to History.Com Feb <
"The Irish Potato Famine." Digital History. 25 Feb Feb <
"Theobald Wolfe Tone." The Father of Irish Democracy. 17 Feb <
Wright, Karis, Alexis Olsen, and Audrey Larson. "The 19th Century: the Great Famine." Ireland: the Great Famine. 18 Feb <