1. 19th Century American Nativism
What is an American?
“When the Irish first came to America they were persecuted and they literally did have to fight for their fair share of what America had to offer” - Historian Tyler Anbinder

2. Nativism Defined What is nativism? Nativism in the 19th century:
a policy of native born people being hostile towards/opposing immigrants
Nativism in the 19th century:
white, native-born, Protestant American hostility towards European immigrants
immigrants were usually German and Irish and Catholic
America had been a Protestant, anti-Catholic nation since the 17th century

3. Why the Hatred? Nativists thought immigrants…
lacked intelligence; were lazy and ignorant
stole jobs from Americans by working for less
increased crime
drank too much
the Catholic papacy would influence government
lacked morals; didn’t respect American social rules/values
wouldn’t assimilate (socially/culturally integrate)
were burdens on society
were racially inferior (not 100% “white”)

4. Why did the Germans and Irish emigrate?
Potato famine of the 1840s
Poor economy
Religious freedom
Growing population
Jobs/settlement promotions
The “American Dream”/”Land of Opportunity”
Germans settled in the mid-west (e.g., St. Louis); Irish in the northeast (e.g., Boston)

5. The Irish Tempest by Sir John Tenniel
cartoon analysis

6. American Response Immigration resulted in…
the formation of anti political parties
(1850s) Know Nothing party
blamed immigrants/Catholics for economic, social, and political ills
when asked about their affiliation with an anti- immigration/anti-Catholic party, or the Order of the Star Spangled Banner, they answered “I know nothing”
violence
(1844) Philadelphia Riots
fighting between natives and Irish which led to property damage, deaths and injuries

7. American Response
“When the hordes of other lands are permitted to come here, as is the case daily; when ignorance, poverty, crime is allowed to land upon our shores and be transformed, hardly without ceremony, and with no time to learn the nature of our institutions, into what is called the 'American' citizens—when these things are done, it is time that good men lifted their arms and sounded their voices against the abomination.”
-The Nativist Press, 1854

8. Why Should I Care About Nativism?
Nativism is still very much prevalent today
anti-Muslim/Mexican/Islamic sentiment
Nativism directly affected your ancestors
Nativism impacted cities’ designs
“Little Italy”; “China Town”
Nativism led to the creation of Catholic schools
Nativism led to the formation of ethnic gangs in America
was the basis of Martin Scorsese’s highly acclaimed film Gang’s of New York