Instructor's Introduction:
Americans possess contradictory feelings about the immigrant: on one hand, we celebrate our nation's 'Statue of Liberty' myth about a free country open to the less fortunate; on the other hand, we feel threatened by people who are 'different' from us. During the colonial period, it was the German, with his language and radical Protestantism, which threatened the English majority. By mid-century, however, it was the Irish Catholic who posed a different threat to the Anglo-Protestant majority.

The Irish who came to America during the mid-nineteenth century were desperate. Most were poor, many were illiterate and unskilled, and some were diseased and starving. The contrast with the healthy, well-educated and protestant America at the time could not have been more striking. And, by the 1840's, when the trickle became a flood of the starving and penniless, many Americans reacted with horror. Nativism, the belief that this country only is for native-born Americans, took hold, especially in the northeast states.

 

(A) Complete the Quiz, based on the assigned readings for Theme 8.

 

(B) Read The Tragedy of Bridget-Such-A-One. Answer these questions in a two-page essay:
* What drew Irish Catholics to this country?
* What contributed to anti-Irish sentiments in the United States?
* How and why did the potato become the Irish staple crop?
* What were living conditions like for the Irish before the famine?
* What were the corn laws, and why did the British repeal them?
* How did the British media report the "famine"?
* Why did the British government change directions in dealing with the famine?
* How did American cities change with the arrival of the Irish immigrant?
* Who was "Bridget-Such-a-One"? (This is towards the end of the article.)
* What did the "famine" and mass migrations of Irish to America mean for the Catholic Church in America?

 

(C) * From Sin'ead Oconnor's song Famine: What is her point in the song? Who does she blame? What was lost, as a result of this tragedy? What do the Irish themselves need to do? Why? YouTube of Sinead O'Connor's rap version of Famine Have the lyrics printed up before viewing Youtube.

 

 

(D) Analyze Flyover History, Chapter 28: America's Worst Immigration War in ONE Essay:

Questions:
Why were the Irish resented?
Who were the "Know-Nothings"? What did they do to the Irish?
Why were the Irish accused of cheating on elections?
What was the "purification of the ballot box?
Define each of these: Nativism and Xenophobia
What was the other major issue of the 1850's?
How does the history of the Know-Nothings shed light on our modern immigration debate?
The Know-Nothings

Not Required, but Recommended: Youtube Trailer for the film Gangs of New York Nativists vs. Catholics from Ireland. This film by director Martin Scorsese captures the anger, the blood-feud mentality in New York city of the mid-1840's.
Facts vs. Fiction: Gangs of New York

 

(E) The Cholera Years

Cholera was the most terrifying disease to hit America in the nineteenth century. A disease of the digestive tract, it struck without warning, sometimes killing the victim in less than 24 hours. The disease frightened Americans for decades, peaking in the years 1832, 1849, and finally in the 1860's after the Civil War. Americans feared cholera then the way they fear HIV today. In ONE essay, please answer the following, based upon Chapter 26 in the Flyover Text:

* What caused the disease?
* What were some of the measures people took to prevent it?
* What were some of the explanations for the disease?
* Who was blamed, and why?
* How was the problem eventually solved?

 

(F) Extra Credit: Riverdance
This won't be easy, so plan ahead. Rent/Buy the DVD Riverdance. Watch the entire performance. In a 1-2 page essay, react to what you saw. Questions: What is some of the history being portrayed in the performance? (google this portion!) How do you react to this artistically? Emotionally? What did you see and hear? Note: This extra credit must be done in conjunction with your work done in Theme 8. It is due on the same date as theme 8. Here is a portion of Riverdance on Youtube

 

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On-Line Resources:

Have you ever seen the Irish song and dance show called Riverdance? It is amazing, even breathtaking. Not for everyone (Guys don't usually go for it.) But it is beautiful. Here is a portion of Riverdance on Youtube

More:

The Irish Potato Famine

Irish History, Myths, Poetry, and Drama
St. Patrick's & All Things Irish Quiz

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