Tag: Session 2

Jennifer's posts

D.R. MacRaild ‘Crossing migrant frontiers: comparative reflections on Irish migrants in Britain and the United States during the 19th century’

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Donald MacRaild is Pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge exchange at London Metropolitan University and is known for his work published on Irish, Britain, Social and labour history.

In this chapter MacRaild starts by detailing that from 1815-1930 more than 50 million people left Europe in the most striking population movement in history. He then continues on to discuss why migrants would choose to go to one place over another. One reason is that Government Legislation made America and Canada major destinations for those wanting to start a new life. He states that for some of the Irish they wanted to be way from Britain and America gave them good job prospects. For others Britain was as for away from Ireland as they could afford. Money was also a large factor as some people could not afford the £20 to travel to America, whereas it cost 2d to get to Britain. Hence why Britain received many of the poorer migrants.

By 1870 95% of Irish born Americans were in 20 of the states, mostly heavy urban states like new England. The Irish were the largest 1st generation of migrants in 27 states and 2nd in the rest of the states.

During the industrial revolution the Irish were used as scapegoats in both America and Britain because of the social unrest. Poorer Irish individuals found themselves labelled with the criminals. Many others made to return to Ireland under laws of settlement and removal as they were seen as an economical threat during hard times. MacRaild continues on by discussing how Irish migrants and free blacks had Similar experiences in America. Irish were seen as “not quite white” and were outcast, just like the free black people. There was competition for labour between the Irish and Black people. This race competition was not as big in Britain as slavery wasn’t as Big in Britain as it was in America.

Britain had less migrants trying to establish themselves Politically. The Irish in Britain shaped urban infrastructure as they would only give job contracts to their own. However, in America the Irish were bribed in elections as there were large numbers of them that could help candidates win.

MacRaild notes how the civil war was an opportunity for the Irish, the union army recruited 150,000 Irishmen and in the heat of battle the Irish American created a new sort of Irish identity. However, the Irish soldiers were often condemned for their drunkenness and brawling while being praised for their valour. There was no opportunity like this in Britain for the Irish as being a soldier in war was an obligation under the act of union, so they had less opportunity to integrate into society like the Irish Americans were able to.

MacRaild concludes the chapter by stating that Irish immigrants were influential in Britain and America, but in different ways. He then finishes on the words of Oscar Handlin, “Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.” The same could never be said of Britain.

Heather's posts

Bernard Aspinwall, ‘The Formation of the Catholic community in the West of Scotland: Some Preliminary Outlines’

Heather |

‘The Formation of the Catholic community in the West of Scotland: Some Preliminary Outlines’ by Bernard Aspinwall is a detailed, primary material-based article that analyses how the absence of religious infrastructure in the West of Scotland was changed and in response allowed a solid framework to grow. Throughout the article, Aspinwall shows the Catholic church at the head of this framework, from education, recreational to social services, the church and its benefactors played a key role in consolidating a Catholic community in the nineteenth century.

Centring on three aspects; expansion, embellishment and architectural achievements, the article tracks the progress of this catholic infrastructure. The church, at the head, through various programmes such as Sunday schools to professional lectures allowed the community to grow in knowledge and faith. In addition, the church provided job and social opportunities for example shop keeping which, as Aspinwall argues, allowed spirituality to be sold. Expansion can be seen in the clergy. Aspinwall mentions numerous clergy that preached in Catholic communities or who were crucial to the development of the catholic community such as Charles Eyre, the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow. New orders such as the Jesuits helped reform and keep the values of the church alive. Benefactors helped embellish the church with the gifting of land, altars or organs which suggested a communal pride in the church. Embellishment then turned to architecture as churches got bigger and more prominent within society and thus a community was consolidated.

Aspinwall article is generally clear however he mentions the word landau several times which is a coachbuilding term for a carriage.

A large number of primary sources are used, with Aspinwall relying heavily on the Scottish Catholic Directory, a catholic database, for much of his material. Archival material, from the Jesuit Archives to the Rosminians archives, in the form of letters, correspondences and diaries are also referenced in excess. However, Aspinwall frequently refences Catholic newspapers such as the Tablet. Newspapers tend to be bias, towards one particular side and with Aspinwall using only catholic newspapers, the result is no perspective from non-Catholic communities.

There are frequent citing of James Handley’s work, a published historian on the Irish, as well as Emmet Larkin and Stewart Meckie, both published historians on Scotland and the Irish Catholic community. Although, other works such as Thomas Fitzpatrick’s, ‘Catholic Education in Glasgow, Lanarkshire and South-West Scotland before 1872′[1]or Anthony Ross’s, ‘The Development of the Scottish Catholic Community 1878-1978′[2]ould have been useful material in aiding the argument.

The article fits into the topic for session two of Irish immigration in the nineteenth century by detailing the ways in which the Catholic church created a catholic community most of whom were Irish immigrants. The Irish in response found their own identity within Scotland, perhaps to the dislike of Scottish society, which addresses one of the themes of the course.

 

[1] The Innes Review, Volume 29 Issue 2, Page 111-139, 2010

[2] The Innes Review, Volume 29 Issue 1, Page 30-55, 2010

Sophie's posts

Paddy and Mr Punch, R.F. Foster

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The article “Paddy and Mr Punch” by R.F. Foster primarily focuses on the satirical magazine Punch, and its portrayal of Ireland and the Irish from 1841 onwards. Foster chronologically explains the content of the magazine and how it developed through the context of Irish immigration to Britain. He argues that Punch gives a “varied” representation of the complexity of the Irish presence in Britain during the 19th century. He also maintains that Punch undertook a change in attitude towards the Irish due to the Young Ireland movement, explaining that this movement led to many anti-Irish cartoons and jokes, as the magazine viewed the anti-Union Irish as ungrateful. After analysing many primary examples from Punch itself, as well as the editor of Punch’s letter in defence of the magazine, Foster concludes by stating that Punch’s anti-Irishness was perhaps not due to a belief that the Irish were a sub-race, but instead, the magazine was simply against the violent tendencies of the Young Ireland movement and their bitterness towards the Union.

I believe Foster effectively portrays his argument for a number of reasons. Firstly, the article is written in a formal and coherent manner. Secondly, Foster’s abundant use of primary evidence successfully portrays his points, as he includes detailed descriptions of many jokes that were included in the magazine throughout the years. Foster also analyses some prefaces to Punch issues, which often discuss the affairs that were taking place during the issue’s release. The author also includes images of Punch’s caricatures which allows readers to see real examples of Punch’s work. I found some of the images hard to decipher however that is possibly a technological error. Additionally, the author also strengthens his argument through references of relevant historians, such as Hoppen and Price. It could be argued that the article lacks secondary sources, however, I believe that this style of article, which acts as a case study of Punch, is more successful when dealing with primary sources from the magazine itself.

Furthermore, Foster’s article relates to the topic of Irish immigration during the 19th century as he explains the prominent stereotyping of the Irish as well as the attitude towards Irish immigration that was held by many British people. He notes the Irish famine, which was a significant Push factor for Irish immigration, and effectively depicts much of the media’s opinion on the political and economic turmoil taking place in Ireland during this period. However, it could be argued that Foster does not efficiently explain other opinions of Irish immigration during this time, and instead focuses on one view that, although was popular, was held only by some British people.

Therefore, “Paddy and Mr Punch” by R.F. Foster, to a certain extent, successfully depicts the anti-Irish view many British people held during the 19th century. By analysing the content of the magazine Punch, Foster allows readers to understand the degree of prejudice against the Irish, thus highlighting one of the major aspects of Irish immigration during the 19th century.

Abbie's posts

Donald MacRaild ‘Culture, Conflict and Migration: The Irish in Victorian Cumbria’

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Donald MacRaild’s ‘Culture, Conflict and Migration: The Irish in Victorian Cumbria’ is a meticulous account on sectarian violence and communal division in the county of Cumbria. MacRaild documents four main incidents that occur between the host community and the Irish over the period of thirty nine years. The factors which communicate the anti-Irishness that England portrayed during the time (that MacRaild lists) include: the Barrow anti-Irish riot of 1864, the disorder that accompanied notorious protestant preacher William Murphy’s lectures in Whitehaven, 1871, the CleatorMoor Orange Day riot of 1884 and the violence that followed John Kensitt’s Wycliffe Preachers to Barrow in 1903.

While it would take more than a few pages to surmise the events that MacRaild highlighted in his chapter, the common denominator remains the same throughout each incident: violence was a common language between English and Irish. Throughout each incident, the anti-Irishness felt by the English had devastating consequences, specifically showcased in the Barrow riot of 1864 that had spawned merely due to, what is assumed, a rumour that the Irish were brought in to undercut wages. Upon hearing word of this, a crowd formed in rage who later stalked the streets, battering down dwellings known to contain Irishmen. Sectarianism was the main cause of the following three factors, which resulted in mobbing’s, planned attacks, deaths on both sides and brutal violence. The Murphy riots highlighted the inter-communal hostilities within Cumbria and was the root of the Orange orders revival in the area, as William Murphy was badly beaten by the Irish after he had given a controversial performance. Murphy died the following year (whose death was attributed to his beating) after being bed-ridden for what can be assumed as months due to the injuries he had sustained from the Irish in Whitehaven. This furthered tensions in Cumbria to a dangerous level. The Orange Day riot of 1884 was a boiling point for the county, as a riot broke out when Catholics had heard that an Orangeman had ‘struck one of the crowd a blow to the face.’ Revolvers were then drawn with sixteen of the crowd arrested. MacRaildnotes it could be possible to dismiss these instances as an inevitable feature of working class life that has only been heightened by incendiary elements. In regards to John Kensitt’s Preachers, Catholic tensions had rose upon their visit when George Wise, a prominent Protestant leader ‘cut left and right at Roman Catholics’ before the Preachers gave their lecture. When the Preachers began, an argument quickly surfaced among the Catholics and a ‘rush was made for the preachers’ and the following day, they were surrounded by a mob with one Ulster Irishmen savagely beaten. The Preachers were charged for causing a breach of the peace.

MacRaild’s chapter is both fascinating and a complex account of issues that are integral to understanding Irish immigration. His chapter is accessible, broken down into large sprawling sections with an incredible attention to detail on each incident. A key component is that he never favours one side over the other, he expresses the brutality of both sides and refuses to harbour the trials and tribulations both sides face. The topic of Irish Immigration in Cumbria is niche, but MacRaild manages an impressive 141 sources to document his journey, dealing mainly in newspapers from the time. While the majority of the chapter is excellent, a weakness is that the reasons for the breakouts in the riots are entirely speculated, and can never be definitively proven. Therefore, the truth still remains unknown for who started the riots, or the specifics of what caused such devastating violence.

Emily's posts

Session 2 – ‘Irish immigration in the 19th century Irish Emigration in the later Nineteenth Century’- D. Fitzpatrick

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This chapter mentions how nearly half of the population of Ireland disappeared in the late 19th century, due to both the high mortality rate during the great famine, and mass emigration, but discusses mass emigration in more depth.

Fitzpatrick explains that Britain was an attractive destination to Irish emigrants as the journey cost less, meaning it was more accessible to migrants of many different social classes. Britain also attracted Irish migrants as it was easier for people to return home if they wanted to. As Fitzpatrick puts it “For those wishing to increase their earnings without abandoning hope of future employment at home, Britain was the most attractive destination”-pg 128

America was also popular with Irish expatriates, and in 1870, when the Irish overseas population reached its peak at over 3million, around three fifths of Irish expatriates lived in America. This was in part due to the coinciding of the Irish potato famine and the industrial recession in Britain.

State assistance for emigration to Australia greatly increased the number of Irish migrants who travelled there. Assistance meant that people from many different social classes could emigrate to Australia. As Fitzpatrick explains, “during the famine and its immediate sequel more than four-fifths of Irish emigrants to the Australian colonies were state assisted, and assistance in various guises remained the rule until the 1890s”-pg. 131

Irish immigrant groups were often recognised out of proportion to their numbers. This was due to “the unprecedented squalor, ignorance and ill-health of the famine emigrants” as Fitzpatrick puts it.-pg. 134.

This chapter also comments that Irish expatriates would often cluster together. This was in part a response to the narrow range of jobs that were available to them. This was not the case in Australia however, as Irish emigrants in Australia mixed much more. Fitzpatrick describes the diffusion of Irish migrants throughout the Australian population as “remarkable”-pg. 136. The chapter also states that there was a more equal balance of both men and women In Irish immigrants to Australia than there was in English or Scottish migrants.

This chapter provided detail into the reasons of Irish migrants’ movements outside of Ireland, specifically to Britain, America and Australia.