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The '''Catholic Irish''' have been a major American ethnic group since they started arriving in the 1830s in the wake of the horrible [[Irish Potato Famine]].  Extremely poor with a strong group cohesiveness, high interest in politics, and high rates of alcoholism and violence, they settled in the slums of large cities.  many worked in construction gangs.  The Irish rose rapidly in the ranks of the Democratic party, the Catholic Church, and (after 1880), the labor unions.  The Irish were very well organized, and, since 1850, have produced a majority of the leaders of the Catholic Church in the U.S., labor unions, the Democratic Party in larger cities, and Catholic high schools, colleges and universities. Politically, the Irish Catholic typically voted 80-95% Democratic in elections down to 1964.  

The '''Catholic Irish''' have been a major American ethnic group since they started arriving in the 1830s in the wake of the horrible [[Irish Potato Famine]].  Extremely poor with a strong group cohesiveness, high interest in politics, and high rates of alcoholism and violence, they settled in the slums of large cities.  many worked in construction gangs.  The Irish rose rapidly in the ranks of the Democratic party, the Catholic Church, and (after 1880), the labor unions.  The Irish were very well organized, and, since 1850, have produced a majority of the leaders of the Catholic Church in the U.S., labor unions, the Democratic Party in larger cities, and Catholic high schools, colleges and universities. Politically, the Irish Catholic typically voted 80-95% Democratic in elections down to 1964.  

==Migration==

==Migration==

Irish Catholics began arriving in the 1830s and especially 1840s, in the wake of devastating [[Irish Potato Famine|famine]] in Ireland. (Others went to Britain, Canada and Australia.)  

Irish Catholics began arriving in the 1830s and especially 1840s, in the wake of devastating [[Irish Potato Famine|famine]] in Ireland. (Others went to Britain, Canada and Australia.)  

Boston College, established by Jesuit priests in 1863 to appeal to urban Irish Catholics, offered a rather limited intellectual curriculum. The Jesuits of the late 19th century were wary of the radically changing world and limited intellectual study to Thomistic philosophy. The priests prioritized spiritual and sacramental activities over intellectual pursuits. One consequence was that Harvard University would not admit Boston College graduates to its law school. Jesuit interaction with the world of authentic scholarship would not come until well into the 20th century.<ref> Marianne Gallagher, "The Jesuits at Boston College in the Late Nineteenth Century," ''American Catholic Studies'' 2007 118(2): 43-66, </ref>

Boston College, established by Jesuit priests in 1863 to appeal to urban Irish Catholics, offered a rather limited intellectual curriculum. The Jesuits of the late 19th century were wary of the radically changing world and limited intellectual study to Thomistic philosophy. The priests prioritized spiritual and sacramental activities over intellectual pursuits. One consequence was that Harvard University would not admit Boston College graduates to its law school. Jesuit interaction with the world of authentic scholarship would not come until well into the 20th century.<ref> Marianne Gallagher, "The Jesuits at Boston College in the Late Nineteenth Century," ''American Catholic Studies'' 2007 118(2): 43-66, </ref>

==Ireland==

==Ireland==

The American Irish Catholics were strong supporters of independence for Ireland, and from the 1860s to this day were the main financial backers of independence movements, followed by movements to disrupt British rule in Northern ireland.  In the 1860s several thousand Civil War Union veterans formed the Feniean Society, which planned a military invasion to seize canada.  The plan was to trade Canada for a free Ireland. The Fenians were too few and too badly organized; they failed miserably.

The American Irish Catholics were strong supporters of independence for Ireland, and from the 1860s to this day were the main financial backers of independence movements, followed by movements to disrupt British rule in Northern ireland.  In the 1860s several thousand Civil War Union veterans formed the Feniean Society, which planned a military invasion to seize canada.  The plan was to trade Canada for a free Ireland. The Fenians were too few and too badly organized; they failed miserably. The Americans played a decisive role in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s, ending the Irish Republican Army's campaign of violence.  

==see also==  

==see also==