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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 United States, 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.  

About 45 million Americans are of Irish descent—but a majority are Protestants.   

About 45 million Americans are of Irish descent—but a majority are Protestants.   

==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 Great Britain, Canada and Australia.)  

Very high group cohesion enabled labor bosses to organize unskilled workers into construction gangs and move them to locations wehere canals and railroads were being built.  Native Americans rarely did this work (although in the South slaves were used, and in California Chinese.) The Irish fought for the jobs against other Irish work gangs.  

Very high group cohesion enabled labor bosses to organize unskilled workers into construction gangs and move them to locations wehere canals and railroads were being built.  Native Americans rarely did this work (although in the South slaves were used, and in California Chinese.) The Irish fought for the jobs against other Irish work gangs.