In class we’ll examine the rise of immigration, especially German and Irish, in the early to mid 19th century, as well as the rise of the labor union movement and some aspects of urban life in growing American cities.
For today’s blog comment:
Examine documents linked below. Comment on what you think were the main arguments of nativist doctrine (the idea that immigrants were inferior to native-born Americans) in the first two documents below and the ways in which nativists depicted Irish immigrants in the three cartoons that follow.
Know-Nothing Platform 1856: http://www.yale.edu/glc/archive/974.htm
Nativist Reaction: http://www.hsp.org/files/anticatholicpress.pdf
“The Day We Celebrate” Cartoon: http://www.haverford.edu/engl/faculty/Sherman/Irish/stpat’s.jpg
Harper’s “Black and White” Cartoon: http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/omalley/120/alien/harpers.jpg
“Uncle Sam’s Lodging-House” Cartoon: http://www.hsp.org/files/unclesamslodginghousecover2.jpg
msouther
#1 by Howard Wolsky on October 27, 2009 - 11:44 am
The know-nothing platform aims to limit only American born people to hold office at National, State and local levels. Their views are that unless someone was born here they are not as purely American. They even go further to suggest that anyone holding office must give up allegiance to any foreign prince or power. It seems they also have fear that a territory might petition to become a state with beliefs contrary to their as well. In order to progress these doctrines they suggest the beginnings of the “American Party”. Their aim is to curb any power to Irish and German immigrants who were largely catholics.
The nativist newspaper article, signed ficticiously by “Uncle Sam” perpetuates the stereotype that the Irish and German Catholics have a loyaty to Rome before any loyalty to America. It’s understandable that some of the old European fears have come to America 1 generation removed from their parents struggles with the catholic church. It’s somewhat ironic for a nation founded on religious freedoms and escape from persecution to create a political party whose goal it is to repress diversity in government and attempt to limitthe process to people they feel “pure American”.
The nativist doctrine is a familiar viewpoint throughout American history. It’s racist propaganda says that now that me and my ancestors immegrated to this land we should shut the gates and only allow “true Americans” to live here. The targets may change but racist propaganda remains pretty consistant;, (fill in the blank) nationality is not as good as us and therefore they should not be allowed to rise to a position of political power in our country for fear their kind will take over. While this country has been built on immigration and escape from persecution the rights of everyone to speak freely will always make their voice appear like it belongs to the majority. In fact, these racist voices usually belong to the very vocal few.
The cartoons are an atempt at the same message. They are depicting the Irish as ape like and on par with African Americans. The artists are attempting to call on the fears of white Americans against a slave uprising by showing that the Irish could do the same thing. The scale cartoon is not so subtle, the Irish are every bit equal to the blacks. In the final cartoon Uncle Sam is fed up hearing from all these second class citizens and the artists lumps them all together in an attempt to show they are a pain the old US. It’s no coincidence that the Irish man is hiding a bottle of rye in his bed.
#2 by John Winzig on October 28, 2009 - 11:38 am
It appears that the main argument of the Know Nothings is that immigrants, specifically Catholics, cannot and will not be capable of being loyal to America. The rhetoric in the 2nd document is very radical and seems to be entirely made up. They vehemently defend the right they think they have of being the only people worthy of living in America. The argument is that Catholics are not able to be true patriots because in their minds, Catholics answer directly to the Pope. I thought the cartoons posts were very interesting. The fact that they depicted Irishman as gorilla like Leprechauns who were equally despised as Africans really shows how high of disdain had developed toward Irish-immigrants.
#3 by Michelle Taylor on October 28, 2009 - 11:21 pm
First, the three cartoons listed above represented a clear image as to how the Americans viewed the Irish. In the first cartoon, The Day we Celebrate, it is clear that the Americans see the Irish as a violent and uncontrollable group. This is also supported in Uncle Sam’s lodging House cartoon that shows and Irishman causing a scence while presenting himself in an angry, outraged manner.
In the American Platform of Principles, the idea that Americans are superior to the Irish is not so much the focus, but moreso that American natives deserve higher privaledge. It states that only natural born natives shall have the opportunity to hold a spot in political officeand the right to ‘frame thier constitutions and laws’. Even those foreigners residing in America are not able to have such priveldges until residing for a continuation of twenty-one years and may not recognize any foreign royalty. The principles that were stated to “build up the American Party” focused on the discrimination of immigrants and the actions needed to be taken to be considered an American.
Within the Anti-Catholic Press, it became very clear how natives depicted Irish immigrants. It states that every Roman Catholic is an enemy to America and should always be treated as one. It states that “A man who is Roman Catholic is not a Republican”, which is something Americans valued, that is the republican value system. This document also supported the idea that only Americans could satisfy the position of any political office. For only Americans are capable, intellegent, patriotic, and over-all level-headed.
The Anti-Catholic Press continues bashing the Roman Catholic priest stating that it is a ‘queer institution’ and that ‘it makes people commit crime and then pay for it’. Overall it differentiates Americans from the Irish. Americans are known to be well presented, put-together, attentive, and sharp. In comparison, Irish, or Roman Catholics, simply go against all that AMericans believe to be structurally beneficial for the country. This includes the school systems, press, speech, and even representation through the flag.
#4 by Nick Schuur on October 29, 2009 - 3:32 pm
In these 2 documents they touched on quite a few topics but a couple stuck out more to me than others. One main argument was focused upon who was aloud to run/be in a political office or position which was primarily viewed as none but Americans for office. They discussed that only Native Americans should be aloud in office and they should try to keep foreigners out of political parties. Also they strongly pushed how Roman Catholic Priests and true believers are against America and its republic. It states many things they all ‘hate’ and what they think, which was mainly negative views.
In these cartoons the illustrators’ describe the Irish immigrates in different ways. The first cartoon shows an Irish riot attack on the police. It says it was on St. Patrick’s Day which was also noted as “The Day We Celebrate” on the cartoon. It shows the Irish (who have more like animal characteristics from the illustrator) being drunk on rum and fighting police, leading to bloodshed. In the second cartoon it shows 2 men, an Irish and Black, being weighed on a scale showing that they weighed the same. This told me that white Irish immigrants were equal in their eyes to black slaves of the time. It also shows on the scale north above the Irish and south above the Black. This tells that the north was populated by the Irish and the south was mainly blacks. The artist in this cartoon also drew both men more with animal features than they would of if it would have been a white American. I think this shows how low they were thought of in this time. The last cartoon shows men of all different countries sleeping in the same quarters but only the Irishman is angry and having problems with the other men. I think this states how they thought the Irish was causing a lot of problems with different countries at the time.
#5 by Cassie Carnabuci on October 29, 2009 - 9:39 pm
I think the main arguments in the nativist doctrines that the idea that immigrants were inferior to native-born Americans because Catholics are not Republican and they truly “hate” everything in America. And America is the “land of Americans.” Americans didn’t want to give up any power they held to the foreigners that were “invading” their land.
Nativists depicted Irish immigrants in the three cartoons as violent and always causing commotion. In the Uncle Sam’s lodging house cartoon, only the Irish man is yelling as others sleep and others try to drown out the sound of him yelling. The Day We Celebrate, St. Patrick’s Day depicts an Irish riot. They “celebrate” by causing violence.
#6 by Amy Hull on October 29, 2009 - 11:17 pm
Native-born Americans were by definition superior in America over European immigrants. Native-born Americans held more power in the United States in respect to government office, the participation in the formation and enactment of state laws and the Constitution, and the right to suffrage. Americans hold the future and destiny of America in their hands. Immigrants were politically, economically, and socially oppressed. Due to their lack of labor skills, they had less to offer the United States and were therefore looked down upon.
Based on the three cartoons shown, it was obvious that the nativists were very annoyed and just downright disturbed and upset with all of the Irish immigrants. They often felt belittled and overtaken in the land that they had called home. The Irishmen had tried to take over and move in on the entire lifestyles of the native-born Americans and were pushing them farther and farther away, causing a great amount of battles to take place as the nativists were trying to fight for and maintain their territory.
#7 by Bob Mastronicola on October 30, 2009 - 7:25 am
I found these articles/cartoons a little strange. The article about the Catholic Religion/Americanism, the write was very satirical and surprising to me. The writers where against Catholicism and England. Every line was them just bringing up different points. The author was trying to put American on A higher pedestal and minimize Catholics and England. The first article attempted to define an American thru a list of “rules”. It seemed that the author was saying that, when these rules are followed, the nation will be a nation. I took the author to mean, follow them or you’re not an American.
The Irishman in all three cartoons where depicted an inferior to the Americans, to be treated as slaves or equal to black slaves. America was shown in a position of power and seemed to be in charge and the superior nation. I think, the cartoons are trying to tell the world that American is a nation now and not just a former colony. The cartoons are ways of showing the world that the US has political and races issues as other countries.
#8 by msouther on October 30, 2009 - 9:11 am
[For Egidijus Zalnieraitis] In 1850′s immigrants such as Irish and German were viewed as lowest class people just like slaves. In this article Anti-Catholic press is making it clear that the only people that should run for office is white natural born white citizens- “none but native Americans for office”. The article claims that Roman Catholics hate American republic and try to ruin it in any way possible and that Roman Catholics hate what U.S. stand for. Both articles suggest strike at these immigrants then the Know-nothing American Party formed. Anti-immigrant and anti-catholic views led this party. In 1856 American Platform of Principles adopted. These principles were adopted by nativists that reacted to large numbers of immigrants that came to America in 1850’s. Many immigrants started to get involved in politics so xenophobic Americans passed these laws that only natural born citizens could run to be government officials, no immigrants could by law.
#9 by msouther on October 30, 2009 - 9:14 am
[For Bill Donelon All of these documents agree with each other by saying that native-born Americans are superior and are the only ones that deserve full rights. The "Know-Nothing Platform" and "Nativist Reaction" both state that politicians should be native-born and display a dislike for foreigners, especially the Irish and Roman Catholics as stated in "Nativist Reaction." The document calls Catholics haters of the United States and portrays them as revolutionaries who want to overthrow the government.
Also, in each of the cartoons, immigrants are displayed as being inferior and unwelcome. "The day we celebrate" displays what appears to be fighting occurring between natives and foreigners. Also, "Black and White" displays a black man and a white man facing each other on a scale. This implies that blacks are inferior to whites and it also appears that both men were portrayed to resemble apes, which might symbolize that both are made of the same flesh and come from the same species. Lastly, "Uncle Sam's Lodging-House" displays Uncle Sam appearing to be angry with immigrants sleeping in his home. It appears he came into the room and woke up the foreigners, which caused a few to be angry.