Becoming Irish American: The Making and Remaking of a People from Roanoke to JFK
- Downloads：7557
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2023-11-11 13:21:45
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Timothy J. Meagher
- ISBN：0300126271
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
The origins and evolution of Irish American identity， from colonial times through the twentieth century
As millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants created community in the United States over the centuries， they neither remained Irish nor simply became American。 Instead， they created a culture and defined an identity that was unique to their circumstances， a new people that they would continually Irish Americans。
Historian Timothy J。 Meagher traces the Irish American experience from the first Irishman to step ashore at Roanoke in 1585 to John F。 Kennedy’s election as president in 1960。 As he chronicles how Irish American culture evolved， Meagher looks at how various groups adapted and thrived—Protestants and Catholics， immigrants and American born， those located in different geographic corners of the country。 He describes how Irish Americans made a living， where they worshiped， and when they married， and how Irish American politicians found particular success， from ward bosses on the streets of New York， Boston， and Chicago to the presidency。
In this sweeping history， Meagher reveals how the Irish American identity was forged， how it has transformed， and how it has held lasting influence on American culture。
As millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants created community in the United States over the centuries， they neither remained Irish nor simply became American。 Instead， they created a culture and defined an identity that was unique to their circumstances， a new people that they would continually Irish Americans。
Historian Timothy J。 Meagher traces the Irish American experience from the first Irishman to step ashore at Roanoke in 1585 to John F。 Kennedy’s election as president in 1960。 As he chronicles how Irish American culture evolved， Meagher looks at how various groups adapted and thrived—Protestants and Catholics， immigrants and American born， those located in different geographic corners of the country。 He describes how Irish Americans made a living， where they worshiped， and when they married， and how Irish American politicians found particular success， from ward bosses on the streets of New York， Boston， and Chicago to the presidency。
In this sweeping history， Meagher reveals how the Irish American identity was forged， how it has transformed， and how it has held lasting influence on American culture。
Reviews
Purple Lorikeet
，
Irish immigration to the United States been a thing since 1585 when immigrants landed at Roanoke。 But the way the immigrants assimilated into their new surroundings was quite different depending on both the timing and their religion。 The earliest immigrants were from Northern Ireland and were mostly Protestant。 It wasn't until the mid-nineteenth century that there was a shift to mostly Catholic immigrants。 How these different groups viewed themselves in the new country was also different， depend Irish immigration to the United States been a thing since 1585 when immigrants landed at Roanoke。 But the way the immigrants assimilated into their new surroundings was quite different depending on both the timing and their religion。 The earliest immigrants were from Northern Ireland and were mostly Protestant。 It wasn't until the mid-nineteenth century that there was a shift to mostly Catholic immigrants。 How these different groups viewed themselves in the new country was also different， depending on timing and generation。 Timothy J Meagher has provided a fine timeline of Irish immigration in the United States。 He frames this first by providing an overview of Irish history， with particular regard to the background of the Protestant and Catholic peoples within the country and set up the circumstances under which they chose to leave Ireland for the American continent。 He then shows how the different waves of immigrants adjusted to their new lives but often still held strong ties to their mother country for identity， even when they were second generation and beyond。 In the latter waves there was also attention paid to other immigrant groups， such as those from Germany， Poland and Italy。 They had much in common with these groups and yet had distinction too。 Eventually there came the powers struggles that came in the political and gangland sectors， particularly between the Irish and Italians。 It was all quite interesting to read about and gave a better understanding of the place of the Irish people within the world and within the United States。 My only quibble with what I read was the way John F。 Kennedy's election as president felt more like a side note than the momentous part of Irish assimilation that it was。 I felt it was mentioned more in the epilogue than in the main text。 Otherwise， this was a most engaging read that I recommend to all who have interest in the immigration to the United States， both before and after it became a separate country。 But it is most especially of interest to those with Irish heritage and those with interest in the Irish American experience。 I will add that this tends more to a scholarly work and is not a light read。 As much as I enjoyed it， I took my time so that I could take in as much detail as possible。 Overall， I give this book four stars and highly recommend it for those not afraid of some heavy reading。 I would like to than Yale Press and Netgalley for giving me this advanced reader copy。 I have provided this review with no obligation。 。。。more
Jessica M
，
As someone with a fair amount of Irish ancestry， I was so curious to read this book！ Meagher does an amazing job discussing the experience of Irish immigrants and how they were treated in different areas of the United States through time。 There is also a discussion on religious differences from Ireland。 This was a quick， captivating read （especially for nonfiction） and full of food for thought。 I think this would be good book for anyone interested in learning about the experience of Irish Americ As someone with a fair amount of Irish ancestry， I was so curious to read this book！ Meagher does an amazing job discussing the experience of Irish immigrants and how they were treated in different areas of the United States through time。 There is also a discussion on religious differences from Ireland。 This was a quick， captivating read （especially for nonfiction） and full of food for thought。 I think this would be good book for anyone interested in learning about the experience of Irish Americans in the early days， or a good gift for someone interested in Irish history。 。。。more
Shari Burke
，