This historical study will dispel the romanticism of Irish amalgamation into urban Toronto culture that occurred during the Great Famine immigrations of the mid-19th century. In this manner, Toronto has been defined as the “Belfast of Canada” during the 19th century, since the massive populations of British Protestants often objected to the arrival of many Roman Catholic Irish coming during the Great Famine. Traditionally, Irish immigration into Toronto has often been a staple part of romantic images of integration, compassion (for starving Irish people), and cultural/ethnic tolerance, yet the struggles of the Irish people in Toronto define a larger ethnic conflict at the onset of the first Irish settlements. More so, the struggles of protestant Northern Ireland also bled into conflicts between British protestant and Roman Catholic Irish. After all, Canada was not yet a “nation”, and the cultural and ethnic struggles of immigration policy were still largely under the governance of the British Royal Crown. In essence, this historical study will dispel the romanticism of Irish amalgamation during the Great Famine immigration that made Toronto the “Belfast of Canada” during the mid-19th century.
II.Irish Catholic Communities in the Belfast of Canada: Resistance to the Orange Order in Toronto
The conception of Toronto as the “Belfast of Canada” in
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This social development, in turn, fostered the formation of Irish societies that would work against the oppression of the Orange order on many differing levels. The political and social conflict between Protestants and Catholics defines the necessity of a Catholic Irish opposition due to the marginalization of emigrants of the Great Famine due to pre-existing sectarian biases reinstated by the orange Order in
McCaffrey contends that even though many Irish Catholics were ignorant of the social and political realities of life in industrial cities, with many browbeaten by the obscurantism of their priests, they gradually emerged as a major factor in the embryonic Labour Party. Additionally, Gallagher defines the rise of Catholic Unions, asserting “they were particularly energetic in the inter-war period in the realm of politics” with a mission to organise the Catholic vote to guarantee that the interests of the Catholic population were catered for politically, thus they looked to the Labour Party to support them in this need. Catholic activists, up until 1914, were predominately in the form of the United Irish League. It could be argued that the United Irish League had skillfully garnered the Catholic vote in support of Irish nationalism.
The Irish had suffered long before in the hands of the English when Cromwell had been in control and had taken away land held by the catholic majority of the country to members of the protestant minority. This created a large tension among the population with the oppressed majority and the rather entitled minority who by Trevelyan’s snooty tone did indeed see themselves as the superior people in the country. (Trevelyan’s tone is probably the most dismissive when in discussion of the Irish, mayhaps showing his own true dislike.) (Trevelyan, p. 116-
The Protestant Irish and Catholic Irish (two very different groups) still despised each other. Most of the Protestant Irish came to Canada with a good amount of money and a good religious background (considering the majority of Canada was Protestant). On the other hand the Catholic Irish came to Canada only a familiarity of the English language, and the shared Catholic religion with the French. The one thing that complicated the relationship between the Catholic Irish and the French was the fact that they didn’t speak the same language. Also, because of the amount of Irish that died while on the ships, a lot of children were left orphaned and were often adopted by French families.
The Irish Famine 1845-1849 “Is ar scáth a chiéle a maireann na daoine” “It is with each other’s protection that the people live” From the Fifteenth through to the Nineteenth centuries English Monarchies and Governments had consistently enacted laws which it seems were designed to oppress the Irish and suppress and destroy Irish Trade and manufacturing. In the Penal laws of 1695 which aimed to destroy Catholicism, Catholics were forbidden from practicing their religion, receiving education, entering a profession, or purchasing or leasing land; since Catholics formed eighty percent of the Irish population, this effectively deprived the Irish of any part in civil life in their own country.
“French Canada: the rise and decline of a ‘church-nation’” by Sylvie Lacombe covers the influence the Canadian Catholic Church had on French-Canadians from the early nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century. It explores how the failed Upper Canada rebellions led to British parliamentary control over the French via the Act of Union in 1840. This enabled the Catholic Church to take over several provincial social institutions which came to influence nationalistic ideas and values. Thus, many French-Canadians believed themselves to be part of a “church-state”. However, Irish Catholic immigration, new Anglo-Saxon imperialistic ideologies and the loss of French-speaking schools in the
The history of Irish in Chicago follows a similar pattern to one alike the Irish in other American cities where they settled in large numbers. Many early immigrants created a visible Irish community which was sustained by many different key structures, this community stayed relatively together into the early-twentieth century. After that, many of the descended Irish immigrants gradually began to mold into a more general Catholic American subgroup, though a smaller core of very ethnic Irish still remain to this time. The early irish immigrants in Chicago had an immense effect on Social, economic, Religious and political factors in Chicago.
Former prime minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, believed greatly in what he thought Canada was to become. “The nineteenth century was the century of the United States. I think that we can claim that is it Canada that shall fill the twentieth century. “ was said by Laurier and his words passed almost without notice at the time. However, it did not take long before his words had somehow been transformed into the most famous phrase in Canadian history, “The twentieth century belongs to Canada.” His words showed great confidence and pride in the actions that Canada was supposedly to take to fulfill his vision. He believed that Canada would fill the century, not in size or military might but in progress, growth, and quality of life. Ultimately, he
When many think of the times of immigration, they tend to recall the Irish Immigration and with it comes the potato famine of the 1840s' however, they forget that immigrants from the Emerald Isle also poured into America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The assimilation and immigration of the Irish has been difficult for each group that has passed through the gates of Ellis Island or South Boston. Like every group that came to America, the Irish were looked down upon; yet, in the face of discrimination,
The Famine also prompted new trends of immigration, hence shaping the histories of both North America and Britain. It also called for an urgent political change in the Irish system (the Irish Republic resulted).
During the 18th century, Ireland was oppressed by England to the point that the Irish would consider eating and selling their children for money and that the Irish were incapable of making their lives better. During that time there was also a significant religious disdain and prejudice of the Anglo-Irish (English Protestants) to the Irish Catholics.
When many think of the times of immigration, they tend to recall the Irish Immigration and with it comes the potato famine of the 1840s' however, they forget that immigrants from the Emerald Isle also poured into America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The assimilation and immigration of the Irish has been difficult for each group that has passed through the gates of Ellis Island or South Boston. Like every group that came to America, the Irish were looked down upon; yet, in the face of discrimination, political, social and economic oppression, the Irish have been a testament to the American Dream as their influence in
Irish had often lived in unhealthy and unclean tenements. Then when they arrived in America they too had faced discrimination. They had many organizations conspired against them to ensure the immigrants could not vote, or hold office (Baker 262). “In 1844 controversy arose in Philadelphia over whether Catholic children in public schools could be allowed to read from the Catholic version of the Bible rather than the King James version and other issues”(Baker 262). This caused a violent reaction of the people who were against the Irish and Catholics (Baker 262). “Catholic churches and priests were the most frequent nativist targets” (Baker 262). The Americans had thought that the Irish Catholics had used the U.S voting system to elect followers of the pope so the pope could have some power in the United States. The nativist did not just have conspiracies about the Irish but many other immigrants too (Baker 262).
The English were making the Irish poor to force them into the protestant church. Under the Penal Laws the Irish Catholics were deprived them of any right to be represented in local government, to vote, or to even own land. Under these harsh conditions it is no wonder woman and children of the time bumbled around town just to find some way to survive as a catholic while protestantism is being shoved down one 's thought.
Ireland is a country that is rich in culture, traditions, and faith. This country has struggled with over time with famine, religious tension, and even freedom. Many individuals immigrated to America in search of a better life. The person I chose to interview family came over to the United States when Ireland was struggling with famine. They came over on a boat through New York and changed there name to make it more American. For this paper I will further discuss the Irish culture and the person I interviewed.
Romanticism came to be in the 18th and 19th centuries which emphasized the imagination and emotions of romanticism. Many people viewed this type of literature as the quality or state of being impractical or unrealistic meaning romantic feelings or ideas. During this time many poets were encouraged to express their true colors and individual uniqueness. The Romantic Era expanded all throughout the world, and reached poets such as Keats, Byron, Shelley, and Wordsworth.