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Nativist Texts
PENNSYLVANIA ETHNIC
HISTORY
Settlement
1. "Mr. Calvert has an objection to an Irish Man..." Letter from John Muir
2. The Know Nothing and American Crusader From the Balch Collection
Community
Work/Industrialization
Interethnic Relations
Contact
French and Indian War
Nativism
Anti-Immigrant Images
1. The Pope’s Dream
This cartoon references anti-Catholic attitudes common throughout the 19th century that
Introduction
Catholics were anti-democratic and loyal primarily to the Pope. Here the pontiff dreams of
Lesson Overview
presiding over "A Catholic America" that values "The Church First -- The Country Afterwards."
Activities Overview
From the Balch collection
Primary Sources
State Standards
2. Uncle Sam’s Lodging House
Historian's Note
This cartoon, published in Puck in the 1880s, reinforces the stereotype of the Irishman as an
Glossary
essentially combative troublemaker. Uncle Sam reprimands him, "Look here, you, everybody
Resources
else is quiet and peaceable, and you're all the time a-kicking up a row!" The editorial that
Credits
ABOLITION AND UGRR
PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW
IMMIGRANTS
PHILADELPHIA HISTORY
accompanied the cartoon asserted: "the raw Irishman in America is a nuisance, his son a curse.
They never assimilate; the second generation simply shows an intensification of all the bad
qualities of the first. . . .They are a burden and a misery to this country." From the
Balch collection
3. The Irish Declaration of Independence, May 9, 1883
This cartoon, published in 1883, portrays a stereotypical image of the Irish American woman
who is large, with big feet and muscular arms and a violent, domineering temper. Like the
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image of the violent pug-nosed Irish man, this image of the Irish woman as large, coarse, and
vulgar reinforces the idea that the Irish are unnatural, measured by their deviance from
normative gender roles. From the Balch collection
4. The Usual Irish Way of Doing Things," Harper's Weekly, Sept. 2, 1871
This anti-Irish cartoon by Thomas Nast . An angry Irish man sites on a barrel labeled: "Uncle
Sam's Gun Powder." The caption reads: "Everything obnoxious to us shall be abolished, Our
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Primary Sources : Historical Society of Pennsylvania
liberty has been taken away (killing Orangemen), We must rule." From the Marchand Collection
at UC Davis
5. “American Gold,” Puck, May 24, 1882
One criticism that was and is still made against immigrants is that they import poverty to the
United States. Here, the lazy Irish back in Ireland wait for money, while in America,
immigrants are forced to work for it. The accompanying editorial applauded Irish men's and
women's hard work in America but deplored "naturalized citizens who pretend to be Americans,"
supporting radical troublemakers in the "turbulent old home"--the box in the right-panel inset is
labeled "agitation and disturbance fund." From the MSU Appel Collection
6. “Our Self-Made Cooks: From Pauperism to Potentates,” Puck, January 30, 1881
Immigrants were often attacked as well as celebrated for their aspirations to the American
Dream. Here, an Irish servant moves from a life of destitution in Ireland to become an uppity,
domineering servant who terrorizes her American household. The small caption in the left panel
reads: "They are Evicted in the Old Country." Right panel: "But in America They Do All the
Evicting Themselves." From the MSU Appel Collection
7. “The Mortar of Assimilation,” Puck, June 26, 1889
Like Uncle Sam's Lodging House, this cartoon comments on the seemingly inherent tendency of
the Irish to be violent and disorderly. It also surmises that the Irish are incapable of
assimilating to mainstream American culture and unsuitable for citizenship -- they are
essentially deviant Others, "the element that will not mix." From the MSU Appel Collection
Riots of 1844
The following materials have been shortened for classroom use. Extended versions of some of these
materials are also provided.
Kensington
1. Catholic Herald, Thursday May 9, 1844
2. “The Kensington Massacre,” The Republic, A Magazine for the Defence of Civil and Religious
Liberty, No. 1 August 1845
3. The Full Particulars of the Late Riots…May 3, 1844. Philadelphia: 1844. (extended)
4. Six Months Ago, or the Eventful Friday, and Its Consequences. An Epic Poem. by R***.
Philadelphia: J.F.M. McElroy, 1844. (extended)
5. A Full and Complete Account of the Late Awful Riots in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: John B. Perry,
1844. (extended)
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Monday, May 7
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Tuesday, May 8
■
Wednesday, May 9
■
Thursday, May 10
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Primary Sources : Historical Society of Pennsylvania
6. Reflections on the Late Riots by Candid Writers in Poetry and Prose. Philadelphia: 1844.
(extended)
7. The Truth Unveiled; or, a Calm and Impartial Exposition of the Origin and Immediate Cause of
the Terrible Riots and Rebellion in Philadelphia. By a Protestant and Native Philadelphian.
Baltimore: Metropolitan Tract Society, 1844.
8. Address of the Catholic Lay Citizens of the City...in Regard to the Causes of the Late Riots in
Philadelphia. Philadelphia: 1844. (extended)
Southwark
1. Catholic Herald, Thursday, July 11, 1844.
2. "The Southwark Riots," The Republic, A magazine for the defence of Civil and Religious Liberty.
Philadelphia, August 1845. (extended)
3. "Official Testimony," The Olive Branch; or, An Earnest Appeal in Behalf of Religion...With
Documents relating to the Late Disturbances in Philadelphia. Philadelphia:1844.(extended)
4. "Tremendous Riots in Southwark," A Full and Complete Account of the Late Awful Riots in
Philadelphia. Philadelphia: John B. Perry, 1844. (extended)
5. "The Riots," Pennsylvania Freemann. 14. 18 July, 1844.
6. Reflections on the Late Riots by Candid Writers in Poetry and Prose. Philadelphia: 1844.
(extended)
7. "Additional Evidence in Relation to the Riot," Public Ledger, v.17, 18-24 July, 1844.
8. "Continuation of Evidence Relative to the Riots," Public Ledger, v. 17, 18-24 July, 1844.
9. "The Southwark Riots," Public Ledger,v. 17, 23 July, 1844.
Images of the Riots
From A Full and Complete Account of the Late Awful Riots in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: John B.
Perry, 1844.
●
...A faithful portrait of one of the steamer Princeton's rough and ready for battle jack-tars,
armed and equipped as a "Boarder," who among some two hundred others similarly arrayed
for active service, promptly obeyed the orders of their commander, Capt. R. F. Stockton, to
render efficient aid, in quelling the late riots.
●
Fight between the rioters in Kensington
●
Scene of the Conflagration on Tuesday night, May 7
●
No caption (rubble from riots)
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Primary Sources : Historical Society of Pennsylvania
●
Burning of St. Michael's Church, on Wednesday afternoon, May 8. West View, on Second
street, with the residence of the Rev. Mr. Donahue
●
Burning of the Nunnery or School House, On Wednesday afternoon, May 8. North-West
View, on Second Street, corner of Phoenix.
●
Alderman Hugh and Patrick Clark's Houses, which were attacked by the mob on Wednesday
afternoon, May 8. East View, Fourth street, corner of Master, as they appeared after the
riots.
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No caption (Burning of St. Augustine's Church)
●
Detachment of Volunteers and the Boarders attached to the Princeton...
●
Major General Patterson and the First City Troop of Cavalry...
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U.S. History Images
The Marchand Collection is currently undergoing updates.
01/04/2005
Major Index - Minor Index - Slide: IM-F-16
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The History Project
"The Usual Irish Way of Doing Things," a savage anti-Irish cartoon, 1871. Captions on
Roland's Notes about this image: walls: "Everything obnoxious to us shall be abolished, Our liberty has been taken away
(killing Orangemen), We must rule." Caption on barrel: "Uncle Sam's Gun Powder."
Thomas Nast cartoon. Harper's Weekly, Sept. 2, 1871. In Wayne Moquin, ed., Makers
of America, Vol. 4, William Benton, Publisher, 1971, p. 177.
Citation:
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MSU Museum - Virtual Exhibitions - Immigration and Caricature - "American Gold. United States--working for it. Ireland--waiting for it."
Immigration and
Caricature
Exhibition
• Section I
• Section II
• Section III
About the Collectors
Copyright and Other
Restrictions
Digitizing the Collection
Caption: "American Gold. United States--working for it. Ireland-waiting for it."
Source: Puck
Date: May 24, 1882
Artist: Frank Opper
An accompanying editorial applauded Irish men's and women's hard work in America but deplored "naturalized citizens who
pretend to be Americans," supporting radical troublemakers in the "turbulent old home"--the box in the right-panel inset is labeled
"agitation and disturbance fund."
. Section I . Section II . Section III .
© Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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MSU Museum - Virtual Exhibitions - Immigration and Caricature - "Our Self-made 'Cooks'--From Paupers to Potentates."
Immigration and
Caricature
Exhibition
• Section I
• Section II
• Section III
About the Collectors
Copyright and Other
Restrictions
Digitizing the Collection
Caption: "Our Self-made 'Cooks'--From Paupers to Potentates."
Source: Puck
Date: January 30, 1881
Artist: Frank Opper
This cartoon points with irony to the quick transition from a life of destitution in Ireland to that of an uppity servant in an American
household.
The small caption in the left panel reads: "They are Evicted in the Old Country." Right panel: "But in America They Do All the
Evicting Themselves."
. Section I . Section II . Section III .
© Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.
http://museum.cl.msu.edu/Exhibitions/Virtual/ImmigrationandCaricature/7572-129.html [10/10/2007 11:24:00 PM]
MSU Museum - Virtual Exhibitions - Immigration and Caricature - "The Mortar of Assimilation--And the One Element that Won't Mix"
Immigration and
Caricature
Exhibition
• Section I
• Section II
• Section III
About the Collectors
Copyright and Other
Restrictions
Digitizing the Collection
Caption: "The Mortar of Assimilation--And the One Element that
Won't Mix"
Source: Puck
Date: June 26, 1889
Artist: C.J. Taylor
The accompanying Puck editorial asks "What is an American?" In response, it answers that an American is the assimilation of all
immigrants who settled in this country, and urges everyone to be American, American born or American made. What else is the
illustration communicating?
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MSU Museum - Virtual Exhibitions - Immigration and Caricature - "The Mortar of Assimilation--And the One Element that Won't Mix"
. Section I . Section II . Section III .
© Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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