The Making of Irish America

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

What is Irish America and how did it develop? This class will focus on distinct periods of Irish and American interaction in the United States—from early emigration times (with its emphasis on manual labor and service work) to involvement in politics (especially in large cities) and, after years of bias and bigotry, widespread participation in American business and industry. Why do we see the rapid changes within this particular ethnic group? What characteristics of Irish life contributed to those changes? What American traits were significant in the formation of Irish America? The class will approach these questions and others from a variety of perspectives: historical, political, literary, journalistic, and economic. Assigned readings will reflect the interdisciplinary orientation of the course. There will be mid-term and final examinations as well as a major research paper on a specific aspect of the Irish-American experience.