The Irish and Slavery

Last year I wrote a research paper on anti-Irish sentiment in the United States during the 19th century. The nativist reactions to the immigration of Irish people (fleeing from the Potato Famine) were rooted in economic terms, namely the perceived shortages of jobs. One thing I noted in my research last year were the connections between the Irish's oppression by England and the system of slavery in the United States. It was said that Irish work songs resembled slave songs, and some historians have suggested that the Irish became "American" by joining in the discrimination against African-Americans.

But, to bring this back on topic, as I was continuing to read The Great Famine by John Percival, I noticed the following.

Apparently, because of the strongly anti-Catholic justice system in Ireland, Irishmen were predisposed to losing in court. Percival writes that, "Already accustomed to secrecy in matters of religion, they readily took to other kinds of secret society" (24). Which got me thinking more about slaves and their secret schools and resistance efforts. Humorously, one of these "secret societies" was "The Molly Maguires" (also known as "Ribbonmen"), whose members often disguised themselves as women. What really cemented the connection for me was when Percival mentions that, "They might not be able to oppose the landlord by day, but by night they could maim his cattle or fire his ricks" (25). [To interject here, I looked up "fire his ricks" as well as "ricks" and I still haven't the foggiest as to what the phrase means. If someone knows, please share.] Essentially, the Molly Maguires/Ribbonmen worked to undermine their (land)lords, which is quite similar to the malingering efforts of slaves (If you were in Sudie's class last year, you'll remember talking about this).

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