Early American Anti-Catholicism

American anti-Catholicism was dominant feature in the 18th century landscape. Mostly American immigration was entirely Protestant in the 17th and 18th centuries, with small pockets of Catholics finding refuge in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The nature of the protestant antagonism appears to be organizational rather than theological. Mostly Protestants complained about the historical corruption of the clergy (in Europe). The papacy in general was also a target. Protestantism in America was had anti-Catholic identity that prevailed through most Protestant denominations.

These ideas only changed slightly 19th century until the 1840's when the first big wave of Irish immigration occurred. Many Irish immigrants fought in the Mexican War of 1846-48.... and so strong was their faith that some changed sides to fight with Catholic Mexico against the U.S. Army.

The largest immigration of Catholics, however, was in the 1850's after the Irish Potato Famine. Frequently referred to as the "Irish Holocaust," the Potato Famine was more brutal that most Americans realize... at least a million people died, mostly from starvation. Reports of children dying and laying in the streets of Ireland were common.

Immigration in the 1850's from Ireland was in the hundreds of thousands for several years. Most of these entered the port of New York or places farther north since it was generally cheaper than say New Orleans.

The conflicts of Catholics and Protestants in New York City is outlined vaguely (but captures the violence) in the movie "The Gangs of New York." White Protestants would eventually create a political party based on their extreme anti-Catholicism known as the "Know-Nothing Party" (the name requires some explanation which I don't want to get into here).

The Know-Nothing Party was fairly large in the North but lasted only a short while before being incorporated the newly-formed Republican Party. The history of how such an exclusive prejudicial party got incorporated onto the very inclusive Republican Party was also a peculiar political negotiation of complex alliances.

Post Civil War anti-Catholicism still existed in local pockets, but nation-wide intolerance largely began to dissipate into the 20th century. Others on this board probably have much more to contribute about any post 20th century prejudices. If any Catholics know of particular historical story-line gaps, please contribute.

Know-Nothing Party - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know-Nothing_movement

Nativism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-immigration