When America Despised the Irish: The 19th Century’s Refugee Crisis | Christopher Klein

More than 150 years ago, tens of thousands of poor, disease-ridden refugees sought haven in the United States. They threatened to take jobs away from Americans and strain welfare budgets. They practiced an alien religion and pledged allegiance to a foreign leader. They were accused of being criminals. And, worst of all to many Americans, these undesirables were Irish. Explore this era of scorn the Irish initially encountered and find out how they became part of the American mainstream. Christopher Klein ( and @historyauthor) is the author of several books, including “When the Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland’s Freedom“ ... This was one of 60 sessions presented at History Camp Boston on March 16, 2019. View more sessions from this History Camp and others here in the History Camp YouTube channel. History Camp brings together people from all walks of life who are passionate about history. Join u