As the July 4th holiday approaches, sadly as with many of our other holidays, the true meaning of the day is lost a midst ballgames, cookouts, and fireworks. We forget that on that hot July of 1776 fifty six men came together to pledge their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” to form a new country where “all men are created equal” and entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. We forget that, in an 18th century where aristocracy was the norm, what a radical statement this was, even if we are still working to fulfill its promises. We forget these men were publicly taking on the largest Empire in the world; prior history predicting they had little prospect of success and the risk of a hangman’s rope if they failed. Even among those that do remember the meaning of the day, very few remember that nine of the men who signed the document that is arguably the greatest statement of freedom ever penned were Irish Americans.
If that was not enough of an Irish connection:
RELATED LINKS:
America's Birthday and the Irish
Gilmore's Two Extraordinary July 4th Concerts, Six Years Apart
Neil
Excellent and very timely. Delighted to see the name Smith recognized as being Irish.On my next update, I'll add the names Carroll, Thornton, etc to the "List of Irish-Americans of Renown.
James Francis Smith
Glad to help. One has to remember that the English made persistent attempt, starting with the Statutes of Kilkenny to eliminate Gaelic identity and culture and this included names. Under the statutes anyone within English controlled Ireland (the Pale) had to foresake their Irish names for an English one based on a color (Brown, Black, etc), a profession (Smith, Cooper, Butler) or a geographic feature like a river(Shannon).
Should point out that our other Celtic cousins received the same treatment. In Scotland the Clan names were outlawed, see the Poem "MacGregor despite them" and the "Dunce Cap" actually traces back to the "Welsh Cap" which would be used in schools to humiliate a student who slipped into speaking Welsh in class.
Neil, what was the source for the 19th century effort to write out the Irish from the history of America's War of Independence? After all, this was the 'New World,' and not the world of privilege that colored the colonies before 1783?
Gerry:
If you look at the histories written at the time of America's Centennial and immediately after (which in many ways still the sources today's textbooks start from) you will note a very Puritanical telling of Americas story. We see the Pilgrims and the Massachusetts Bay Colony take pride of place over Jamestown (though Jamestown was the first settlement) and we also see figure such as Commodore John Barry omitted from the history books (though his combat record is better than Jones' and he organized the US Navy after the Continental Navy passed from existence) along with the numerous Irish born generals and large component of the the Continental Army.Specifically look at the Book "The Irish Contribution to America's Independence" by Thomas Hobbs Maginniss where he refutes the still referenced claim by Henry Cabot Lodge that there was no sizable Irish population in the United States prior to the 19th Century.
Unfortunately, I would argue that we have made great (and necessary and just) strides in expanding America's story to now realize the role of Women, Native Americans, Latinos and African Americans, the Irish American contribution is still under reported.
I agree with Neil. That's the reason why I wrote the Irish-American series and am now developing the listing of exploits by Irish Americans. I want people to say they are proud to be Irish-Americans, and this will only come about when they know their history.
James Francis Smith
"We learn something new every day ; no matter what age we are "-- was a favourite adage of my Grandmothers.
Now in this article - I have learnt something new; I did not know that the Irish in America in that ear ; were made to change their names . I knew that the Polish ; Italians and other ethnic minorities were made to change their names ; now i find out today reading this ; that the Irish were made to change their names as well.
Thank you for that lesson in Irish - American history
Actually the changing of names dates to an earlier era. The issue is later hiistorians, not accounting for the fact that many Irish people had been forced to change their names, would just go by the "sound" and assume. Forcing people to change their names was a common tactic used by the English in Ireland and Scotland (see "MacGregor despite them") to force assimilation and breakdown the Clan/Family structure. One such statute ran:
"Irishmen dwelling in the counties of Dublin, Meath, Uriel and Kildare shall go apparelled like Englishmen and wear their beards after the English manner, swear allegiance and take English surnames."
Names were to be be professions (Butler, Taylor, or as indicated above, Smith) , colors (Black, Browm) or a geographic feature like a river (Shannon).
That is fascinating, Neil. I hadn't heard that before. Thank you.
Also, "MacGregor despite them") -- is there a link to this? I don't understand the reference.
Also, Neil, what do you think of the AMC series "Turn"? I'm really enjoying Season 2. I've got three episodes to left to watch on our DVR.
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