Philadelphia nativist riots: Difference between revisions
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The '''Philadelphia Nativist Riots''' (also known as the '''Philadelphia prayer riots of 1844''' and the '''Bible Riots''') were a series of [[riots]] that took place [[May 3]] and [[July |
The '''Philadelphia Nativist Riots''' (also known as the '''Philadelphia prayer riots of 1844''' and the '''Bible Riots''') were a series of [[riots]] that took place [[May 3]] and [[July 5]], [[1844]]. The riots involved conflicts between [[nativism (politics)|nativists]] and recent [[Irish Catholic]] immigrants, principally over religion in schooling. The [[Protestant]] majority had control of the school system, and taught Protestant concepts that were in direct conflict with Catholic teachings. |
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At the time, [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia’s]] schools began their day with readings from the [[Bible]], using the Protestant [[King James version]]. In March of 1844, the city’s [[Roman Catholic]] bishop petitioned the Board of Controllers to allow Catholic children to have the [[Douay]] (Roman Catholic) version read to them. |
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| ⚫ | Forty-six years later in 1890, the concept of compulsory religious instruction (of any sect) in public schools was struck down as unconstitutional in the [[Edgerton Bible Case]] by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and further upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in ''[[Abington School District v. Schempp]]'' in 1963. |
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News quickly spread around the city, claiming that the bishop was attempting to ban the Bible from public schools. Groups of angry native-born Protestants quickly formed meetings in various lots and halls, raising [[sectarian]] and [[nativist]] anger against Catholics, many of whom were Irish immigrants. |
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An open-air meeting held by Protestants on May 6 was interrupted by rain. As the crowd moved to a nearby market house, several Irish observers were accosted and several Protestants fired guns into the air. At about 10:00 that night, the crowd poured out of the house, heading toward an Irish Catholic [[shantytown]] at Second and Franklin streets. The heavily outnumbered Irish fled. Their homes were quickly destroyed and set fire by the Protestants. |
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An Irish counter mob had formed in anticipation of problems and arrived with their collected rifles. A series of warning shots from the Catholics scattered the Protestant mob. |
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The next night (May 7), a Protestant mob convened in the Statehouse yard and marched to Kensington. After destroying the Hibernia fire station, the mob set fire to thirty Irish homes and their public market. The arrival of several militia companies broke up the mob. The Protestant fire company refused to fight the fires. |
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On the third day (May 8), a Protestant mob arrived at St. Michael’s church where the local militia’s Captain Fairlamp demanded the church keys from the priest. As the militia stood guard, three members of the mob set fires that destroyed the church and the priest’s home. |
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The mayor had heard of plans to torch St. Augustine’s church and stationed the city watch at the front, while he guarded the rear with a posse he had organized. An arriving Protestant mob, armed with bricks and clubs knocked out the mayor, dispersing the guards and setting fire to the church. As the steeple collapsed, the First City Troop rode by, cheering the mob. |
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Firemen on the scene carefully guarded nearby Protestant churches from any stray flames while the mobs staged a bonfire of the 5,000 texts from the Augustine Fathers’ library. |
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As the afternoon drew to a close, the mob turned to the Catholic nunnery at Second and Phoenix Streets, burning it to the ground. |
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After nearly three days of mob violence and destruction, the city sent troops to guard other Roman Catholic churches in the city while Catholics smuggled valuables from the churches to their homes for safekeeping. The bishop suspended all services for May 10. |
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A grand jury convened to study the riot, returned a bill calling the incidents “isolated” and identifying no individuals by name. |
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In April, anti-Catholic sentiment in [[New York City]] led to a mob of 1,200 attacking the Irish section of the city. Rumors of a plan to burn down [[St. Patrick’s Cathedral]] (based on the Philadelphia riot) lead to the bishop assembling an army of 4,000 men armed with swords and [[Derringer|Derringers]] at St. Partick’s. Every other Catholic church in the city was guarded by at least 1,000 men each, sworn to "taking as many lives as they could in defense of their property, and to give up, if necessary, their own lives for the same cause." The bishop issued a statement that “…if a single Catholic church is burned in New York, the city will become a second Moscow” (referring to the [[Fire_of_Moscow_%281812%29|1812 fire]] that destroyed the city during [[Napoleon|Napoleon’s]] occupation). The mayor asked “Are you afraid that some of your churches will be burned?” The bishop replied, “No, sir, but I am afraid some of yours will be burned. We can protect our own.” |
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Back in Philadelphia on July 5, 1844, a Protestant mob arrived with a brace of cannon at St. Phillip Neri’s church. The militia protected the church. In the ensuing melee, an unknown number of citizens were killed. |
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In the aftermath, several Irish Catholics were indicted for murder and rioting. |
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| ⚫ | Forty-six years later, in 1890, the concept of compulsory religious instruction (of any sect) in U.S. public schools was struck down as unconstitutional in the [[Edgerton Bible Case]] by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and further upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in ''[[Abington School District v. Schempp]]'' in 1963. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 18:23, 15 September 2006
The Philadelphia Nativist Riots (also known as the Philadelphia prayer riots of 1844 and the Bible Riots) were a series of riots that took place May 3 and July 5, 1844. The riots involved conflicts between nativists and recent Irish Catholic immigrants, principally over religion in schooling. The Protestant majority had control of the school system, and taught Protestant concepts that were in direct conflict with Catholic teachings.
At the time, Philadelphia’s schools began their day with readings from the Bible, using the Protestant King James version. In March of 1844, the city’s Roman Catholic bishop petitioned the Board of Controllers to allow Catholic children to have the Douay (Roman Catholic) version read to them.
News quickly spread around the city, claiming that the bishop was attempting to ban the Bible from public schools. Groups of angry native-born Protestants quickly formed meetings in various lots and halls, raising sectarian and nativist anger against Catholics, many of whom were Irish immigrants.
An open-air meeting held by Protestants on May 6 was interrupted by rain. As the crowd moved to a nearby market house, several Irish observers were accosted and several Protestants fired guns into the air. At about 10:00 that night, the crowd poured out of the house, heading toward an Irish Catholic shantytown at Second and Franklin streets. The heavily outnumbered Irish fled. Their homes were quickly destroyed and set fire by the Protestants.
An Irish counter mob had formed in anticipation of problems and arrived with their collected rifles. A series of warning shots from the Catholics scattered the Protestant mob.
The next night (May 7), a Protestant mob convened in the Statehouse yard and marched to Kensington. After destroying the Hibernia fire station, the mob set fire to thirty Irish homes and their public market. The arrival of several militia companies broke up the mob. The Protestant fire company refused to fight the fires.
On the third day (May 8), a Protestant mob arrived at St. Michael’s church where the local militia’s Captain Fairlamp demanded the church keys from the priest. As the militia stood guard, three members of the mob set fires that destroyed the church and the priest’s home.
The mayor had heard of plans to torch St. Augustine’s church and stationed the city watch at the front, while he guarded the rear with a posse he had organized. An arriving Protestant mob, armed with bricks and clubs knocked out the mayor, dispersing the guards and setting fire to the church. As the steeple collapsed, the First City Troop rode by, cheering the mob.
Firemen on the scene carefully guarded nearby Protestant churches from any stray flames while the mobs staged a bonfire of the 5,000 texts from the Augustine Fathers’ library.
As the afternoon drew to a close, the mob turned to the Catholic nunnery at Second and Phoenix Streets, burning it to the ground.
After nearly three days of mob violence and destruction, the city sent troops to guard other Roman Catholic churches in the city while Catholics smuggled valuables from the churches to their homes for safekeeping. The bishop suspended all services for May 10.
A grand jury convened to study the riot, returned a bill calling the incidents “isolated” and identifying no individuals by name.
In April, anti-Catholic sentiment in New York City led to a mob of 1,200 attacking the Irish section of the city. Rumors of a plan to burn down St. Patrick’s Cathedral (based on the Philadelphia riot) lead to the bishop assembling an army of 4,000 men armed with swords and Derringers at St. Partick’s. Every other Catholic church in the city was guarded by at least 1,000 men each, sworn to "taking as many lives as they could in defense of their property, and to give up, if necessary, their own lives for the same cause." The bishop issued a statement that “…if a single Catholic church is burned in New York, the city will become a second Moscow” (referring to the 1812 fire that destroyed the city during Napoleon’s occupation). The mayor asked “Are you afraid that some of your churches will be burned?” The bishop replied, “No, sir, but I am afraid some of yours will be burned. We can protect our own.”
Back in Philadelphia on July 5, 1844, a Protestant mob arrived with a brace of cannon at St. Phillip Neri’s church. The militia protected the church. In the ensuing melee, an unknown number of citizens were killed.
In the aftermath, several Irish Catholics were indicted for murder and rioting.
Forty-six years later, in 1890, the concept of compulsory religious instruction (of any sect) in U.S. public schools was struck down as unconstitutional in the Edgerton Bible Case by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and further upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Abington School District v. Schempp in 1963.
External links
- A Report from the Irish-American Society
- Rob Boston, "Bible Riots : when Christians Killed Each Other Over Religion in Public Schools"
- Some links of importance
- BIBLE RIOTS: When Christians Killed Each Other Over Religion in Public Schools
- [www.atheists.org/publicschools/street.html Street Fighten' Believers...]
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