Abolitionists courted the Irish as fellow laborers against slavery

Evidence

Garrison chaired the meeting. Phillips introduced several resolutions which were adopted by acclamation, including one supporting Ireland in her struggle against “the fraudulent act of Union.” Edmund Quincy drew the parallel between the struggle of Ireland for Repeal and the American War of Independence. Col. J. P. Miller of Vermont, who claimed Irish descent, declared himself a Repealer, to thunderous applause. George Bradburn of Nantucket, well known in American Catholic circles for his vigorous opposition to nativism, made a special appeal to the Irish as laboring people. “Slavery,” he said, “strikes at the interest of every laboring man.” — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 55

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Pro-slavery Irish Americans argued Irish peasants were worse off than American slaves — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 87; Southern slaveholders courted Irish immigrants by contrasting Southern hospitality with Northern anti-Irish prejudice — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 87; Irish Catholic leaders steered their flock into proslavery alignment against natural abolitionist sympathy. — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 95 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Abolitionists feared Irish immigrant papers would block Irish-black solidarity #expands (0.78) — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 66