Irish immigrants held the electoral balance of power in antebellum America.

Evidence

Given O’Connell’s record on the slavery question and his influence among Irish everywhere, it was natural that abolitionists in America would wish to make maximum use of his name. On October 20, 1838, Elizur Wright, corresponding secretary of the American Anti-Slavery Society, wrote thanking him for his support: “Severe as your language is, it shall not make you our enemy. While you are dealing death to American slavery you are in truth acting the most friendly part to genuine American institutions.” Wright continued, “I have been informed that a body of your countrymen in Philadelphia some time since wrote to you for an explanation of language used in one of your Anti-Slavery speeches, and got for answer what it has not suited them to publish! It seems to me that you may do great service to the slave by sending over an address to the Irish portion of our population, giving plainly your views on slavery. They will listen to you.” To make sure O’Connell appreciated the importance and the difficulty of what he would be taking on, Wright added, “In drawing up such an address you will need to bear in mind that, as our parties stand, your countrymen among us hold the balance of power; that three fourths of them at least are democrats and have followed their party to most undemocratic results …” — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 45

Categorization

• SHARE: A specific number (three-fourths Irish Democrats who followed their party to ‘most undemocratic results’) worth sending to someone studying antebellum voting blocs.
• XREF: connects to: Irish American voters wielded decisive electoral influence for slavery by 1840 — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 46; Electoral rules have long served partisan entrenchment across American history — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 83; Naturalization policy in the 1800s was openly driven by electoral self-interest — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 318

Broader Connections

• Irish American voters wielded decisive electoral influence for slavery by 1840 #expands (0.78) — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 46
• Electoral rules have long served partisan entrenchment across American history #exemplifies (0.75) — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 83
• Naturalization policy in the 1800s was openly driven by electoral self-interest #corroborates (0.74) — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 318