1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish-American History

Virtually every chapter of American history has been shaped by the millions of immigrants who have arrived on our shores over the centuries--and none more so than the Irish. For more than four hundred years, the Irish fled British oppression, religious persecution, and during the famine years in the 1840s, mass starvation to begin a new life in America. Here, while enduring poverty and discrimination, the Irish released their long-suppressed talents as entrepreneurs, leaders, scholars, soldiers, builders, athletes, writers, and artists. 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish-American History is a comprehensive and vividly illustrated celebration of Irish enterprise, talent, and courage. Organized around such broad subjects as culture, politics, business, religion, and sports, it engagingly profiles key Irish figures in American history, along with their accomplishments and legacies. The case of colorful characters includes Bing Crosby, Henry Ford, and Jennie Hodgens, a brave Belfast-born woman who served in the Union army disguised as a man. The author also explores questions such as, "Who was the Murphy who dreamed up 'Murphy's Law'?" Readers will also get a glimpse into the history of the Emerald Isle itself, as Irish Americans today continue to celebrate the history and culture of their homeland. 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish American History demonstrates the central role that Irish immigrants have played in defining American character and identity.