The Paddy Camps: The Irish of Lowell, 1821-61

by Brian C. Mitchell

The dramatic story of the fights and compromises that shaped an Irish community Disdained by many Yankee residents as Catholic lowlifes, the growing Irish population of the Lowell, Massachusetts, “paddy camps” in the nineteenth century proved a tempting source of cheap labor for local mill owners, who took advantage of the immigrants’ proximity to exploit them to the fullest. Displaced by their cheaper labor, other workers blamed the Irish for job losses and added to their plight through repression and segregation. Now in paperback and featuring a new preface, Brian C. Mitchell’s The Paddy Camps demonstrates how the Irish community in Lowell overcame adversity to develop strong religious institutions, an increased political presence, and a sense of common traditions.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

247 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2006

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in the history of Irish immigrants in the U.S., you should read this book. The actual text of the book is only half of the pages, the rest is charts, footnotes, and bibliography.