Immigrants, including millions from Ireland, have flocked to the shores of the United States since before its founding. The Irish Potato Famine, that began in 1845, killed over a million people and resulted in the largest surge of Irish immigration with two million coming to the United States between 1845 and 1850. Come  learn how to use this experience as a gateway to teaching immigrant history at a HSP teacher workshop on Wednesday, November 19.

Teachers attending will receive our latest issue of Legacies is focused on the Irish immigrant experience and explores topics such as how and why the Irish came to America and their role in labor and politics.By exploring these articles alongside our primary source collections, teachers will understand how to incorporate Irish immigrant history into their classroom as well as make connections between the Irish and other immigrant groups when discussing rights and equality.

The primary sources involved include letters between family members, anti-Irish propaganda, political cartoons, and Irish community newspapers. By incorporating these sources along with the Legacies articles teachers will gain an insight into Philadelphia’s Irish community, its origins, and its legacy.

Students often do not realize the struggles that the Irish community endured when coming to America, and this is a great chance to discuss the immigrant experience through the lens of the Irish. This topic gives students a perspective on nativism and how the Irish overcame harsh stereotypes and prejudice to create a thriving community here in Philadelphia.

Our program will be on Wednesday, November 19th, 4:30-6:30 pm, Act 48 Credit will be available, and you can register here.