In the early 1800s, Catholics in Ireland were horribly exploited and almost starved by England. As their dreadful conditions worsened, they began to immigrate to America. In 1849, due to soil and other conditions, potatoes, the crop the Irish depended on as their main source of food, failed.

The Great Famine, or starvation, occurred and Irish began coming to the New York City in huge and heretofore unmatched numbers. They quickly became the numerically and politically dominant immigrant group.

Many lived in the area called Five Points.

The largely Protestant New York establishment looked down their noses at Catholics.

In addition to being Catholic, Irish immigrants were impoverished, barely educated, and relegated to the most menial positions and poorest parts of the city. In many circles they were regarded as almost sub-human.

One thing the Irish did have, however, was a huge constituency. In the early 19th century, these new immigrants quickly gained the right to vote.