Ultramontanism and the fracturing of Irish America in the mid- to late-nineteenth century

The Irish who arrived in the United States after the Great Hunger tended to identify first as Irish and were sceptical of the Church’s interference in matters outside the realm of religion. They were influenced by Irish nationalists who arrived after the Young Ireland rebellion of 1848. However, as the Church became more influenced by ultramontanism and the community faced more criticism from American Protestants, Irish Americans tended to identify as Catholic rather than Irish. Irish nationalists, on the other hand, tended to be very critical of an ultramontane Church and the outsized role they played in the community. As such, the increasing influence of ultramontanes fractured Irish America and weakened nationalist movements.