Few topics are as pertinent to the American political scene as immigration. This timely book examines the attitude of American Evangelical Protestants toward European immigration into the United States before the Immigration Act of 1924. Of particular interest are the effects, as seen by evangelicals, that immigration had in the cities, in education, in politics, and in the evangelical quest to win the prohibition of alcohol. It also addresses the rise of the 19th century evangelical’s main ethnic opponent, the Irish immigrant, and the Irish dominance of the American Catholic Church. The text is based largely upon the writings, speeches, and sermons of evangelicalism.

William J. Phalen holds a Ph.D. in American history from Rutgers University. He lives in Staten Island, New York.

William J. Phalen
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 15 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6135-6
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8468-3
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

Introduction      3

1. The Antebellum Years      17

2. The Cities      34

3. Politics      47

4. The Evangelical Alliance      62

5. The Irish      82

6. Education      98

7. Temperance      113

8. The Social Gospel      128

Conclusion: The Road to Restriction      154

Notes      193

Bibliography      209

Index      217

“gives the historical background to controversies over who should be allowed to emigrate to the US…shows how religion influenced the outcome of an important national issue”—Voice of Reason.