American Government in Ireland, 1790-1913 A History of the US Consular Service

by Whelan, Bernadette

• ISBN13: 9780719083013
• ISBN10: 071908301X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-01-15
• Publisher: MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY PRESS

Summary

This book reconstructs American consular activity in Ireland from 1790 to 1913 and elucidates the interconnectedness of America's foreign interests, Irish nationalism and British imperialism. Its originality lies in that it is based on an interrogation of American, British and Irish archives, and covers over one hundred years of American, Irish and British relations through the post of the American consular official while also uncovering the consul's role in seminal events such as the War of 1812, the 184551 Irish famine, the American Civil War, Fenianism and mass Irish emigration. It is a history of the men who filled posts as consuls, vice consuls, deputy consuls and consular agents. It reveals their identities, how they interpreted and implemented US foreign policy, their outsider perspective on events in both Ireland and America and their contribution to the expanding transatlantic relationship. The work intersects diaspora studies, emigration history and diplomatic relations as well as illuminating the respective Irish-American, Anglo-Irish and Anglo-American relationships.

Author Biography

Bernadette Whelan is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Limerick, Ireland

Table of Contents

List of tables	p. vii
List of appendices	p. viii
List of terms and usages	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
The United States consular service in Ireland: appointments and conditions, 1790-1906	p. 1
Establishing the United States foreign service in Ireland: recruitment and terms of employment, 1790-1856
Bribery, corruption and consular reform
Reform regains momentum
'Oh Lord, not in my district, Amen': consular work in Ireland, 1790-1907	p. 54
Protecting American citizens
Reporting the famine, 1845-51
Developing trade and commerce
Protecting the Union: the American Civil War, 1861-5	p. 105
Combating Confederate navy-building and blockade-running
Recruiting Union soldiers and labour
'Our Guardian Angel abroad': American foreign policy and Irish nationalism, 1865-70	p. 157
1865: the 'year of action'
1866: the suspension of habeas corpus
1867: the year of the rising
Building the Union, 1865-1913: the immigration process	p. 210
Pace of emigration
The departures of the 'very bone and sinew of the land'
Implementing the legislation
Conclusion	p. 261
Appendices	p. 267
Bibliography	p. 275
Index	p. 289
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