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Philadelphia nativist riots

1844 in Pennsylvania1844 riots19th century in PhiladelphiaAnti-Catholic riots in the United StatesAnti-immigration politics in the United States
Attacks on churches in North AmericaAttacks on religious buildings and structures in the United StatesChristianity in PhiladelphiaHistory of Catholicism in the United StatesIrish-American culture in PhiladelphiaIrish-American historyJuly 1844 eventsMay 1844 eventsReligion in PhiladelphiaReligiously motivated violence in the United StatesRiots and civil disorder in PhiladelphiaRoman Catholic Archdiocese of PhiladelphiaVague or ambiguous time from June 2016
Riot in Philadelphia, June (i.e. July) 7th 1844 H. Bucholzer. LCCN2003654121
Riot in Philadelphia, June (i.e. July) 7th 1844 H. Bucholzer. LCCN2003654121

The Philadelphia nativist riots (also known as the Philadelphia Prayer Riots, the Bible Riots and the Native American Riots) were a series of riots that took place on May 6—8 and July 6—7, 1844, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and the adjacent districts of Kensington and Southwark. The riots were a result of rising anti-Catholic sentiment at the growing population of Irish Catholic immigrants. The government brought in over a thousand militia—they confronted the nativist mobs and killed and wounded hundreds. In the five months leading to the riots, nativist groups had been spreading a false rumor that Catholics were trying to remove the Bible from public schools. A nativist rally in Kensington erupted in violence on May 6 and started a deadly riot that would result in the destruction of two Catholic churches and numerous other buildings. Riots erupted again in July after it was discovered that St. Philip Neri's Catholic Church in Southwark had armed itself for protection. Fierce fighting broke out between the nativists and the soldiers sent to protect the church, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. Two of the 13 Catholic churches were burned. The Catholic Church sued the city and won some money for repairs. Civic leaders deplored the nativist attacks. Nationally, the riots helped fuel criticism of the nativist movement, despite denials of responsibility from nativist groups. The riots exposed deficiencies in law enforcement in Philadelphia and the surrounding districts, influencing various reforms in local police departments and the eventual consolidation of the city in 1854.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Philadelphia nativist riots (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Philadelphia nativist riots
West Jefferson Street, Philadelphia

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N 39.9736 ° E -75.1386 °
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West Jefferson Street

West Jefferson Street
19121 Philadelphia
Pennsylvania, United States
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Riot in Philadelphia, June (i.e. July) 7th 1844 H. Bucholzer. LCCN2003654121
Riot in Philadelphia, June (i.e. July) 7th 1844 H. Bucholzer. LCCN2003654121
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