Catholic sisters in 19th c. America

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Catholic sisters in 19th c. America
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The American Catholic experience (19th century)

• Minority group
• Experienced prejudice, hostility
• Compare to today?
• Largely immigrant
• Prior to 1845, most Catholics in America were
  English
• 1840s Large wave of Irish immigration begins
• 1850 5 of US population is Catholic
• 1890-1920 large numbers of Italian and eastern
  European immigrants
• 1906 17 of population is Catholic, the largest
  single religious group

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Sisters as nurses

• Contributed to growth of profession
• For respectable women (note ethnic and class
  prejudice)
• Built up institutions
• Created curriculum
• Increased Protestants exposure to Catholicism
• Debunked stereotypes, rumors
• Served in epidemics when others would not
• Built up considerable resources, authority,
  opportunities in hospitals and social service
  providers