State militia (left) firing at nativist rioters July 7, 1844, in Southwark
Date
First riot: May 6–8, 1844 (3 days)
Second riot: July 6–7, 1844 (1 day)
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Caused by
Anti-Catholicism Anti-Irish sentiment Nativism Instability (political and economic)
Resulted in
Politicization of the event Build-up of government forces
Casualties
Death(s)
20+[1]
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 or wounded hundreds of anti-Catholic rioters.
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.[2]
^Church of St Philip Neri website, churchofstphilipneri.org; accessed June 9, 2016.
^Patrick Grubbs, "Riots (1830s and 1840s)" Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia (2018)
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