" The Irish neighborhoods or "slums," though close in proximity to the wealthy Protestant districts, differed considerably, epitomizing the inequality and discrimination. Yet, the Irish were aggressive and determined to share in the American dream. The impact of this clash of cultures and social identities, in part, accounts for the entry of the Irish into Boston politics and for the political style they developed. .
Following the Famine, the Irish population in Boston exploded. The city's population swelled from 61,000 in 1830 to a quarter of a million in 1870, mainly because of immigration. Denied access to business and commercial opportunities, ambitious Irish Catholics often pursued careers in the church, labor unions and eventually politics. Desperately seeking a way to make a living, politics seemed an appealing career. Their strength in numbers alone gave them considerable power in the city's political arena. "Politics, like baseball, prizefighting, and the Church, was a career open to talents, a path of social mobility for the sons of impoverished families." It required little education and money while providing a lot of prestige and power. "For those with the right blend of imagination, audacity, and style, politics was the only answer." Unlike many other Catholic immigrant groups, Irish Americans quickly adjusted to the American political system and figured prominently in the urban wing of the Democratic Party. Despite the unparalleled contributions the Irish have made in practically all aspects of American Society, they are best known for their impact on politics, specifically Boston politics. .
Even so, the Irish influence on Boston politics did not take place for decades after the first cluster of immigrants fled their homeland. Despite the enormous increase in the number of Irish Catholics in Boston, at first they appeared politically indifferent. Due to the transitional period in American politics at the time, the new residents found political affairs confusing and irrelevant.
