Thread: What part did the Irish play in the founding of the United States of America?

My friend says that the Irish played a big part in the founding of the US. I think he's wrong. So, I'd like it if someone could explain what they did that was so important to the founding of America.

ALSO: I also want to know if any of the first 5 or six presidents were Irish, because I can't find that anywhere. Thanks a bunch in advance!

Do you mean, when Europeans finally discovered that there was a north and south america with people living there? or do you mean like the american revolution?
Colonists who became Americans, made America a country. So no, they weren't irish, they were American, and mostly had ancestors from England.
The native Americans also were not irish. Columbus and people of his time were not Irish. The European explorers from that time came mostly from Portugal/Italy/Spain/France/England.
The early presidents were all American. They'd all been born in America. Most colonists had british ancestors

they played a very little role in the founding of the United States. as stated already, it was mainly the people of british descent who founded this country. it wasnt until much later in america's history did the irish play a role

The Irish played virtually no part in the founding of America.

Those that first arrived did so in prison ships since Britain used part of it's American colonies as a place of convict transportation before the discovery of Australia. Others came as indentured servants or those of the domestic variety. None of them would have had any real say in the founding of the US.

The majority of Irish immigration took place between 1820 and 1850 as labourers for the building of the canal system and other construction in the north east and especially in '45 to '49 during the Irish potato famine where millions arrived to escape starvation.

As regards the first 5 presidents as far as i'm aware none were of Irish heritage. Both George Washington and John Adams were descendants of Englishmen from Essex (those of us who are English find it hilarious that the first two presidents are Essex men - you won't understand why if you're from the States) and Thomas Jefferson's ancestors were from Wales.