Italian Immigrants In The 19th Century
The reason my family and I live in America today is due largely to my
great-grandparents, from both my mother and fathers side. They immigrated
here from the towns of Naples and Calabria both located in the southern part
of Italy. From the many stories I heard about my great-grandparents, I
learned that the main reason for them coming to this country, as for many of
the immigrants, was to start a better life for their families.
It was between 1880 and 1920 that over four million Italians were
recorded as immigrating to the United States. During this vast emigration it
wa the U.S. that was the largest recipient of Italian Immigrants in the world.
The year 1871 can be considered as the starting point of many …show more content…
Taxes increased, land was left untended, little was done to stop floods
and improve the soil, and disease took its toll on the people and crops. This
resulted in thousands of farmers unable to make a living and support their
families even skilled workers could no longer find employment. Through out
this time period the majority of immigrants were males between the ages of
24 and 45. Most Italian Immigrants never really planned to stay permanently in America. Those with the intent of being migratory laborers earned
themselves a special name they were called “Birds of Passage”.
Their expectations were to only stay as long as it took to earn
enough money to help improve their families situations back home. While
others came with the intent of earning enough money to be able to
bring their families to come live with them in America.
The trip to America was not an easy one for any immigrant coming to
America from over seas. In the early 1800’s the average amount of time it
took by boat to get to America was 40 days which depended greatly on the
weather. It was not until the 1900’s that conditions approved somewhat
great-grandparents, from both my mother and fathers side. They immigrated
here from the towns of Naples and Calabria both located in the southern part
of Italy. From the many stories I heard about my great-grandparents, I
learned that the main reason for them coming to this country, as for many of
the immigrants, was to start a better life for their families.
It was between 1880 and 1920 that over four million Italians were
recorded as immigrating to the United States. During this vast emigration it
wa the U.S. that was the largest recipient of Italian Immigrants in the world.
The year 1871 can be considered as the starting point of many …show more content…
Taxes increased, land was left untended, little was done to stop floods
and improve the soil, and disease took its toll on the people and crops. This
resulted in thousands of farmers unable to make a living and support their
families even skilled workers could no longer find employment. Through out
this time period the majority of immigrants were males between the ages of
24 and 45. Most Italian Immigrants never really planned to stay permanently in America. Those with the intent of being migratory laborers earned
themselves a special name they were called “Birds of Passage”.
Their expectations were to only stay as long as it took to earn
enough money to help improve their families situations back home. While
others came with the intent of earning enough money to be able to
bring their families to come live with them in America.
The trip to America was not an easy one for any immigrant coming to
America from over seas. In the early 1800’s the average amount of time it
took by boat to get to America was 40 days which depended greatly on the
weather. It was not until the 1900’s that conditions approved somewhat