Italian_Immigrants

Italian immigrants: The United States is known as the melting pot of the world. Many have sought refuse here and a better way of life. The Italian immigrants were no different and in doing so have made a significant impact on the United States. The Italian immigrants came to America to have a better life; some have been linked to organized crime while most are successful members of American society. Italian immigrants started to immigrate to the United States in the early 1800’s. From about the 1820’s until 2004 about 5.5 million Italians immigrated to the United States, with the greatest surge of immigration, occurring during 1880’s through the 1920’s, in that time period more than 4 million Italians came to America . A large percentage of those Italian immigrants, 80% according to a census came from Southern Italy, especially from Sicily and Campania, these were parts known as the former “Kingdom of the two Sicilies “. These regions consisted mainly of agricultural and were overpopulated and economically underdeveloped and benefitted little from the industry of the North especially after the political and social movements.So Initially the Italian government supported the emigration of their people whom did not own land. This was their way of relieving financial pressures in their country mainly in the southern region. Once in the United States most Italian immigrants were faced with many barriers, and were frequently subjected to extreme prejudice, racism and, in some cases, violence. Italian stereo typing was common place during the 19th and early 20th centuries and a means of justifying the mistreatment of Italian immigrants. A few such cases happened in 1891 a mass lynching took place involving eleven Italians that were tried and found not guilty of assassinating police Chief David Hennessey of New Orleans, after that hundreds of Italian immigrants were arrested who hadn’t committed any crimes. Then in 1899, in Tallulah, Louisiana five Italian Americans were lynched because they had given equal status in their shops to blacks. A vigilante mob hung three shopkeepers, and two bystanders who were Italian Americans. Another injustice for Italian immigrants happened in 1920 two Italian immigrants, Sacco and Vanzetti, were tried for robbery and murder. Many historians say that their trail was mishandled, and the judge, jury, and prosecution were biased toward them because of their anarchistic political views and Italian immigrant status and though there was world-wide protests, Sacco and Vanzetti were eventually executed. Italian immigrants were often viewed as illiterate peasants. With speaking little to no English they were forced to take menial and the lowest paying jobs. And because of the language barriers many were exploited by middlemen who were supposed to be helping them interact between perspective employers. And though they were unskilled they were considered dual labored (secondary) , another words most were hired to do manual labor jobs such as public works , construction of roads, sewers, subways and bridges just to name a few . Many working 90 hours a week, for very little pay 5.00 or 10.00 a month. Italian women took jobs as seamstresses or stayed at home. After the civil war Italian immigrants were enlisted to work in our agricultural fields as labors. Many Italian immigrants also set up small shops in what they termed little Italy, to take care of the day to day needs of their fellow Italian immigrant neighbors. Most settled in the largest concentration of the northeast. It is there that Italian roots and culture are most notable. Most settled in older parts of cities which became known as Little Italies . They often lived in substandard housing, problems where overcrowding was often an issue. Despite the hardships their civil and social lives started to flourished in their little Italian American neighborhoods especially in the northeastern cities Like New York , were most of the first Italian immigrants settled, in those neighborhood’s they had Italian theaters, band concerts, choral recitals, social clubs available everywhere . Italian immigrants and their families adjusted to life in their new country and made contributions to the American culture and life. A great many Italian immigrants brought with them specialized skills, knowledge and business spirit. Some of whom were invited to come to America because they possessed much needed skills in agriculture and the making of glass, silk and wine. Others came because of their musical abilities as teachers and performers. The first opera house in the country, opened in 1833 in New York because of Lorenzo Da Ponte, one of Mozart’s former librettists, who had immigrated to America earlier. In 1849 the first Italian American newspaper, called the "L'Eco d'Italia" was published in New York by Francesco de Casale. In 1869 the first Columbus Day celebration was organized by Italian Americans in San Francisco A substantial number of cutting edge business ideas were brought about by Italian Americans. Amadeo Giannini originated the concept of branch banking to serve the Italian American community in San Francisco. He is the founder of the Bank of Italy, which later became known as the Bank of America. This bank was instrumental to the film industry and its development on the west coast in that period of time. Other companies founded by Italian Americans are considered household names today such as Ghirardelli Chocolate co, Progresso, Planters peanuts ,Chef boyardee just to name a few . Italian immigrants also played an interesting role in our history, some very noteworthy such as the group of Italian musicians Thomas Jefferson invited to come to form a military band, which later became the nucleus of the U.S. Marine Band. Also interesting to note a physician named Filippo Mazzei, who was a promoter of liberty, was a close friend and confidant of Thomas Jefferson Italian Americans rank seventh amongst other ethnic groups; they fall behind Germans, Irish, African Americans, English, American and Mexican (not in any particular order). Italian Americans are the fourth largest European ethnic group in the United States. In the early 1800s, Italians came to the United States to escape poverty and provide a better life for their familes. A few came just to escape the poverty of their native Italy; some just came to earn money before returning to their homeland. Those who chose to stay have had the most impact on our culture .Most have in a positive way, still some in a negative way as I’ve stated above. There are two sided to every story. No matter how you look at it, negatively or positively, there is no question that both the United States and the Italians were greatly affected by immigration. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Italianism