From 1892 to 1931 some 2,502,310 Italians passed through Ellis Island. The vast majority were southern Italian farmers from the regions of Calabria, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata and Sicily. Poor working conditions, expensive land and a severe malaria epidemic were the primary reasons for Italian immigration. Generally a man would arrive first seeking a better paying job. Once he had established a home he would send for his family. Others worked for several years, sending money back to their families, and would eventually return to the homeland.
Italian immigrants generally settled in Italian communities. They valued family and community and formed “Little Italies” in the large cities as bastions for Italian Americans. 90% of Italians settled in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri and Louisiana. In addition 90% settled in urban areas. The southern Italians generally lived in tight knit Italian communities and they were resistant to learning English. The children of the southern Italian immigrant were expected to remain in their community and if they left it was considered a disgrace. To the Italian family was everything. Thus the Italian immigrant child assimilated at a slower rate.
Italian immigrants started small businesses and worked in the burgeoning industrial sector. Many became clothiers in the cities. Italian woman were expected to stay at home and raise the children. They did however work out of their homes to earn extra cash for the family. As the Italians became established in America old customs and habits gradually gave way to Americanized thought. Young woman began leaving their homes in search of work.
Italian immigrants generally settled in Italian communities. They valued family and community and formed “Little Italies” in the large cities as bastions for Italian Americans. 90% of Italians settled in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri and Louisiana. In addition 90% settled in urban areas. The southern Italians generally lived in tight knit Italian communities and they were resistant to learning English. The children of the southern Italian immigrant were expected to remain in their community and if they left it was considered a disgrace. To the Italian family was everything. Thus the Italian immigrant child assimilated at a slower rate.
Italian immigrants started small businesses and worked in the burgeoning industrial sector. Many became clothiers in the cities. Italian woman were expected to stay at home and raise the children. They did however work out of their homes to earn extra cash for the family. As the Italians became established in America old customs and habits gradually gave way to Americanized thought. Young woman began leaving their homes in search of work.
A Century Later
A century later Americans with Italian ancestry still heavily populate the Northeast.