Italians in America
Uploaded by swandawg11 on Oct 26, 2011
This paper discusses the waves of Italian immigrants that came to the United States in 1820-1880 and 1880-1920, and asks if being from a different region in Italy resulted in different treatment from American citizens. (10+ pages; 8 sources; MLA citation style)
I Introduction
Italians are one of the largest groups of immigrants to come to the U.S.; they came to America at different times, with one of the largest “waves” in the period 1880-1920. They brought their vibrant culture, but like other groups, faced prejudice, racism and hatred.
This paper looks at the experiences of these immigrants in their new country; specifically it considers Italians from two regions of Italy: Naples, and the Abruzzi, and asks if their experiences were different, and if so, can their place of origin account for those differences.
II The Old Country
A more fundamental question is: What, if anything, is the difference between Italians who come from the Abruzzi and Naples? To answer that, we need to define our terms.
The area known as ‘the Abruzzo’ is on the opposite side of the country from Naples. If we use the well-known practice of looking at Italy as a “boot,” then Naples is on the front of the leg and the Abruzzo on the back. More precisely, Naples would be on the lower part of the shin with the Abruzzo about mid-way up the calf. (“In Italy Online,” PG). (As I understand it, not speaking Italian, the region is ‘the Abruzzo’ and the people who come from it, ‘the Abruzzi’.)
Italy in general is a rugged country (nearly 75% of the country is mountainous), with another 20% forested. (“Italy,” PG). There are low-lying “strips” along the Adriatic coast and the Tyrrhenian coast; in addition, there is a vast plain that makes up Northern Italy; it is in the north that industry is concentrated. (“Italy,” PG).
Most of the country is agricultural, as well; the agrarian economy means that generations of Italians have been very poor, peasants in fact: “Italy’s plight was clear. The country had a burgeoning population, the majority of whom had been born in dire poverty, and yet it had few resources. Preeminently an agricultural region, nearly the entire mezzogiorno was owned by absentee landlord who still held onto the peasantry and the land…” (Moreno, p. 22). The word “mezzogiorno” is translated literally as “midday”...