Introduction
Since the 1600s, Polish immigrants have moved to the United States of America in hopes of beginning a new life with an abundance of resources to obtain the American Dream; or to reconnect with their relatives whom have settled in the States a while ago; or to escape the times of war or national oppression Poland faced by its neighboring countries. Whatever the reason may be, from the beginnings of Poles immigrating to America, once arriving in the states, they created for themselves a Polish ethnic community, otherwise known as Polonia. This community was intricately constructed in which Poles held onto their Polish customs and traditions so they would not have to change their entire way of living even though moving to America
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In the present research study, the Polish immigration rates to America during the years of 1929 to 1931 will be examined. Statistics show that a large number of Poles move to the United States in 1929 and an even greater number of Polish immigrants come during 1930. Why such a large of mass of new emigration Poles came to America during this time frame poses as an interesting question as the United States entered its Great Depression in 1929. It would seem that people would want to avoid moving to America when the economy was suffering greatly in all states and where its citizens were not only loosing their jobs, but also staying unemployed for a considerable amount of time because there were very few available jobs. Yet, this did not seem to phase the increase of almost fifteen hundred Polish immigrants as illustrated in the “Table of Immigration Since 1928” from the Chicago Daily Tribune (1945: …show more content…
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The similarities between Poland and the United States will be very surprising trust me. First of all there are a lot of ethnic groups. Here are some ethnic groups in Poland- Belorussians, Czechs, Lithuanians, Germans, Armenians, Russians, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Jews, Karaites, Lemkos, Roma and Tatars, and Kashubians. Here are some ethnic groups in the United States- White American, Black or African American, Native American and Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. (Ethnic groups are a community or population of people who share common background.)
At the time that this family arrived in the United States, a new wave of Eastern European immigration - spurred by growing industrialization and the advances in technology leading to the establishment of steel mills and other manufacturing and raw material processing factories and plants - was reshaping the American labor force. Djuro's experiences, and those of his son-in-law, Mike Dobrejcak, reflect a certain level of hostility towards these Eastern and Central Europeans from "mainstream" Americans and earlier, more acc...
The author also explained what brought many of the immigrants to the United States and the typical life they endured upon arrival. Immigration in America came in waves and during the era of late 1800s and early 1900s. Many were Russian Jews skilled at the trade of sewing. In Russia the trades that Jews were permitted to have were limited and one of these authorized trades was tailor. The surge of Russian Jew immigration was as a result of several anti-semitic activities occurring in Russia at the time. The current Czar created many rules that prevented Jews from being productive members of Russian society and there were also several pogroms during the ...
In the years from 1860 through 1890, the prospect of a better life attracted nearly ten million immigrants who settled in cities around the United States. The growing number of industries produced demands for thousands of new workers and immigrants were seeking more economic opportunities. Most immigrants settled near each other’s own nationality and/or original village when in America.
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Between 1880 and 1920 almost twenty-four million immigrants came to the United States. Between better salaries, religious freedom, and a chance to get ahead in life, were more than enough reasons for leaving their homelands for America. Because of poverty, no future and various discrimination in their homelands, the incentive to leave was increasing. During the mid-1800's and early 1900's, the labor and farm hands in Eastern Europe were only earning about 15 to 30 a day. In America, they earned 50 cents to one dollat in a day, doubling their paycheck. Those lower wage earners in their homeland were st...
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Polish Americans in Chicago during World War II battled constant issues from immigration to labor. Social historians since the 1960s have been trying to understand the social and labor strife Poles faced and why organizations were key in Polish American society. Social and labo...
The Polish heritage has been an important part of my life. It has taught me to be respectful and caring towards my family, friends, and others. My father’s side of our family is Polish. My great-grandfather came from Poland to escape the perils of World War II. He was a farmer, who traveled to the United States for the promise of a new life. He taught himself how to become a wood-worker and a handy man, but he worked as a miner in the United States. My great-grandfather was extremely determined to provide for his family, and wife in the United States. After a many years, I was born. From my birth, I was introduced to our Polish heritage. My great-grandfather would read to me in Slavic. He was extremely family oriented. After he left his fourteen siblings in Poland, he still made an immense effort to remain in contact with them. Even at my young age, when he was alive, I remember seeing his relatives visiting, even though I could not communicate with them. After he passed, our Polish culture still remained dominate.
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They talked about how the came over about 10 years ago, so in 1886 when Russia was just starting to get hit with the industrialize revolution, and Poland was also coming over during this time. They were young adults at the time with no family with them and only their bag that they brought to the US. It wasn’t uncommon for people to travel young to the United States because they were most likely to migrate because they had no children or a family to take care of, and they weren’t part of the older generation in their country. They came to America much like everyone else with hopes and dreams to make it big in their new country. Mami wanted to open up her own dance academy while Jake wanted to get his family from Russia over to America, and make a living out of himself. We also see in this opening scene a new migrant who had just came off the boat, going to this bar where they are at and Mami, Jake, and the others being welcoming to him. You also get a glimpse at what an immigrant looks like when they have just gotten off the boat, this immigrant had his beard, one bag, hat, and he doesn’t speak English at all. Luckily for him, he is in a neighborhood that speaks the same language as
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