How Did Italian Immigrants Seek The American Dream

Italians Immigrate to Seek the American Dream The very heart of the American dream derives from an era in history known as European Immigration. During this time period, the Italians, one of the various immigrant groups who traveled great distances to the prosperous country of America, hoped to seek an improved lifestyle for the future generations of their family and to provide them the potential of living in a modernized country. The Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute states, “Italian migration was an opportunity for liberation; the hope for a better life.” In the early 1900’s, both of my great-grandparents families traveled to America from Sicily, Italy, an impoverished country at the time, in search of providing the opportunity of the American dream to their

The immigrants had to create work for themselves because they were discriminated against and faced poverty once again. They were restricted certain privileges because of their nationality. Sometimes violence struck out against Italians. Additionally, many American citizens feared that the immigrants would take away their jobs during the trade union movement because “the European immigrants would be willing to work for just about any amount of money” (The Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute). Italians were viewed as childlike, criminals, or subhumans through drawing and songs. In 1891, one of the most gruesome situations took place in New Orleans. The chief of police was found slaughtered to death on the street, the mayor blamed “Sicilian gangsters” and rounded up more than 100 Sicilian Americans. Eventually, they were found not guilty as a result of a lack of evidence. Then, a mob of 10,000 people, broke into the jail, and lynched the Italians. Italians worldwide were outraged, but the U.S. press approved of the action. That day in history was notorious for the largest single mass lynching in U.S.