The Italian Diaspora of the late 19th and early20th Century

1254 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on italian immigration in the 1950s

Between 1861 and 1920, over 7 million Italians choose to emigrate from their home country (Italian Immigration: Why So Many Italians Live Outside Italy). Many Italian immigrants chose to make their new lives in South America, particularly in Argentina and Brazil. The mass migration of Italians began what is known as the “big migration” in Brazil (Sabina Stelzig). In this report I will explore what prompted so many Italians to brave an ocean crossing to immigrate to South America, how their influences impacted their new countries, and what push and pull factors Italians faced in leaving their home country and settling in a new one.
There were many factors that contributed to the Italian diaspora between 1861 and 1920. Perhaps the most influential factors were created by the results of the unification of Italy. On March 17, 1861, the unification of Italy was officially announced. Except for Venetia and Rome, Italy became one country under the royal family of Piedmont-Sardinia (ISSUES RELEVANT TO U.S. FOREIGN DIPLOMACY: UNIFICATION OF ITALIAN STATES). Under the new unified Italy, the courts distributed land that was controlled by feudal landowners to the locals. Unfortunately, the farmers were not able to make a living off the land they received and had to sell their plots back to the wealthy. Others lost their land due to the practice of evenly dividing land among heirs. Therefore, despite the disintegration of feudalism, most property remained in the control of the wealthy. This inequality was most evident in the northern region of Italy and contributed greatly to the poverty level (McDonald). Italy was also becoming more industrialized which resulted in a loss of employment. The loss of jobs also contributed to t...

... middle of paper ...

...ntials in Rural Italy, 1902-1913." Economic Development and Cultural Change 7.1 (1958): 55-72.
Pall Mall Gazette. Steerage Accommodations on the Cunard Steamship Line - 1879. 9 August 1879. .
Ragir, Alex. South Americans use Italy as a passport to opportunity. 3 August 2009. .
Ratti, Anna Maria. "Italian Migration Movements, 1876 to 1926." Walter F. Willcox, editor. International Migrations, Volume II: Interpretations. NBER, 1931. 440-470. .
Rosoli, Gianfausto. The Center for MIgration Studies special issue. 18 July 2012. .
Sabina Stelzig, M.A. Brazil. n.d. .

Show More
Related

  • American Immigrants In The 18th Century

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the Italian immigrants came to America for work they were desperate. They had already come for jobs, they were determined and hardworking. They would take the lowest class jobs wherever they could. City projects like building subway systems, and digging pipelines were not uncommon among the immigrants. Even children at young ages, would take jobs in factories, or even selling newspapers on the streets. Their work ethic and determination was unwavering. They opened the doors for future generations of immigrants. Although, they still had a long way to

    Read More

  • How Did the Cold War Affect the Politics of Germany and Italy?

    1982 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ginsborg P (1990). ‘A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics: 1943-1980’ Published by Penguin; Reprint edition (27 Sep 1990).

    Read More

  • Contribution of Italians to American Society

    344 Words  | 1 Pages

    represented well in just about every city across the country. If it is Italian, there is a bet

    Read More

  • Food And Family In Italian-American Culture

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the thirty-five years preceding World War I, the United States was flooded with seventeen million “new” immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. Each group brought their own distinctive food habits from the “old” world. The Italians, a large portion of which came from Southern Italy, were part of th...

    Read More

  • Imperialism In Italy

    549 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin with, this is determined by Italy's weak and foreign expansion policy. In 1871, the long-torn apartness of Italy achieved unity, providing favorable conditions for the development of capitalism. But the reunification is completed from top to bottom, retaining a large number of feudal remnants, which seriously hindered the further development of the Italian economy, resulting in the backwardness of Italy, mainly in three aspects: First, backward agriculture, food production is extremely

    Read More

  • American History: The Gilded Age

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...they will not settle for less. Time is wasting. For, “Time which brings us from the lowest condition up to the highest civilization; time, so that we can raise men to a higher plane” (Reading 10, p. 2). Gompers has greater aims, for he wants to better America to keep advancing and creating. Of all of America, Chicago was the fastest growing city because of its railroad factory, which needed unskilled laborers like Italian immigrants. “The production of steel defined industrial Chicago” (Slideshow 7: Italian Immigrants in Chicago). If Italian immigrants were not in New York City, they were in Chicago. Wherever they lived they were experiencing horrifying working environments. In order to understand why these changes in conditions were so necessary between, it is essential to analyze the experiences of pre and post 1880 immigrants, especially that of the Italians.

    Read More

  • My Italian Immigration Experience

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 2009, I went to Italy to become an Au pair for two years. This was a difficult decision for me. I wasn’t able to speak Italian and had never lived abroad, away from my family and friends. I felt I needed this experience to push my boundaries and broaden my horizons. It was incredible to experience another country’s culture. Living in Italy made me realize how grateful, fortunate, and capable I am.

    Read More

  • Italian Women of the Renaissance

    2232 Words  | 5 Pages

    Across Europe, between 1400 and 1650, there were women present in all major styles of time. They worked along side of great artists and were developing new techniques and styles. Women also played a very important role in the Renaissance. Although not as well documented as their male counterparts, women worked along with the other great masters, were just as innovating, and were key in developing new techniques.

    Read More

  • Italian Immigrants in America

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    The peasants in the deprived, southern area of Italy and the island of Sicily had little hope of upgrading their lives. Many diseases and natural disasters spread through the area. On top of this, Italy's crumbling government was in no state to come to its people's aid. Word that life in America was soon spreading across the land, and more and more Italians found it difficult to resist the thought of a new and more prosperous life. Italian immigrants began piling in to Ellis Island in New York to take their first steps on U.S. soil in search for a new beginning (The Library of Congress, 2004).

    Read More

  • Japanese American Identity Essay

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Web. The Web. 20 March 2014. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwii/ahf/mineta/background.htm “Immigration Since the 1870s.” University At Albany.

    Read More

  • The Great Migration

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gregory, James N.. "Second Great Migration: Historical Overview." UW Faculty Web Server. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. .

    Read More

  • Take Home DBQ Italian Fascism

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    In response to the democratic backlash after World War I, in response to the Treaty of Versailles and the economic failure after the war, countries turned to a totalitarian, fascist government, regulating every facet of life of the people it ruled. Fascist Italy was no exception—over the years 1921-1943, Italy instituted a population policy, controlling it and causing it to rise. Italy’s population policy consisted of the regulation of family size, often exercising Mussolini’s bid for control in extreme manners. The reactions consisted of an economic counterpoint of family size, and disapproval of this new regime.

    Read More

  • Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

    1259 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nicola Sacco and Barolmeo Vanzetti arrived in America as Italian immigrants in 1908. Sacco was seventeen working at a shoe...

    Read More

  • Italians Migration to Canada

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    Italians are a group of people who share the same culture, country and speak the Italian as their first language. Italy is a native country to many Italians all around the world. Then, many Italians started migrating to different countries in 1876-1976. This beautiful country is in Southern Europe and include a similar boot shaped Peninsula. The borders of the Italians are France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Rome is the largest and the capital of Italy, and this city is known for many of its religious attractions. The majority of people live in Italy are Roman Catholics, but there are other people of religions live there too such as Hindus, Muslims, Buddhist, and Protestant Italians. Italians are described as a hard worker, self-sacrificing ready to work for a better future for themselves and their families and also educated thinkers. When the Italian migration began numerous people came to the U.S. and its neighboring country Canada. Today in Canada there are over 1.45 million Italians, including well-known artists and actors.

    Read More

  • Italian Music

    1477 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Italian immigrants came to America, many were not welcomed in the communities of the Germans and Irish. The neighborhoods that the Itali...

    Read More

More about The Italian Diaspora of the late 19th and early20th Century

Open Document