American Immigrants In The 18th Century

Ellis island brought millions of immigrants to America between the years 1892 and 1954. It is said that 40% of our population today can trace their ancestors to Ellis Island. Many people of many nationalities came to The United States get a chance at having the “American Dream”. Whilst pursuing their dreams, they left their marks on American culture. No one has influenced us so much as the Italians and their way of life.

The 18th Century was a time where most immigrants were of Irish, British, and German descent. From the 1890’s, through the next couple decade, Italians, and Jews would be the cause a new wave of immigration. Between 1900 and 1915, 3 million immigrants would take the journey, and travel to America. They would come through the famed “Ellis

Island”, or the sometime infamous “Isle of Tears”, as people who were sent back to their native land would call it. Those who made it would wait patiently in the overcrowded building that is Ellis Island, they would be grouped and then they were thoroughly checked for an diseases or deformities. If they were cleared with a clean bill of health they were asked a series of questions to disclose their intentions, social status and such. Once they finally made it through customs they were sent to the ferries on the final journey to Manhattan. For most, the hardship they had already faced was nothing compared what was to come.
In the late 1800’s Italian immigrants coming into America at the time were heavily from southern Italy, (Sicily and such). Most of them were farmers and laborer coming to America to make money. They become employed in Mills, and Factories, filling spaces that had become available after the death of millions of workers in the Civil War. These Italians came from extreme poverty in their country, and political hardship. They could make 30 cents to $1.40 a day in Italy, while in America they could earn upwards of $18 a week. However, most of the immigrants who came to this country did not intend to stay. Some didn't even bother to learn the language, because they intended to make their fortune and go back to Italy and buy land. But those who did stay made a huge impact on the population of cities.
By Cities I mean “The BIg Apple”. One third of the immigrants coming through Ellis Island never left New York. They moved to places such as Brooklyn, New Jersey. These places immediately took Italian qualities. Streets of Lower Manhattan, like Mulberry street, held street vendors, store owners, and residents. These parts of the city were always busy with excitement with weddings, christenings and funerals. Furthermore, these residents were a close-knit people who spoke the same dialect, and even lived in the same towns and villages in Italy. Being so familiar with each other it wasn’t unnatural for these people to live together in the same space.
In the 1889, Jacob Riis released the book “How the Other Half Lives”.

He was a photographer who brought attention to the living conditions of immigrants in america. Immigrants were living upwards of 12 people in a room. Rooms without ventilation, or indoor plumbing, the unsanitary conditions made for an unhealthy cycle of disease. Cholera, and tuberculosis were very common in this time, because they lacked the knowledge we know today. The italians had never encountered such problems as this. In Italy, while they lived in close quarters, they also spent a large portion of their time outside. Not only were there homes unsafe, but also their work places.

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

go.
The italians, with their dark olive skin, their dark eyes and hair, were very recognizable on the street and in public. Per usual, America in the early 1900’s was not a place that was welcoming to immigrants. They faced prejudice and hostility, wherever they went. The americans blamed immigrants for taking jobs, as the economic conditions worsened so did the struggle for acceptance. The anti-immigrant sentiment was vocal, with newspapers, songs and pictures. The klu klux klan in the late 1800’s were violent towards the immigrants, including the Italians. While it is widely known of the klu klux klan’s racism toward African Americans, it's almost forgotten that Italians were also subject to lynchings and beatings. The government didn't approve of this, but they also did not disapprove. This (open) prejudice did not end until the 1920’s when the government but heavy regulations on immigration. However, by the 1920’s, the prohibition era was beginning and so was the era of the Mafia.
In 1919, Congress passed the 18th Amendment, banning the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol. This was the perfect opportunity for Sicilian Mafiosi, to come to America. The Sicilian Mafiosi got their start in Sicily, Italy, under the Benito Mussolini regime. As some came to America, they brought their ideas with them, with American twists here and there. Through the 1920’s, there was violence and bloodshed amongst the many mafia families. In 1931 mobster Lucky Luciano, organized the families and divided territory among them. New York City was divided between 5 families, every other major city belonged to one family. After the 30’s, when prohibition ended, the mafia broke off and created other illegal opportunities for themselves. They sold guns, they dealt in gambling (loan sharking) and more, all illegal of course. With all of their illegal activities, they flew under the radar. Even FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, assured the government the mafia operated on a strictly local level. It was until 1970, Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This allowed prosecutors to pursue the crime families. Between 1981 and 1992, 23 mob bosses were convicted under the new RICO laws. Which almost entirely ended the mafia’s reign on the streets, but thus began its reign on the big screen.
In the 1970’s, The Godfather movies were unlike anything seen before. Still today these movies are classic, not just because of its story or look. They are classic because they were the first of its kind. Before The Godfather, nobody knew much about the mafia life, and since The Godfather, our culture has embraced the Mafia culture. After The Godfather, more mafia inspired movies were killers at box office. You have Scarface, Goodfellas, Black Mass, all successful mobster movies. Even though, Americans are aware that they are the bad guys, you find yourself rooting for them, which shows that our idea of them has softened since their original reign.
The “real” family life of the Italian immigrants is nothing like that of their lawbreaking relatives. They did have one thing in common and that's loyalty within the family. In the Italian culture, family is extremely important. Not just mom, dad, sister, brother, you had extended family. All close-knit nonetheless. Almost all the immigrants that came here from Italy, were catholic, and were very strong in their religion. (Catholics were usually frowned upon, but as the years became more acceptable, and even preferred by some.) Church was attended regularly. Food was also eaten regularly. Italian cuisine has influenced many cultures around the world, but none as much as america. Today it’s normal to eat spaghetti, but in the early 1900’s people had never heard of it, let alone eat it. So already there’s three, very obvious, culture changes the italians brought with them, and there are hundreds more. The italian immigrants made such an impact on our culture, and even our people. Where would we have been without first generation Italian American immigrants. They shaped our workforce, and our hearts.
Today, Italian American are represented everywhere. They have achieved exactly what their ancestors wished for. They have become doctors, lawyers, successful people in today’s society. We’ve grown to love them, through music, television, novels. the beloved Frank Sinatra, Joe Dimaggio, Marlon Brando, all first generation Italian americans were success stories, and role models for Italians in America. A sign of “We can do it”. And while most are no longer full blooded italians, they still keep up with their ancestral heritage and their traditional customs.