The New European immigration to America
Within the midst of the American industrial transformation a second giant wave of immigration had begun, referred to as the “New Immigration”. Immigrants from all around the globe have had various factors pushing them away from their home countries and pulling them towards the pursuit of a new life and economic opportunities in America. Within the fictional book, based on the actual historical context of immigration, Out of This Furnace by Thomas Bell follows a young man by the name of George Kracha. Kracha was a resident/citizen of Hungary and is enticed to leave the coal fields of his home country by abject poverty, limited employment prospects and an oppressive government. Kracha faces many of the …show more content…
Much like real immigrants in his time period, Kracha ponders the thought of tackling the journey to America in order to leave behind the endless poverty and oppression which was the birthright of Slovak peasants. Kracha decides to leave his country and pursue a new life for himself in the United States. Upon reaching American soil and beginning on a separate path from his comrades, he shares his extravagant dream with Zuska, whom was a married woman that Kracha spent his money on during their trip to America for her birthday; “Who knows? We may all be millionaires by then” (Bell 7). From this statement it is apparently easy to tell that Kracha expects to find and work for his riches while in America. However, for many immigrants including Kracha this was more difficult than just being …show more content…
Although there were no restrictions on how much money anyone could make, some groups would have to work for lower wages then others. This was not realized until after immigrants entered the United States and discovered that native born citizens frowned upon them in the working industry, pushing them to work for lower wages. However, they were still more financially secure and had an increased standard of living than they had left in their home countries. For Kracha and most others though, this brutal labor and low pay was not enough. Kracha, sick of being fodder for the steel mill, being employed under the brutality of the bosses and living in yet another country’s slums decided that enough, was enough. Kracha used his intellect and what little money he had saved to find himself as the owner of a butcher shop. With this Kracha not only found a safer environment to work in, but with his increased income improved life for himself and family by being able to remove themselves from the slums. Kracha used his innovation and intellect to find his “American Dream” which could have also given security for his future generations, however he sadly loses it all due to some unfortunate events. Although not all immigrants rose and fell as Kracha did, they share many similarities as to their way of life in America and how they continued to presevere, even in times when
Within the midst of the American industrial transformation a second giant wave of immigration had begun, referred to as the “New Immigration”. Immigrants from all around the globe have had various factors pushing them away from their home countries and pulling them towards the pursuit of a new life and economic opportunities in America. Within the fictional book, based on the actual historical context of immigration, Out of This Furnace by Thomas Bell follows a young man by the name of George Kracha. Kracha was a resident/citizen of Hungary and is enticed to leave the coal fields of his home country by abject poverty, limited employment prospects and an oppressive government. Kracha faces many of the …show more content…
Much like real immigrants in his time period, Kracha ponders the thought of tackling the journey to America in order to leave behind the endless poverty and oppression which was the birthright of Slovak peasants. Kracha decides to leave his country and pursue a new life for himself in the United States. Upon reaching American soil and beginning on a separate path from his comrades, he shares his extravagant dream with Zuska, whom was a married woman that Kracha spent his money on during their trip to America for her birthday; “Who knows? We may all be millionaires by then” (Bell 7). From this statement it is apparently easy to tell that Kracha expects to find and work for his riches while in America. However, for many immigrants including Kracha this was more difficult than just being …show more content…
Although there were no restrictions on how much money anyone could make, some groups would have to work for lower wages then others. This was not realized until after immigrants entered the United States and discovered that native born citizens frowned upon them in the working industry, pushing them to work for lower wages. However, they were still more financially secure and had an increased standard of living than they had left in their home countries. For Kracha and most others though, this brutal labor and low pay was not enough. Kracha, sick of being fodder for the steel mill, being employed under the brutality of the bosses and living in yet another country’s slums decided that enough, was enough. Kracha used his intellect and what little money he had saved to find himself as the owner of a butcher shop. With this Kracha not only found a safer environment to work in, but with his increased income improved life for himself and family by being able to remove themselves from the slums. Kracha used his innovation and intellect to find his “American Dream” which could have also given security for his future generations, however he sadly loses it all due to some unfortunate events. Although not all immigrants rose and fell as Kracha did, they share many similarities as to their way of life in America and how they continued to presevere, even in times when