The tale of Italian immigration has never been a simple story, with each individual family having unique and diverse reasons for the decision: decades of internal strife, disease and abject poverty lead many Italian people to make the newly affordable transatlantic voyage to “L’America” 1. Opposed to the earlier arrivals which were “...artisans and shopkeepers seeking a new market in which to ply their trades. The vast majority [of this new generation of immigrants] were farmers and laborers looking for a steady source of work—any work.” 2
The 1900’s brought about great change in Italy the likes of which include the Italian unification movement also known as “The Risorgimento”. 3 . With the spirit of the new nation at their backs, Italian leaders aspired towards being a modern European power, …show more content…
New York City was bustling, busy and all but impoverished. By 1920 over twenty-five percent of the world's top corporations were headquartered there 7 . The unemployment rate in America during the 1920’s was notoriously low at only 4% making America seem like a dream for many impoverished Italians.8 In the early 1900’s New York City saw its greatest periods of immigration, mostly Italians, Jews, and poles escaping either poverty or persecution. These immigrants often stuck together in small neighborhoods known as ethnic enclaves. The most notable Italian enclaves eventually became known as Little italy and Italian harlem on Mulberry Street and Lexington Avenue respectively.
Not only did Italian immigrants bring their hopes of a new life with them, they also brought age old traditions and formalities. Unfortunately organized crime was included in these traditions. In Italy there is officially five recognized mafia-like gang systems including: Stidda, Sacra Corona Unita, 'Ndràngheta, Camorra, and the well known Sicilian Mafia or Cosa
The 1900’s brought about great change in Italy the likes of which include the Italian unification movement also known as “The Risorgimento”. 3 . With the spirit of the new nation at their backs, Italian leaders aspired towards being a modern European power, …show more content…
New York City was bustling, busy and all but impoverished. By 1920 over twenty-five percent of the world's top corporations were headquartered there 7 . The unemployment rate in America during the 1920’s was notoriously low at only 4% making America seem like a dream for many impoverished Italians.8 In the early 1900’s New York City saw its greatest periods of immigration, mostly Italians, Jews, and poles escaping either poverty or persecution. These immigrants often stuck together in small neighborhoods known as ethnic enclaves. The most notable Italian enclaves eventually became known as Little italy and Italian harlem on Mulberry Street and Lexington Avenue respectively.
Not only did Italian immigrants bring their hopes of a new life with them, they also brought age old traditions and formalities. Unfortunately organized crime was included in these traditions. In Italy there is officially five recognized mafia-like gang systems including: Stidda, Sacra Corona Unita, 'Ndràngheta, Camorra, and the well known Sicilian Mafia or Cosa