Italian Immigrants

by Burgan, Michael; Asher, Robert; Asher, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780816056811
• ISBN10: 0816056811
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-01
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

Discusses the history of Italian immigration to the United States and covers key issues, including the reasons for immigration, the struggles faced, and how the culture influenced Americans.

Author Biography

Michael Burgan holds a B.A. in history with an emphasis on American and European studies from the University of Connecticut and has studied writing, publishing, and literature at the graduate level at Emerson College Robert Asher, general editor and author of the preface included in each of the volumes, holds a B.A. from City College of New York, and A.M. from Harvard University, and a Ph.D., all in history, from the University of Minnesota

Table of Contents

Preface to the Series A Nation of Immigrants	4	(7)
Introduction Italian Immigration: Coming to America	11	(2)
Explorers and Early Immigrants: Italians in the New World	13	(14)
The First Great Wave: 1880--1900	27	(14)
The Peak Years: 1900--1920	41	(14)
Becoming American: Assimilation and Prejudice	55	(12)
Smaller Numbers, Larger Influence: Italian Americans after World War II	67	(14)
Italian Americans Today: Ethnic Pride	81	(9)
Time Line of Italian Immigration	90	(2)
Glossary	92	(1)
Further Reading	93	(1)
Index	94

Excerpts

A highly appealing introduction to the topic, Italian Immigrants provides a brief history of Italian Americans, their contributions to American society, and highlights of their history. After discussing the first Italian immigrants in colonial America, the book moves on to describe the first great wave of migration and the role of Italians during the American Revolution and the early republic. Through an engaging text and helpful photographs and illustrations, readers will learn how economic opportunities, family and church, and old community ties affected these Italian immigrants. This clear and nicely illustrated volume closes with an exploration of Italian Americans today, emphasizing the fight against the enduring stereotype of Italians and organized crime.
History covered includes:
Political unification in Italy
Major areas of settlement in the United States
Early prejudices against Italians due to their supposed links to organized crime, the Padrone System, their Roman Catholicism, and their peasant background
Continuing prejudices that led to quota laws
How Italians gained a new visibility and were kept from suspicion during World War II as notable Italian-American politicians and pop culture figures emerged
Growth of Italians' influence in politics, academia, business, and a continued presence in art and pop culture
An examination of reality, distortion, and the role of the media, including movies and shows such as The Godfather and The Sopranos.