Polish Immigrants During World War I

One of the most important roles that women played, were the increasing large amount of female soldiers fighting in the war. These roles gave women the right to work and serve in armed forces. The jobs that women took part in during this time period made a huge difference in the war, and in turn, WW2 helped expand women’s

Slacks and Calluses follows the story of two school teachers, Constance Bowman and Clara Marie Allen in San Diego in the summer of 1943. Constance Bowman was a journalist and a high school English teacher while Clara Marie Allen was a high school art teacher. To help for the war, they spent their entire summer vacation building bombers in a bomber factory. The book revealed a lot of information regarding the social class in the lives of women. There is enough evidence in the book to show that it does not support the idea that the country embraced the idea of women leaving the home to work in a factory to help with war efforts. The women in Slacks and Calluses mostly worked at the factories because they didn’t have many other opportunities.

The United States’ population surged between 1870 and 1924. Immigrants were flooding into the country from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Hungary, and other countries. They saw America as a great land of opportunity that fulfilled their necessities. The majority of the immigrants settled in the major cities, as their was an abundance of job opportunities, and easy access to transportation. John Radzitowksi’s essay describes the Polish agricultural colonies in Minnesota. It also depicts how immigrants adapted to American life. The first document shows how some immigrants found it difficult to adapt and settle in a new land, and it shows that this was true for Irish immigrant Sam Gray. The second document is a story of Rocco Corresca, a poor

Triggering Event: Immigrants in the United States from Polish ethnicity have not been warmly received in many instances, and in fact immigrants from Poland often struggle with issues like language and legal status. While much of the focus of the news media zeros in on the issues and problems related to immigrants crossing the border from Mexico, there are other immigrants like those from Poland that also have their problems and issues. As a result of the problems many Polish immigrants experience, there seems to be a movement wherein many of these immigrants are returning to Europe.

From the 1900s, the Progressive Era had new immigrants from the Southern and Eastern Europe. Between the years of 1900 and 1930, one million immigrants who were Mexican migrated for economic opportunities. It was near the year of the great depression which started in 1929. This led the American dream for many immigrants who were looking for jobs and starting a new life. According to Eric Foner “ Voices of Freedom” , page 73, when sociologist Manuel Gamio managed interviews of Mexican-American immigrants in Los Angeles. He decided to report about the Santella family, one better off and “whiter” than most Mexican immigrants. The information he obtained were from conversations and observing the family. This gave some idea on why American freedom has inspired many immigrant families. The Santella family was a total of 9, Mr. Santella and his wife and 5 boys and 2 girls.

After America’s conclusion of conflicts from the Long Depression, the industrial state of the country economically boomed at an accelerated rate. The Germans later heard of the industrial success of the U.S.A and quickly immigrated. This industrial boom meant that, for German immigrants, a better and more successful life may be in the United States. The greater majority of German immigrants came from the Northern section of Germany, which at the time was part of Prussia. In 1882 nearly 250,000 Germans, the most German immigrants in one year, had immigrated to America. “Emmigration.info” remarks: “Nearly 1.5 million Germans left their country to settle in the United States.” (17) By the end of the 1880’s, 1,500,000 German-born people had become American

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, witnessed firsthand the highs and lows of World War II. After numerous bombings and invasions the city still stands and people live to tell it tale. Warsaw was a targeted by Germany during WWII by Hitler, who had plans for the city to be destroyed. The change Warsaw went through can be pieced together by looking at the invasions and bombings that took place within the city and country. Further analysis of the events that actually occurred in Warsaw during World War II show the general condition of the people within the city.

Many people have never considered what women were doing in WWII when their husbands left to fight. Their lives weren’t easy or normal during the war. Women had to work just as hard as men, sometimes even more so. In this essay, I will discuss the position of American women before World War II, during the war, and at the end of the war.

World War II was the catalyst that changed the opportunities available to women and eventually the way they were regarded as a viable workforce. Suddenly women throughout the United States were pushing themselves to their limits to support the war effort. Women were fulfilling jobs and responsibilities that many previously believed to be impossible for their gender. Opportunities were opened in steel plants, ammunition factories, and even the United States military. As the war progressed the number of male workers declined dramatically. Society had no choice but to turn to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our nation for help. The results for each woman varied

Ever since then women proved that they can work in a man’s workplace and do just as well. Any job that was a man’s, was a women’s as well. Women were soon “the most needed workers of all” according to Brenda Ralf Lewis. Factory workers became known as “the soldiers without guns”. If women hadn’t stepped up to the line, winning the war wouldn’t have been as easy as it was for us. Not only did the women in factories and shipyards have a big part in doing their part in the war contributions, but so did the women who were out on the field fighting alongside with their men risking their very life.

First of all, the economy in Poland wasn’t so perfect, meaning that there weren’t as many jobs for the amount of people who needed them. Based on movies and books about America, Poles believed that they could have an easier time finding a job in the new country, rather than in Poland. During the year of 1939, Poland was invaded by the Germans. Many people living in Poland came to America at that time, because they were looking for a place where they can keep their language, and culture and continue to practice their chosen religion. These people liked how America was at peace, which drew them more to that country.

From the 1800's to the beginning of World War II, approximately 5 million Polish immigrated to the United States. Their reasons include escape from compulsory military enlistment and religious persecution. Some left to seek new opportunities (Reisner). This group was called the za chlebem, or “for bread”, because they were primarily peasants who came to America for the sole purpose of making money (Pacyga 2005). However, all immigrants gradually assimilated into American culture to some degree.

It was uncertain to what extent did women’s participation in WWI changed the attitude and position of women in post-war Europe. One thing assured is that women’s wartime efforts were recognized in the years after WWI. In recognition of women’s support during the war, Canada, the United States, Britain, and a number of European countries extended suffrage to women. It seems that the turbulence and the despair of World War I had caused a re-examination of many of the treasured values in many western societies, including gender expectations.

Austria-Hungary’s commanders appealed to the Poles in similar ways. In November of 1916 progress was made when the rulers Wilhelm the Seconds and Francis Joseph recreated a Polish state in the formerly Russian territories of Poland, hoping to gain some favour with the Poles of that region. The Poles were a force within the countries which governed their territories. Poles were recognized as a source of men who had the ability to aid a larger nation’s war effort. The reward which granted Polish freedom, worked as a double edged sword of sorts. The ruling countries incited hope within Poles for nationhood. It was a step for Poles that marked the reestablishment of Poland was possible by the end of the war.

Most relevant to the work at hand, however, is the work of Fomina, who analyzed in-depth this issue in a study involving first-person interviews. What is noticeable in her interviews is an unmistakable commitment made by the interviewees when discussing Polish migration, into the grouping with which they recognize themselves, and whatever remains of Poles with whom the respondents don't have and don't wish to have excessively to do — in other words, us vs. them. This grouping is frequently utilized as a perspective, enabling the respondents to characterize all the more absolutely how they see themselves instead of other Polish foreigners. Thus, the portrayal of the view of Poles under examination might be developed utilizing the rule of contradicting dichotomies, such as communicating in English and not communicating in English (as the fundamental marker of their desire and goals). There are, in any case, a couple of classifications that fall outside such divisions, and they wind up plainly obvious just when respondents discuss a specific element which is – in their view – trademark for all Poles or when they discuss gender contrasts. Aside from that, another critical component of the self-impression of Poles interviewed by Fomina in the United Kingdom is the means by which – as they would see it – they are seen by English individuals, a clear indication of which is their portrayal in mass media. It is clearly not a target portrayal of how Polish movement is seen by the occupants of the United Kingdom, however a "reflected observation" – a subjective view engaged by Poles . It is, in any case, exceptionally noteworthy as it is on this premise9419 Poles shape their self-discernment. A specific part is likewise played by the path in which they are seen by the post-war Polish people group, since their feeling influences the view of Poles as the whole