Risorgimento Immigration Effects

Ellis Island, the portal for immigrants to access a developed, prosperous land, the United States of America, and seek opportunity that would they would otherwise not discover in their home country. Opened in 1892, the island was the gateway for foreign people across the globe to enter salvation from their native country. With this new structure set in place, Americans had mixed feelings on immigration. The two conflicting ideas of immigration in this time period can be demonstrated through two poems: “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus and “Unguarded Gates” by Thomas Bailey Aldrich. While both literary works highlight the ideal “American dream” and personify the Statue of Liberty, they differ in the fact that they have different points of view on immigration.

Southern- Italian was the largest group to migrate to the US during the late 19th century and early 20th century follow by the Portuguese and Spanish. More than 5 million Italians from Sicily and poor southern Italian province settle on the east coast in the US. They created their own little town called little Italies due to hostility in America. More than one- quarter people migrated from Spain since 1820 and settle in California, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona Florida and Louisiana. The other half migrated to the Us in the 19th century due to economic depression.

The Oxford Dictionary defines “immigration” as, “the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.” Chances are you have seen this word thrown about in media and know what it is about, but what about the effects it can have to a country?

In the late 1800s, millions upon millions of Europeans made their way to America for a variety of reasons. For the citizens of Italy, those reasons included poverty and political hardship. For many Italians, farming was their livelihood, however the antiquity of their tools did not allow for maximum efficiency. As a result, approximately 5 million poor Italian farmers made the trip across the Atlantic to America. While most settled in New York and the surrounding states, some journeyed elsewhere to states like Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. Once they arrived, they would take the vacant positions of workers on strike making up to ten times the salary they would have made in their homeland.

In the late 18th century, European migrants such as Germans, Polish, and Italians came to America to start a better life, little did they know that coming to a new country such as America wouldn't be the easiest. Many Germans, Polish, and Italian immigrants began searching for a new life in America in the late 1800’s. As easy as they thought is was going to be, many immigrants had a tenacious time being part of America. They needed to leave the country that they knew and their loved ones, hoping their lives would improve after arriving in the United States. German immigrants moved to America because of poverty, conversely being so indigent that they couldn't provide for themselves. They also came to America to provide for their families whom they brought along. Polish immigrants came to earn more money then the earned in Poland. Italian immigrants came to America to escape the wars that were happening as well as pursuing a better economic opportunity. Immigration to America was a time where European immigrants wanted to start a new life with their families.

Ellis Island was the stopping grounds from 1892 to 1954, for over twelve million immigrants, who entered the United States as a way to conquer new opportunities and live a better life that mirrors the American Dream . Ellis Island is a small island that sits in the S hadow of The Statue of Liberty right off the tip of Manhattan by the coast of New Jersey within the New York Harbor. It was the major harbor for immigrant’s entry, all who came, arrived by steamboats and had one to two weeks of travel. On the steamboat the passengers were divided according to wealth and class. The staterooms and cabins were designed for the first and second class passengers and the large open space at the bottom of the boat was called “steerage” this area was assigned

Hundreds of years have past since many people immigrated here, to “The New World.” Life was difficult and many people died on the way here. If traveling by boat, it took about 2-3 weeks at sea. About one half of the immigrants docked in New York City and in Pennsylvania. Some immigrants went to Ellis Island before getting to America starting from 1892 until 1954. On Ellis Island, everyone got inspected for diseases and/or disabilities, in order, to make sure that these people coming in could support the United States economy. The inspections were one of the most dreaded parts about the trip, because if someone was not accepted, they would be sent back. ”The New World’s” population grew rapidly from the 1700s to the 1900s because people were trying to get away from crop failure, raising taxes, famine, religious restrictions, executions and/or to have a chance at a better life.

In the very beginning, there are a bunch of people going through security, doing wellness checks, background checks, etc., to try and come into the United States through Ellis Island, a tiny island off the coast of New Jersey. The movie specifically centers on two Polish women, Ewa Cybulska and her sister Magda. Magda was taken away suddenly as she was deemed too sick to be allowed in, suspected to be lung failure. Ewa got through to the background check portion, but was sent away as she was “unescorted” and had nowhere to go, mostly because her uncle

In the early 20th century, there were still immigrants entering the country illegally, however, it wasn’t as common as it is today. 70% of immigrants entered through Ellis Island and the law required medical inspection of all of them by the US Public Health Service. Those that were found to have communicable diseases such as venereal diseases, Trachoma, Syphilis, and Tuberculosis were barred from admission. Others of suspicion were either quarantined or marked with chalk for further inspection. Between 1891 and 1930, nearly 80,000 immigrants were turned away with the majority being elderly with limited capacity. They were rendered unable to work due to senility, poor vision, muscle deformities, and even varicose veins. From 1902 to 1930, Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital took care of many incoming immigrants that were quarantined or had illnesses.

As the first day of man began, there has been immigration of man throughout this great country of America. Many immigrants came for a better way of life for themselves as well as their family. Some stayed where others went back to their nation of origin, yet they all made an impact on us today as Americans.

In 1892, the government made an immigration station on Ellis Island, in a bay between New York and Jersey City, New Jersey. Every day, hundreds or even thousands of people arrived by boat and pass through inspections as they arrived, potential immigrants were escorted through a quick health exam. As immigrants climbed up a set of stairs, officials watched for symptoms of illnesses, heavy breathing, and signs of mental disturbances. These were indications that the person might not be able to find or maintain a job. Doctors then gave a "six second physical" and checked for diseases, including a contagious eye infection called trachoma. Sick people were sent to a hospital on Ellis Island to be treated, and escorted through the same immigration process again. After the physical checkup, potential immigrants were asked a series of questions by immigration inspectors.

Italian immigration became very prevalent during the time of 1880 to 1899 as 900,000 immigrants fled to America because Italy suffered from overpopulation, poverty and natural disasters. In the 1870s, “Italian birthrates rose and death rates fell” (Digital History). In the poor southern provinces of Italy, over population became severe. By the late 1890s, the illiteracy rate in southern Italy raised to 70 percent, which was ten times the rate in England, France, or Germany. “The Italian government was dominated by northerners, and southerners were hurt by high taxes and high protective tariffs on northern industrial goods.

Upon arrival at Ellis Island, immigrants were ushered into a room called the Great Hall and paraded before a series of medical officers for physical inspections. Most were allowed to pass by the matter of seconds but those whom the doctors deemed physical or mentally deficient were marked with chalk and taken away for additional screening. Any signs of contagious disease, poor physique, blindness, or insanity could see any immigrant denied admittance on the grounds that they were likely to become a ward of the state. More arrivals could also face rejection if they were anorchists, had a criminal record, showed or signs of low moral

Without context, Italian Family Looking for Lost Baggage, Ellis Island looks like an organized family portrait, but after researching the history of the island and its immigration admissions processes, it is clear that the photograph reveals so much more. This article explained how the Ellis Island was chosen and prepared for the task of examining and admitting new citizens to the U.S. as well as explaining what was expected of citizen hopefuls. When simply viewing Italian Family Looking for Lost Baggage, Ellis Island, it is impossible to tell just what went on in the New York Harbor in 1905, but after researching the context, the heartbreaking truth comes to light. The article went into detail about how families without father figures were

Italy’s basic information which consists of its capital Rome, and the name of Italy’s president is Sergio Mattarella. Italy has a currency of euro, with its Gross domestic product being 2.149 trillion USD in 2013. In addition to these facts Italy has themes that connect together, and to its historical context. Specifically, I will focus on 3 current events that have happened in Italy that pertain to immigration, which stems from broader themes like Italy’s political system, and nationalist nature. Through some journal articles I was able to find information that pertains to my current events on Italy’s immigration policies, and its historical context. Therefore, these themes make up Italy’s history and characteristics as a country.