-1880-1920-Approx. 2.5 Million came to Chicago

-Most from southern and eastern Europe

By 1890 Chi. Had approx. 40,000 1st & 2nd generation Polish

210,000 by 1910 and 401,000 by 1930 Most poles came from a feudal society

and…• Had only some farming knowledge• Only a few were craftsmen• Only a few were professionals• Many were illiterate• All of them were poor

Polish came to heavy industrial cities, especially Chicago

Worked in steel mills, stockyards, and most any other type iof factory

Polish Neighborhoods• Near nw. side near Division and Ashland• South Chicago by steel mills• Lower west side• Near Union Stockyards

The Poles created “Industrial Completeness”• Death-Benefit societies• Social Activities• Building and Loan Associations• Orphanage• Industrial School• Four polish Cemetaries• Hospital• Three polish-language daily newspapers• **MANY CHICAGOANS BELIEVED POLISH WERE

NOT WILLING TO ASSIMILATE**

Chicago’s Italian-born population grew from 5,700 in 1890, to 59,000 by 1920

Largest Italian neighborhood was-and still is-on the near west side at Taylor and Halsted

Most Italians were poor farmers from southern and central Italy

Italians were different than most immigrants…• 1. Most only made Chicago temporary• 2. Most got work through an Italian labor broker• 3. Groups of Italian men would come w/o their

families, live together, make money, and go back.

First Jews in Chi. were from Germany By 1900 another 70,000 Jews came

to the city By 1930 Jewish pop. grew to 275,000;

3rd largest Jewish pop. in the world Most of the “New” Jews came from

Russia, Poland, and Austria-Hungary Most Jews settled southwest of

downtown at Maxwell and Halsted

Area was filled with hundreds of peddlers selling and bartering shoes, kettles, clothes, tools, jewelry, and various food items

Most Jews were salesman on the street or door-to-door

Most of the “New” Jews began poor, but b/c of emphasis on education and hard work most would see economic success

Greeks were small group early on 1910- 15,000 Greeks in Chicago Most lived on near west side which

became Greektown Most Greeks would not do factory work Greeks were more likely to become

merchants, entrepreneurs, or artisans Their goal was to work hard, save

money, invest, and become independent By 1919 approx. 10,000 of the 18,000

Chicago Greeks owned their own business

The first Czechs came to Chi. In the 1850s

By 1870 there were 10,000 Czechs By 1910 there 110,000 Chicago had 2nd largest Czech

population in the world behind Prague Czechs would create the neighborhood

of Pilsen on the near sw side Most Czechs were actually well-

educated and not too poor

Most Czechs had great desire to own property, so they founded many building and loan associations

Czechs were good at saving money Most Czechs were more willing to

assimilate than most Their cooperation with other ethnic

groups allowed them to succeed in politics

Anton Cermak becomes first Czech mayor in 1931

Swedes Largest group of Scandinavians to Chi. 20,000 in 1880 to 121,000 in 1920 Set themselves a part with churches: 13

Swedish Churches by 1880 Established Swede Town on north side near

Division and Larabee Eventually moved to outer rings of city to

avoid the slums: used cash reserves and had assistance from earlier Swedes

Swedes were very willing to learn English and assimilate

New neighborhood became Andersonville; far north