THE ITALIAN

EMIGRATION Emigration is a demographic

phenomenon characterized by the displacement of large masses of population from one country to another or from one region to another in the same nation. In general, these events are motivated by an imbalance between population and resources. People that were born in places where there are no job opportunities sufficient to permit them to have a good life, they move to places where there are more possibilities of work and good living conditions.

  Historically, the most important

migratory flow was one directed from Europe to the Americas, that had as protagonists, at different times, people of Spain, Scotland, Germany and Italy.

Italians have always been among the leaders of migratory flows.

In the last years of nineteenth century, emigrants were 150.000 per year. Between 1906 and 1910, the annual number reached 300.000 units to touch a peak of 880.000 people in 1913. Moreover, Italian emigration, has been one of the most important events that have characterized the history of our country. For this reason we can remember the time when Italy became protagonist of this phenomenon.

We can distinguish four main phases:

1 The first, from 1876 to 1900

2 The second, from 1900 to the First World War

3 The third, between the two Wars

4 the fourth, since the Second World War to the ‘60s/’70s

THE FIRST ITALIAN EMIGRATION (1876-1900)

 

Statistics of the Italian Emigration in the late 1800.

The emigrants left from:  Calabria - 275.926 - 5,2%   Campania - 520.791 -

9,9%   Emilia 220.745 - 4,2%   Friuli Venezia Giulia -

847.072 - 16,1%   Lombardia - 519.100 -

9,9%

Molise - 136.355 - 2,6%   Piemonte - 709.076 -

13,5   Sicilia - 226.449 - 4,3%   Toscana - 290.111 -

5,5%   Veneto - 940.711 -

17,9%

ITALIANS WENT TO :  1861-1870: the first country of

destination was France then Germany and Switzerland.

  1871-1880: the first country of

destination was France then Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil and Canada.

  1881-1890: the first country of

destination was Argentina, then France, Usa, Canada, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland.

1891-1900: the first country of destination was Brazil, then Usa, Canada, Argentina, France, Germany and Switzerland.

The first phase is characterized by a discrete mass of migration flows. The later one without supervision and protection, made these movements “spontaneus” but not illegal. In this quarter of century, left 5300.000 people: the majority of them were men (81%). Moreover from Northen Italy left many more people.

REASONS  The economic situation

(agricultural crisis, birth of the factories in the North and the replacement of artefacts)

The opportunities of enrichment, social economic accomodation,

The transport system that influenced the geographical location

Political factors, in favour or against emigration

Human factors Overpopulation Slow economic development Tax burden   

ADVANTAGES  The spread of Italian culture Remittance of money to families 

DISADVANTAGES  Departure of active forces Abandonment of traditional jobs Separation from families Demographic imbalance

Italian emigrants who left Italy in the late 800 and early 900’s, travelled in terrible conditions, stacked into the cabins of the third class, in the transatlantics which departed from the major Italian ports. One of the most important means of transport of the time was the Transatlantic “Conte Verde”. This beautiful ship was built in 1922, as a twin of the “Conte Rosso”. They could reach a speed of 19 knots and could carry out 2500 passengers divided into three classes, the first class was luxuriously furnished.

THE SECOND EMIGRATION The second Italian emigration is

known as “great emigration”. The most coveted destination was America.

Since the end of 800’ onwords, millions of Italians mostly peasants, not only coming from the South but also from the North, took the ship to go to USA or to developing countries and in need of labour, like Latin America (Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil), Canada, Australia.

The first period of great emigration was manifested between the end of 800’ and the beginning of 900’. In the first decennium of the new century, Italy lost more than two million inhabitants. The out- break of the first world war stopped the migratory movement during the conflict, but the flow to foreign lands began again immediately after the end of the war.

Since 1931 there was a second stop, mainly due to United States that cut down the number of allowed emigrants and then also due to our government that curbed the emigration abroad.

During the second world war, the stop of the migratory flow was more considerable because Italian citizens who lived in some foreign countries, were considered “enemies”. The flow restarted between 1946 and 1971, period when it was recorded the loss of entire generations of workers.

Emigrants departed from the ports of Genoa, Napoli and Palermo. The most important destination in America was New York.

For all Italian emigrants the arrival in USA and the impact with the reality of New York were traumatic experiences. Many of them had the myth of New York like the land of happiness. In reality, New York, was a kind of jungle where there were people without scruples. New York was known as “Island of the tears”.

THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE AND PREJUDICES

In the most important American cities were born “little italies”, neighborhoods where Italians lived. The language was the dialect of the different areas. Italians were ammassed in tenements, where the conditions of life were very precarious. Italians were accused to be dirty, to have a low lifestyle, to be noisy. Calabrians and Sicilians were considered a contribution to the growth of delinquency.

THE CHANGES OF THE IMMIGRATED TRADITIONAL FAMILY

Soon there were changes in the original culture of immigrants.

The traditional Italian family in contact with the American society entered into crisis. First of all in

the school. Immigrants’ sons understood to be different from other children and they started to feel ashemed to be Italians.

Their names were cripped to sound more English; so names like: Michele, Antonio, Giovanni, became: Micheal, Antony, Johnny.