The Benefits of Migration & The Costs of Assimilation
Benefits of migrating to America from Italy 1880-1924
Millions of Italians made the decision to come to America from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. Some reasons the same, others unique. They all had one thing in common though. That was the need for success . They came to America to achieve what they had heard so much about; the American dream. During this time in Italy, the people of the country were facing hardships of poverty, politics, disease, crop viruses, and so much more. These people were seeking an escape from the hardships of their own country and were willing to face the new hardships in America. They wanted to reap the benefits America had to offer, regardless of what they would have to go through. In this section, I will discuss the main benefits of Italian migration to America.
1. Escaping Poverty; Earning a Real Paycheck
One of the main reasons why Italians made their way to America was because of poverty and low wages. According to Jerry Finzi (2017), "A carpenter in Italy would receive 30 cents to $1.40 per day, making a 6-day week's pay of $1.80 to $8.40. In America, a carpenter who worked a 56-hour week would earn $18" (Finzi, 2017). An Italian carpenter's pay tripled in America. This was an attractive reason for a man to move to America. The wages one would earn in America would be used to support an Italian family in a way that had never been possible in Italy. America was envisioned as a place of opportunity, with abundant land, high wages, lower taxes--and at the time--no military draft. Gino in Confetti for Gino is a great example of an Italian immigrant that became successful in America. Lorenzo Madalena stated, “He would make himself the best damn fisherman in the fleet. Then, with money, he would move into the fine American world that everyone prized” (Madalena, 14). Gino had set a goal and followed it; work hard in America, earn a good wage, and live the American dream.
2. Political Hardship in Italy
During the 1800's, the North was attempting to impose change on the South for unification. Many Italians came to the United States to escape political policies during this time. According to Jerry Finzi (2017), "Beginning in 1860, la Guerra dei Contadini del Sud (the Southern Peasants War) began. This was an uprising to resist the changes that the North was forcing on the Southern provinces for the unification” (Finzi, 2017). The Italian government took measures to repress anarchy and socialism of the Southern Italians in 1870. Southern Italians decided to move to America as a response. Another policy implemented was an increase in taxation. According to Teresa Fiore's lecture, there was a "54% tax increase across Italy" during this time.
3. Complications of Farming on Italy's Soil
In the late 1800’s, the farmers of Italy were facing decreased value of their products. Wheat, wine, and fruit prices were falling. Many families were making a living by selling these products. It was difficult to feed a large Italian family in rural Italy; a reason to move to America and farm on new soil. The phylloxera virus was destroying nearly every grapevine used to produce wine. Phylloxera is a microscopic louse or aphid. These insects thrive on eating the roots of grapes. There was no cure for the virus then, and no cure for it in present time.
4. Economic Growth
Italians were seeing a rise in their economic stature after working in America. In 1896, a government commission on Italian immigration estimated that Italian immigrants sent or took home between $4 million and $30 million each year and that the "marked increase in wealth" can be traced directly to the money earned in the United States. The wages earned in America were profound amongst the immigrant workers.
