The New Immigration
The newer immigrants arrived in what some call “Masculine Hordes” (Wittke, 1839 p. 405). Unlike the first wave of immigrants, their main motive was not only to flee their countries and reside permanently in the States, but to work, send money to their families back home, and to eventually move back to their native homelands. There were many countries who immigrated to the U.S. during this time period. A few among the many were the Russians, Italians, Greeks, Armenians, Spanish and also the Chinese.
The Russians came to America by the Bering Sea and Alaska. Russian fur traders crossed into Alaska in 1747 and founded the first Russian Orthodox Church to minister to the needs of traders and the settlers in Alaska some years after. It is said that the Russians were the most "unskilled and economically insecure of all the newer arrivals" (Wittke, 1839 p. 428). Most of the Russians found jobs laboring in mills and mines located in New York and Pennsylvania.
The Italian immigration rate in the United States far exceeded any other European nation. The triggering factors that drove the Italians to the U.S. were those such as poverty, over population and natural disasters (Mintz, 2013). The Italians were also exploited by people of their same religious and cultural background. Northern Italians migrated to the United States during the 1900’s. Most worked as fruit merchants in New York, and some established jobs as wine growers in California. Unlike most immigrants, the Italians did not want to farm which correlated with their decisions to not live in the United States permanently. Around 11 to 13 percent of Italian immigrants returned to Italy after working and saving money in the United States. The immigrants did not want to establish a permanent home, thus instead fled to big cities such as New York to work for high wages and live very inexpensively in what natives describes as intolerable living conditions (Mintz & McNeil, 2013).
The Greeks immigrated to the U.S. a decade before 1917. Unlike the other immigrants who migrated with their families, the major percentage of Greek immigrants was young men and boys without any family ties. These immigrants were usually unskilled laborers with very little if any education or knowledge of literacy. The Greeks were city dwellers who sought work in businesses such as restaurants, flower and fruit stores and movie theaters. Greek communities were created in the middle of big cities such as Chicago and New York. They eventually established Greek Orthodox Church communities as well (Wittke, 1839).
By 1894, there were over 3,000 Armenians in the United States. They settled in Massachusetts, mostly in parts of Worcester and Boston. Armenians were brought over with the help of American missionaries after the blood-curdling tales of the “Armenian Massacres”. Armenians first made a living by selling rugs, laces and linen in big American cities and shops. The Armenians were somewhat considered unskilled workers when they first came over, but eventually became skilled in textile and wire mills. Some Armenians settled in California where they became grape and fruit growers (Wittke, 1839).
Spanish immigration increased between the years of 1850 and 1860 because of the Civil War. The first wave of Spanish immigrants settled in Florida while the ones who followed after settled in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana. Some Spanish immigrants came to America in search of religious freedom and to escape persecution. The Spanish found jobs mostly in steel and metalworking industries (The Advocates for Human Rights, 2011).
The Chinese immigrated to the United States around the same time as the California Gold Rush in 1849. During this time, thousands of Chinese men fled to San Francisco from gold fever which also caused other large numbers of immigrants to flock to California again. The Chinese who settled west were pulled by a much higher living standard and often had labor shortages. Chinese worked by digging for gold and laying the tracks for the continental railroad. After these jobs were finished, they then took jobs as servants and laundrymen. Most Chinese immigrants who came were male laborers; however, some females, political exiles and students immigrated as well (Daniels, 1997).
The Russians came to America by the Bering Sea and Alaska. Russian fur traders crossed into Alaska in 1747 and founded the first Russian Orthodox Church to minister to the needs of traders and the settlers in Alaska some years after. It is said that the Russians were the most "unskilled and economically insecure of all the newer arrivals" (Wittke, 1839 p. 428). Most of the Russians found jobs laboring in mills and mines located in New York and Pennsylvania.
The Italian immigration rate in the United States far exceeded any other European nation. The triggering factors that drove the Italians to the U.S. were those such as poverty, over population and natural disasters (Mintz, 2013). The Italians were also exploited by people of their same religious and cultural background. Northern Italians migrated to the United States during the 1900’s. Most worked as fruit merchants in New York, and some established jobs as wine growers in California. Unlike most immigrants, the Italians did not want to farm which correlated with their decisions to not live in the United States permanently. Around 11 to 13 percent of Italian immigrants returned to Italy after working and saving money in the United States. The immigrants did not want to establish a permanent home, thus instead fled to big cities such as New York to work for high wages and live very inexpensively in what natives describes as intolerable living conditions (Mintz & McNeil, 2013).
The Greeks immigrated to the U.S. a decade before 1917. Unlike the other immigrants who migrated with their families, the major percentage of Greek immigrants was young men and boys without any family ties. These immigrants were usually unskilled laborers with very little if any education or knowledge of literacy. The Greeks were city dwellers who sought work in businesses such as restaurants, flower and fruit stores and movie theaters. Greek communities were created in the middle of big cities such as Chicago and New York. They eventually established Greek Orthodox Church communities as well (Wittke, 1839).
By 1894, there were over 3,000 Armenians in the United States. They settled in Massachusetts, mostly in parts of Worcester and Boston. Armenians were brought over with the help of American missionaries after the blood-curdling tales of the “Armenian Massacres”. Armenians first made a living by selling rugs, laces and linen in big American cities and shops. The Armenians were somewhat considered unskilled workers when they first came over, but eventually became skilled in textile and wire mills. Some Armenians settled in California where they became grape and fruit growers (Wittke, 1839).
Spanish immigration increased between the years of 1850 and 1860 because of the Civil War. The first wave of Spanish immigrants settled in Florida while the ones who followed after settled in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana. Some Spanish immigrants came to America in search of religious freedom and to escape persecution. The Spanish found jobs mostly in steel and metalworking industries (The Advocates for Human Rights, 2011).
The Chinese immigrated to the United States around the same time as the California Gold Rush in 1849. During this time, thousands of Chinese men fled to San Francisco from gold fever which also caused other large numbers of immigrants to flock to California again. The Chinese who settled west were pulled by a much higher living standard and often had labor shortages. Chinese worked by digging for gold and laying the tracks for the continental railroad. After these jobs were finished, they then took jobs as servants and laundrymen. Most Chinese immigrants who came were male laborers; however, some females, political exiles and students immigrated as well (Daniels, 1997).