The Italian Immigrant Journey to America (1880–1924)

Between 1880 and 1924, over **4 million Italians** undertook the arduous voyage to the United States—one of history's largest mass migrations.

Departure & Voyage

• Ports: Naples, Genoa, Palermo, Palermo.
• Ships: Steamships (10–14 days); steerage class—overcrowded, unsanitary, poor ventilation, minimal food.
• Risks: Disease (cholera, typhus, TB), storms, shipwrecks, exploitation by agents.

Arrival & Processing

• Ellis Island (NYC): 70% entered here. Medical/legal inspection (6 sec glance, chalk marks for defects). 2% denied entry.
• Other ports: Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans.

Settlement & Labor

• Cities: NYC (Little Italy, East Harlem), Boston (North End), Philadelphia (South Philly), Chicago (Taylor St), SF (North Beach).
• Work: Construction (subways, bridges, skyscrapers), garment factories, mining, railroads, street vending.
• Community: *Paesani* networks (same village), mutual aid societies, parishes, *padroni* (labor bosses).

Challenges & Legacy

• Discrimination, lynchings (e.g., New Orleans 1891), anarchist stereotyping, literacy tests (1917), quotas (1924).
• Assimilation: WWII service, suburbanization, intermarriage.
• Contributions: Cuisine, arts, science, politics, labor movement, Catholic Church.

Today, ~17M Americans claim Italian ancestry—the 4th largest European ancestry group.