History of Italian Immigration.

The italians immigrated most to the US then any other European. There was Italian immigration before, but nummbers soared after 1880. From 1890 to 1900 655,888 immigrants entered the US more then two-thirds were men. Main reasons for immigration were poor economy and the potato famine. The potato famine was getting worse and worse, killing many people and getting them sick. They traveled on crowded and dangerous ships. They had to stop on Ellis Island to be checked for diseases and get papers. When they started living in the US life wasnt easy for the italians, low wage jobs and uncomfortable homes. Italians were called "birds of passage" because they went to the US and when they had enough money they would go back to Italy and buy farm and start their new jobs on their farms. Most immgrating italians were catholics. I learned that life for immigraing italians wasnt easy. They had to go through alot of things during the trip to New York and when they lived in New York. If I was travelling form Italy to the US during that time, I would have to feel what they felt. Many people got sick and died during these trips, so it wasnt very easy.