Chapter 6

From the Mediterranean:

The nature of immigrants started to change in the late nineteenth century from largely family groups to single individuals. Many people moved to industrialized cities such as London Paris and Berlin. At that period of time the steamed powered transportation was introduced and this innovation made it easier for people to travel. The trip that took them weeks to finish, with this revolution it took them days to arrive to the new world. This revolution led to the rise of new European passenger companies such as Hamburg-Amerika line.  Another important factor that also increased the immigrants to the new world was the prepaid tickets. A lot of people now can afford paying for the tickets. There were four major European ports: Naples, Bremen, Liverpool, and Hamburg. The pressure of competition made the Passenger companied improve the ships conditions. These companies started to provide amenities to the passengers and made sure that everything was clean and hygiene.  Unfortunately this was not the case for all the ships, ships operating from the Mediterranean--- French, Greek, and Italian--- had very bad conditions in the ships. One of the journalist commented on his experience in the when he traveled on a ship operating from Naples. He stated:

 “How can a steerage passenger remember that he is a human being when he must first pick the worms from his food… and eat in his stuffy, stinking bunk, or in the hot and fetid atmosphere of a compartment where 150 men sleep, or in juxtaposition to seasick man?”

Defenders for this complain said that improving these condition would increase the fair cost. He also said that these people already live in bad conditions, so it is not a new thing on them.  Surprisingly, the fair cost dropped, at times of rate wars, and the ship condition improved. 

                 There were more that 4.1 million Italians entering the States between 1880 and 1920. Even though, it is recorded that these Italians entered the States most of them went to Brazil and Argentina.  The northern and central part of Italy continued to develop. South of Rome, Sicily and Mezzogiorno was undeveloped. It also had high poverty rate. So it is not a surprise that most of the Italian immigrants came from the south.  Most of the Italian who came to the new word were artisans, merchants, businessmen, professional people, musicians, actors, waiters, and seamen.  Italians also had major contributions to the agriculture industry in the States.  They introduced new techniques and had major contribution to the wine industry in California.