How were immigrants treated when they came to America?
Often stereotyped and discriminated against, many immigrants suffered verbal and physical abuse because they were “different.” While large-scale immigration created many social tensions, it also produced a new vitality in the cities and states in which the immigrants settled.
What did Greek immigrants do in America?
Upon arriving in the United States, most Greek immigrants found jobs in various industries. In New England, for example, they worked in textile mills. In Utah and Colorado, Greeks found work in copper and coal mines. In California, they worked in railroad gangs.
Where did most Greek immigrants settle in America?
Their pattern of settlement shows that the majority settled on the East Coast, primarily in Florida and New York, and the industrial Midwest, in Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburg. Greeks also formed enclaves on the West Coast as they worked in the construction, lumber, and mining industries.
Why did people immigrate from Greece to the US?
Between 1900 and 1920 about 350,000 Greek immigrants arrived in the United States. Many came hoping to earn some money and then return home. A wave of Greek immigration began in the late 1960s when an oppressive regime took over the Greek government and many Greeks decided to flee.
How were immigrants treated at Ellis Island?
Despite the island’s reputation as an “Island of Tears” the vast majority of immigrants were treated courteously and respectfully, free to begin their new lives in America after only a few short hours on Ellis Island. Only two percent of the arriving immigrants were excluded from entry.
Why did Greek immigrants come to America?
By 1890, there were almost 15,000 Greeks living in the U.S. Immigration picked up again in the 1890s and early 20th century, due largely to economic opportunity in the U.S., displacement caused by the hardships of Ottoman rule, the Balkan Wars, and World War I.