Eastern+and+Southern+European+Immigrants+Work+and+Religion


 * //__Direction:__ Please read the following questions carefully and use specific information from the documents to answer them. It would be helpful to you and the group if you would include quotations from the readings. Do NOT worry about giving the RIGHT answer, instead, concentrate on exploring the documents more closely, looking for the nuanced differences between the authors' arguments. For example, two writers might agree on a certain point, but one might use an economic argument while the other might use a political or cultural one to prove her/his point. Also, ask questions about the documents and the comments of other students on these documents. These questions, once discussed as a group, often lead to new insights. Good luck.//**


 * To what extent did conditions in the United States change immigrants from eastern and southern Europe? To what extent did eastern and southern European immigrants change condition in the United States?

Or to ask the question in a different way:


 * To what extent did eastern and southern European immigrants strip off their old "manners and prejudices"? To what extent did they maintain these old "manners and prejudices"?

Or to ask the question in yet a different way:


 * To what extent were eastern and southern European immigrants active agents in their Americanization? To what extent were they resistant to Americanization?

During the late 19th and early 20th century, Southern and Eastern Europeans were arriving at the doors of the United States to achieve the American dream. They were very active in their Americanization. In the reading "Immigrants adjust to Industrial Labor, "clock time", and unionization in the early twentieth century", these immigrants had to learn the scientific management regimens such as clock time to prosper. In this piece, it explains how these immigrants carried their former peasant traditions,customs,beliefs and adopted to and occasionally opposed a world of rigid time and burdensome work disciplines. At one point, it explains the story regarding the famous "Boycott of the Meat Trust Company" by Jewish women to lower the price of their kosher meat products. This was a good example of transplantation and Americanization by these immigrants. Susan Gullo

====Eastern and Southern Europeans both stripped off their old "manners and prejudices" however they the extent to which they assimilated was very different. The Eastern Europeans saw themselves as a nation and were in no haste to change. They didn't necessary want to change anything because a nation can not throw anything away, this made it slow for them to modernize and Americanize. However the Southern Europeans (German Jews) understood that you could be a good Jew and a good American. They had core believes and cultural. Cultural is created over a series of time and since things change over time they figured that they could "strip off" some rules and beliefs and still be a good Jew. Russian Jews came after the German Jews. German Jews began to assimilate and held Pittsburgh Platform a council which they decided to remove and add laws. Russian Jews saw themselves as a nation and did not want to change. They wanted to stick to the "Status Quo" change is dangerous. By changing Russian Jews lost their Jewishness. German Jews also did not want to change because they spoke German and they thought they were superior, German is the language of philosophy.====

--Stephanie Flowers
**To what extent were eastern and southern European immigrants active agents in their Americanization? (MP 207) In that the women were a great part of the labor force, //“Formerly the women of each household made up the greater part of its clothing.”// Also when men, women and children in a tenement apartment worked together in what is considered a //sweat shop// where apartment six, fifteen or even twenty employees work in a small two room apartment in which a few of them also rent as part of their living environment. ** **To what extent were they resistant to Americanization? To the point that regardless the unfortunate conditions of work and living they were confronted with day and night, they managed to hold together. ** **To what extent were eastern and southern European immigrants active agents in their Americanization? (MP216) The formation of one culture in a community, where the continuation of language, religion, habits, custom, and dressing continues to be the same as those brought from back home, “their motherland.” Where also copies of newspapers are received in their native language. Children from a second generation responds to situation as, “I ain’t no Hun, I’m an American.” ** **To what extent were they resistant to Americanization? When the parent’s found themselves to be the parents of their American children. They were surprised, proud, but at the same time, scandalized, and stricken to the heart with regrets. ** **To what extent were eastern and southern European immigrants active agents in their Americanization? (MP.219) In that a society of peasants, became a society of modern industrial workers. Where they opposed to certain activities of work habits, or norms of work. Such as, the preference of small shops rather than larger factories, and the Chicago Jewish who resisted the subdivision of labor, even though he was offered better wages. ** **To what extent were they resistant to Americanization? To the work habits of Americans verse the work habits of the immigrants. The debasement of the English language and the social need for simplified commands. ** **Luz Reyes **

In the early 1900's, so many immigrants were coming here that they were saying that the new world was mainly German, or French, or Polish, English...etc. Each nationality wanted the honor of being the one that was the dominate one. They would all cluster in areas where they could all speak their own language and not feel out of place. They brought the old customs from back home, to make things familiar to them, even though they were millions of miles away. They were not willing to become "Americanized"; even though they were here, it was very difficult for the majority of them."in the United States assimilation is not quite without signs of difficulty and apprehension and conflicting purposes---signs of dread and jealousy, on the part of Americans, of the alien influences brought in by the streams of newcomers, and on the part of the immigrants, of jealousy of American influence and dread of Americanizing pressure." (W.P., page 216) The English felt this was a new "England", while I think that the Germans probably felt the same way, since they felt that they were above everyone else; everyone was beneath them...But they all were considered foreign to this new land, they would all have to conform to they American way of life in order to survive, especially when now they find themselves the parents of American born children; the children speak "English", but the parents want them to speak the native language of the homeland. Why? because the ones in the family don't want to learn the language of the new country. They are faced with a new and scandalized problem, they stricken with regret and heart broken, but they are powerless to do anything but to accept the new way of life, the educated and the uneducated, they ultimately have no choice...(W.P., page218) **Jacqueline Cooper-Davis** =In the early twentieth century the immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe came to America for better life and opportunities. America changes these immigrants' way of thinking by americanizing them. Before only the heads of family(men) wok to feed the entire family, but in America the entire household ,men,wifes and children have to work in the factories called "sweat-shop" "no pretence is made of separating shop work from household affairs. The hours observed are those which endurance alone limits. Children are worked to death beside their parents."(MP208). The harsh work conditons they never experience before are lived in any ay. America shows them the self sacrifice and the individualism which this country values most. Despite these new way of life the immigrants never give up what the value most, the community. they hold on to their families ties, their relalationship to one another to survive. They created some centers such as Jews center in Manhattan, Masonic cemeteries where they can gathere and discuss social issues they faced. Their way of life which values the society never completely faded even though their children will not interest in it. Abdou Alassani=

During the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Eastern and Southern Europeans set their eyes on America for a better life. The first immigrants coming into this country were men, who were peasants and artisans combined. These immigrants knew the hardship they were going to face in this new land, but not as hard as they've gotten it in Europe. Land is abundant here and there is room for success, and the idea of thinking like an American will make you an American and and this will lead to an individuals' success. Compared to Europe, where the men are the provider for the family, here in America everyone works hard, from the men, to the women, and to the children."Conditions have radically changed during the last 25 years. Formerly the women of each household made up the greater part of its clothing..." mp207. "no pretence is made of separating shop work from household affairs. The hours observed are those which endurance alone limits. Children are worked to death beside their parents."(MP208) These immigrants began to acculturate themselves, but they are still hanging on to their traditions and values. They instill these values into their American children, who doesn't seem to care about the old world traditions. America was built on the backs of immigrants. - JOUANO

During the late 19th century and early 20th century, Eastern and Southern Europeans came to American for a greater life that was filled with greater opportunities for them to prosper. They believe that America was the land of success and freedom. America had a great impact on these immigrants by Americanizing them with their ways of living. In Europe the men were known for going out and bringing home the money to support their families, but in America, men, women and children all worked to bring in money to support each other. “Conditions have radically changed during the last twenty five years. Formerly the women of each household made up greater part of its clothing, the rest being supplied by the local tailor, and made up on his premises.” (MP 207) “Of these tenements home workers there are more women than men, and children are numerous as both. The work carried on in the one, two, or three rooms occupied by family, with its subtenants or boarders. No pretence is made of separating shop work from household affairs. The hours observed are those with endurance alone limits. Children worked to death beside their parents.” (MP 208) Despite the environmental changes the immigrants faced, they never change their traditions and values in what they believed in. They spoke their own language and kept their religious ways of thinking. **//Simone Roberts//**

The southern and Eastern immigrants where single or married men who left their country and migrated to America in other to save money and then send it back to their families back home.They assimilated the idea of work because they knew that to become an American you have to work and so they moved to the united States knowing fully well they were going to work hard, even the children and mothers who in Europe do not work but were ready to work in the United States because that was the idea of an American ,' here in America one must work for three horses"(mp224).Although these immigrants had to work very hard they remained tied to their family, "Children are worked to death beside their parents"(mp208 ). The bond they brought from their country remained with them and thats why the children worked till death beside their families . These immigrants were also resistant to change in the sense that they brought their native language to the United States they spoke their language anywhere they went to and they even had their language in newspaper.Also, these immigrants were hurt when they gave birth to American children who were not interested in their values and some of the immigrants showed regrets when their childrem make comments like ,"I ain't no Hun, I am an American"(218) They had regrets, because they dont want their children to act like an American but there was nothing they could do as the second generation were quick in assimilating the idea of an American but the first generation were resistant to the change.. FAITH UKPONMWAN.

German immigrants did assimilate to America but one thing that was evident was that some would get the paper with their language on it. While they were not in Germany this shows that the wanted to keep their language very much alive or rather stay in touch with that German part. . Pg. 217

The piece that showed the most change in the way in which immigrants assimilate was that of the polish immigrant. The life that they are use to is one that categorizes a group and not individuals. While America is a country in which everyone, if they are willing can excel and be productive, the life of the pol was different. His actions did not only reflect upon him but his family and community as a whole. They way that the polish were was that they did not need to get higher education, but would be comfortable doing what they family has done for years. There was no need to excel and no need to make extra money. In America things would change because we are viewed as individuals and because of this tensions will rise in polish families. "Formerly the individual counted mainly as member of a family; now he counts by himself and still more than formerly. The family ceases to be necessary at all."Pg. 241 Parents would get so upset that they would take their kids to court to prevent this individualism caused by America that they would lie to a judge just to get what they wanted. Through these actions children began to try to isolate themselves from their parents and thus distancing themselves further from their polish traditions. "The parents, for example, resort to the juvenile court not as a means of reform but as an instrument of vengeance; they will swear away the character of their girl, call her a 'whore' and a 'thief', when there is not the slightest ground for it.Pg 242. This just shows how hard it was for those first generation immigrants to accept the ideologies of America.
 * Jason Torres**
 * The Eastern and Southern Europe immigrant change condition in the United States because they came as a human tidal wave, because there was freedom and an opportunity to better their lives.They came leaving everything behind except their culture and traditions. In one year four million people arrived through Ellis Island, and one of four stayed in New York. The population were 70% born out of the country. They roam the street pushing carts selling any and everything to make a living. The women played a great part in the work force, "the women of each household made up the greater of its clothing",at home in sweats shops. Another thing women did is the young women went out to work in factory. There was a fire in one of the building, when 141 young immigrants girls died in the triangle sweatshop fire. The youngest girl was 14 years old, they were mostly Irish and Eastern Europe Jews.(207)**
 * Their active agent in their Americanization was forget your past and ideal. They came for the possibility of what could happen select a goal and you will achieve, and they needed to do what they needed to survive. The children wanted to be Americans they wanted to learn English in order to survive, but their parents wanted them to hold onto the old culture. Being in America made it possible for the second generation to attend college.**
 * The parent maintain their manner and prejudice, and they insist that the children learn their emigrant language in order to hold onto their culture,but as one German woman said "I ain't no Hun, I 'm an American," to prove she was now an American. LAURIEN VAUGHN.**


 * During the early twentieth century the immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe came to the United States of America to better themselves and to have more opportunities. These immigrants have changed their way of thinking once they became americanized. The immigrants assimilated the idea of work because they knew that to become an American they have to work.They moved to the United States of America knowing that they were going to work very hard.The men are usually the head of the family so,they had to work very hard in order to feed the entire family. In America is not so because the entire family which consist of men,wives and children have to work within the factory that was called "Sweat-Shop" "no pretence is made of separating shop work from household affairs, children are worked to death beside their parents."(mp208) Regardless of the unfortunate conditions with work and living that they confronted with day and night they still managed and remained together. In spite of the new way of life that the immigrants have experience they did not give up. They held on to their families ties, their relationships towards each another in order to survive. These immigrants were resistant to change in the sense that they brought their native language,religion,habit,custom and dressing to be the same as those brought from back home "mother land" to the United States of America. They spoke their language wherever they go; they also received copies of Newspaper in their language.These immigrants were unhappy when they gave birth to American children who were not fascinated in their**
 * worth. They were surprised,proud,scandalized and were stricken to the heart with regrets when they heard the children made comments like,"I ain't no Hun, I am an American."(mp218) The immigrants have plenty of regrets because they do not want their children to act like an American, but they could not prevent the children from acting like the Americans because the second generations instantaneously assimilates the idea of an American. Barrington Humphrey**

During the 1900's Eastern and Sothern European immigrants came in search of imprving there life style as well as work and freedom. These immigrants were transformed as the asimilated with the American way of life, for example the woman not only the man need to work in order to have food on the table. They worked hard in sweat shop making clothing many time unable to rest and go home; they would sleep at the work place and later continue working. (mp 207)//“__Formerly the women of each household made up the greater part of its clothing.”__// Magdiel Ruiz

The eastern and southern immigrants were active agents of American because upon arriving they sought out opportunities that they heard about in the mother land. For the most part they worked in sweat shops to obtain the dreams for which they left in the first place. I would imagine the thought of a “ready made” business stated on page 207 created the opportunity of wealth and prosperity was a dream come true. Of course this was true if you were the middle man and not the one working at the sweat shops. These individuals embrace the opportunities of the work but to some extent resisted to Americanized because for the most part these shops were set up as work and home. This goes back to Handlin and his theory of “uprooted” let me explain. I say this because this type of business was what they knew from back home which was based on tradition, the family and cooperation. The fact that this was a business as stated in page 208 “No pretence was made of separating shop work from household affairs” indicated that this is was a tradition that they did not want to let go thus resisting Americanization! //__Federico Mulero__//

Eastern and southern European immigrant groups transplanted themselves to America and chose which “manners and prejudices” they were to strip off. In the piece, //A Socialist Analyzes the Process of Assimilation Among Slavic Immigrants,// it states, “ ‘I visited for two weeks in Cedar Rapids and never spoke anything but Bohemian…An Italian lady in Boston said…You know in Boston one naturally gets so little chance to hear any English” (MP 217). These immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe are keeping their language, their customs even though they are living in America. On the other hand, immigrants are adapting to the new rules of America, they are stripping of their old ‘manners and prejudices’ as explained in //Socialists Describe the Disruption of Familial Solidarity Resulting from Immigration.// The Polish are adapting to America by following the rules of individualism, “…Formerly the individual counted mainly as member of a family; now he counts by himself and still more than formerly” (MP 241). Back home, many of these immigrants were seen as a part of a family, or a name. Now, America promotes individualism where one can rise through their hard work and no longer do you need your name or your family to move up the ladder of success. **Maritza Chavez**

**Like many other groups had display in history, the process of “Americanization” is no easy quest. These ethnic groups may comply or oppose to the process.For example, according to the article analyzed by a sociologist, people outside of America thought of it as an extension to their own country.Meaning that America was already theirs. They thought that in many ways the country was holding part of their own culture and life style. For them to be an American it was not necessary to learn English. In addition to that, those who lived in America in that time, were proud of and gave a lot of credit to their country of origin. They would not call themselves “Americans”, but rather they were Polish-Americans, German-American, Irish-American, English-Americans and so forth. Second generation immigrants deal with a great dilemma. In one side, living with immigrants parents, learning possibly the two languages (many of them do not like to speak other than English), finding their own identity and along with that a national pride. ** **One of the ways immigrants usually get “Americanized” is by embracing the work force. To be an American people must work and make good money. For example, in 1910, the sociologist said “American does not begin until man is a working man, till he is earning two dollars a day.” The abundant life, clothing and food should be the perpetuators of a workaholic behavior. Furthermore, the boom of capitalism made many immigrants work in unimaginable situations. Woman had to work, along with their kids in tenement houses, where they lived and manufactured clothes. Living in very bad conditions and bringing capitalist form of work (manufacturing), to the intimacy of the home. Rosana Nin **

**The extent to which Eastern and Southern European immigrants became americanized were the following. ** **First of all these immigrants came to work. They worked seven days a week long hours under deplorable conditions. The whole family worked including the children. These immigrants also experience terrible work conditions which in turn forced them to fight for their rights and caused the start of labor unions. The woman were a major part of the workforce. These immigrants did not totally leave their old customs and traditions back at their homeland. The Yiddish started their own newspaper press in 1902. This created a forum for this community to maintain a connection with their homeland. Many also like the Jews continue to practice their religion. **

Brenda Diaz

Throughout the twentieth century immigrants form Eastern and Southern Europe immigrants came to America to obtain a better life. Once they came to the United States they changed their way of thinking and assimilated into America’s traditions and way of life. These immigrants moved to the united states knowing they had to work very hard in order to succeed. The men are usually the head of the family so they had to work very hard in order to feed the entire family. In America is not so because the entire family which consist of men, wives and children have to work within the factory that was called "Sweat-Shop" "no pretence is made of separating shop work from household affairs, children are worked to death beside their parents."(mp208) Regardless of the unfortunate conditions with work and living that they confronted with day and night they still managed and remained together. Immigrant went through a lot of hardships but remained to keep their family ties close **.**They spoke their home language wherever they went, they also received copies of Newspaper in their languages as well. These immigrants were very unpleased when they gave birth to American children who were not fascinated in their families culture. They were surprised, proud, scandalized and were stricken to the heart with regrets when they heard the children made comments like, "I ain't no Hun, I am an American."(mp218) The immigrants have plenty of regrets because they do not want their children to act like an American, but they could not prevent the children from acting like the Americans because the second generations instantaneously assimilates the idea of an American. Overall the transition for immigrants were hard but through hard work and dedication they were able to overcome all obstacles. **Patricia Tai**


 * To what extent did eastern and southern European immigrants strip off their old "manners and prejudices"? To what extent did they maintain these old "manners and prejudices"?

Eastern and Southern European immigrants strip their old manners by adjusting to the American routine like the clock time, where the clock was like the boss watching over the employees. Immigrants were working in sweatshops, doing their assigned duties. Eastern European Jews were free thinkers, when these Jews got to the U.S they knew they were not chrstians like in their native country, a way of stripping their old manners.
 * ** eastern and Southern Europeans maintain theri their manners by trying to preserve some them in an Americanize way. An example was described by Herebert G. Gutman when Jews women were protesting against the high price of Kosher meat and thte betrayal of a promised boycott of the meat trust by retail butchers, these women called for the intervention of their rabbi to help them protest. This was a way of maintaining their manners since intheir native country kosher meat is not expensive nad is part of their culture. Maria Deleon