Why did Polish Immigration occurred?
Since the United States was a growing country in need of labor to grow, Many Polish Immigrants occupied these labor necessities across America. Polish Americans worked in growing milling and slaughterhouse industries. One reason why Polish Immigration occurred was due to the inability to grow in their home which is Poland. Many Polish people where not educated an many where unskilled laborers. Many of the immigrants that migrated to the United States came from South and Southeastern part of Poland (Carpathian and Tatra Mountains, Krakow and Rzeszow area). These locations were very poor and overpopulated . Polish Immigrants in general came to the United States to look forward to a better life. Since they came from a country that had been occupied by outside forces up until 1919. Many could no longer survive in Poland because their country had not yet modernized its agricultural methods or industries. This meant Poland could not compete with the more industrialized countries in Western Europe. Many Polish Immigrants felt that the United States of America held a more brighter future for themselves and thus change their life for better for the coming generations. Overall all Polish Immigrants not only immigrated to America because of economical circumstance but also for both political and religious reasons. Overall all Polish Immigrants migrated to the United States to work temporarily and gain enough money to live in a whats now called middle class and stay away from poverty. Their goal was to work and leave someday to their country . Polish Immigration occurred because many families did not have enough money to even live in Poland, some of the Immigrants sold their property's to start a new life. Eventually three different so called waves where the three waves of Immigration meaning at three different phases Polish Immigrants migrated to the United States. The first wave of immigrants, arriving mainly from the late 1800s up to the WW I, were considered "za chlebem" (means "for bread") immigrants. The second wave of immigration took place after World War II.The third wave of immigrants started arriving in 1980.
How did Polish people get to America?
Polish Immigrants got to America in steerage compartments or cargo ships. Polish Immigrants paid very little to have a spot on either steerage compartments or cargo ships and then Immigrated to the country of opportunities and success. Polish Immigrants would land in New York City and inspectors would board the ship and inspect Polish immigrants fro any diseases or infections. And inspect 1st and 2nd class citizens . If inspection went successful they would be allowed to enter America. The ones that fail inspection where sent back to Poland.
Polish Immigrants got to America in steerage compartments or cargo ships. Polish Immigrants paid very little to have a spot on either steerage compartments or cargo ships and then Immigrated to the country of opportunities and success. Polish Immigrants would land in New York City and inspectors would board the ship and inspect Polish immigrants fro any diseases or infections. And inspect 1st and 2nd class citizens . If inspection went successful they would be allowed to enter America. The ones that fail inspection where sent back to Poland.
Challenges Polish Immigrants faced in The United States of America?
As Polish Immigrants they faced many challenges , stereotypes, and struggles that indeed made them feel inferior. Polish Immigrants in the United States where considered stupid , undependable, slow, and drunkards. When Polish Immigrants first came to the Unites States of America they were accused of not wanting to assimilate the American culture and they where also accused of holding close to their language , culture , and their holidays. Many Polish Immigrants feel devastated in their interior from all the negative attitude towards them that many could not wait until becoming US citizens since all the stereotypes and negative attitudes towards them brought them shame. Polish Immigrants where also blame for economical problems in the United States since money gained was sent to their homeland Poland to help and support family. Many Americans felt Polish Immigrants used United States for their own benefit not the Country.
As Polish Immigrants they faced many challenges , stereotypes, and struggles that indeed made them feel inferior. Polish Immigrants in the United States where considered stupid , undependable, slow, and drunkards. When Polish Immigrants first came to the Unites States of America they were accused of not wanting to assimilate the American culture and they where also accused of holding close to their language , culture , and their holidays. Many Polish Immigrants feel devastated in their interior from all the negative attitude towards them that many could not wait until becoming US citizens since all the stereotypes and negative attitudes towards them brought them shame. Polish Immigrants where also blame for economical problems in the United States since money gained was sent to their homeland Poland to help and support family. Many Americans felt Polish Immigrants used United States for their own benefit not the Country.
Where did Polish Immigrants work? And how did they find jobs? And how make it in America?
Polish Immigrants work in low paying jobs such as performing manual laboring coal mines, slaughterhouses, steel mills, steel manufactures, Iron foundries, and oil and sugar refineries. Therefore many polish immigrants were recruited to work in these unwanted low paying jobs in cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, Milwaukee,and Cleveland.
Polish Immigrants work in low paying jobs such as performing manual laboring coal mines, slaughterhouses, steel mills, steel manufactures, Iron foundries, and oil and sugar refineries. Therefore many polish immigrants were recruited to work in these unwanted low paying jobs in cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, Milwaukee,and Cleveland.
How do Polish Immigrants change their communities over time?
It has been known that the Polish Immigrants have change as the diffrent waves of immigrants have arrived to America in different time frames. The first time frame or first wave were known as " Za Chlebem" meaning for bread. Meaning that this first wave of Immigrants came because of economical needs. This first wave of immigrants lived in crowded dwellings and took very low paying jobs. The second wave of Immigration took place after world war 2 , where many Polish people at this time got killed and Poland became economically bankrupted. This was also a time where Polish citizens where fighting along Western aliens during the war. In this wave individuals where political prisoners,intellectual refuges, overall all this group where educated. The third wave of Immigrants started to arrive in 1980's after the marital law in December 1981 Ppolish citizens got visas to enter the USA. This wave of polish immigrants were known as very skilled professionals but not all were highly educated their were still some Polish citizens who were not highly educated. We can see that as each wave passed Polish Immigrants became more prepared .
It has been known that the Polish Immigrants have change as the diffrent waves of immigrants have arrived to America in different time frames. The first time frame or first wave were known as " Za Chlebem" meaning for bread. Meaning that this first wave of Immigrants came because of economical needs. This first wave of immigrants lived in crowded dwellings and took very low paying jobs. The second wave of Immigration took place after world war 2 , where many Polish people at this time got killed and Poland became economically bankrupted. This was also a time where Polish citizens where fighting along Western aliens during the war. In this wave individuals where political prisoners,intellectual refuges, overall all this group where educated. The third wave of Immigrants started to arrive in 1980's after the marital law in December 1981 Ppolish citizens got visas to enter the USA. This wave of polish immigrants were known as very skilled professionals but not all were highly educated their were still some Polish citizens who were not highly educated. We can see that as each wave passed Polish Immigrants became more prepared .
How do Polish Immigrants change over time as a result of living in a new country?
Polish Immigrants change their communities overtime in a way that families no longer Had to suffer from being poor and thus hold what is now called middle class. Eventually Polish immigrants change in the conditions they lived in Poland thus helping relatives live and have money to feed their families. As Polish Immigrants migrated to America they had one main concern and not to stay permentably in America but just instead work temporary to earn money and return to Poland. Many Polish Immigrants did make some money to move back to Poland and start a small business while other stayed In the United States and start a new life in America.
Polish Immigrants change their communities overtime in a way that families no longer Had to suffer from being poor and thus hold what is now called middle class. Eventually Polish immigrants change in the conditions they lived in Poland thus helping relatives live and have money to feed their families. As Polish Immigrants migrated to America they had one main concern and not to stay permentably in America but just instead work temporary to earn money and return to Poland. Many Polish Immigrants did make some money to move back to Poland and start a small business while other stayed In the United States and start a new life in America.
Community Connection
Family and friends of Polish decent went out to have dinner at Ania's Polish Deli 780 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047, to understand more about the Polish traditions and talk about the Immigration of Polish people arriving to America.
The beginning of the interview started by asking of their closely relatives in this case Tricia's Grandmother. She stated that her Grandmother would always mentioned that her parents would always tell her to go to school and succeed because her parents grandparents did not live a life where money was a lot and they had to work long hours to get money just to put food on the table. The interview then continue talking on how this Polish family change from generation to generation, which in the Chinowssky family their goal has always been to become better each generation. For example the first generation started as Farm workers working in a different family's farm to gain money to support family then the next generation obtained their own farm and the next attended school (high school) and obtained a better jobs like administrative jobs and the next generation gathering higher education degrees. Tricia's family value a lot their hard work and they state that as each generation passes they expect more of them. They stated that they don't ever want to go through what there past family's went trough.
The beginning of the interview started by asking of their closely relatives in this case Tricia's Grandmother. She stated that her Grandmother would always mentioned that her parents would always tell her to go to school and succeed because her parents grandparents did not live a life where money was a lot and they had to work long hours to get money just to put food on the table. The interview then continue talking on how this Polish family change from generation to generation, which in the Chinowssky family their goal has always been to become better each generation. For example the first generation started as Farm workers working in a different family's farm to gain money to support family then the next generation obtained their own farm and the next attended school (high school) and obtained a better jobs like administrative jobs and the next generation gathering higher education degrees. Tricia's family value a lot their hard work and they state that as each generation passes they expect more of them. They stated that they don't ever want to go through what there past family's went trough.