Outline

Oluwayemisi Ososami

English II 7^th

Due 10/19/12

Thesis

Almost all polish migrants came to American for the same thing, a better future, and all in their own ways have shaped the community of west town.

Argument

Reason for Migration

• Landlords, pushing peasants off of their lands, the fast growing population increased land shortages and heavy taxes led poles to seek relieve in America.(24)
• Chicago’s industries always needed cheap labor and from 1890 to 1920, half of the 400,000 workers were occupied in iron and steel, meatpacking, the clothing industry, railroading, or electrical machinery.(5)
• Migration to the U.S for many different things like, to find land, to get an education or better job, to earn money to send back home to practice their religion however they want, or just to escape the war and bad things that is going on in their own countries.(6)

Statistics

• Between 1880 and 1914, at least 7.5 million people from Eastern Europe migrated to the U.S. The immigrants that where parts of this migration are part of what is now known has the “second great wave" of American immigration. About 27 million immigrants landed on U.S. soil. (26)
• In  five years (1919-1924) a quarter of a million East Europeans came to the USA of which Jews constituted over a half and Poles about a quarter. Post-war immigration (1919-1924) was largely a family reunification movement(2)
• The number of Chicago area migrants ranked 7th in the nation with 1.4 million which consist of 18 percent of overall population. The largest concentration of immigrant migrate to the west of Chicago than any other place.(16)

Entering West Town/ Transition

• Polish immigrants have had an easier time racially than many other non-European groups in getting use to or blending into the American ways. Most poles have held tightly to their folk and national roots. “Poles have competed well and succeeded in their new homeland; they have thrived and built homes and raised families, and in that respect have participated in and added to the American dream.”(25)
• Polish Americans have tended to marry within the community of Poles. The Poles maintain traditions most closely in those ceremonies for which the community held closely: weddings, christenings and funerals. (18)
• The Polish community has been a part of the fabric of life in Chicago for over a century. Homeownership represents the American Dream, and attaining a home is a priority for many Polish Americans. They feel they must rely on themselves and their family at all costs. (17)

Conclusion

Almost all polish migrants came to American for the same thing, a better future, and all in their own ways have shaped the community of west town.