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//**__WHY THEY CAME __**//

The stereotype Americans get when they think of Italy is the picture of rolling hills, lush vineyards, and statuesque villas sitting alone atop the scenery. However, this is nor was ever the norm in Italy. By the turn of the 20th Century, Italy had become on of the most overpopulated countries in Europe. Like a home housing twelve people when it had been built to hold five, the Italian motherland simply could not support its plethora of children. The country's government, unable to hold much sway in the newly unified country, could not do anything to stimulate the economy or help the growing lower class. In addition, the exploding population forced the government to increase taxation at an alarming rate simply to keep the country out of debt. With the average citizen's wages too low to meet climbing expenses and taxes, many Italians looked for a way out.

Rome An Italian family seeking thier fortune

America was the most popular escape route for Italian emigrants. Never intending to desert their home, many Italian emmigrants came to America to gain enough money to support their families back home. Two thirds of Italian American immigrants by 1900 were males who planned on returing to Italy after accumulating sufficient funds, and with the Second Industrial Revolution on the rise, opportunity abounded for Italians. The Irish Americans had proven that immigrants were always needed to fuel the fires of industry and developement; therefore, the largely ruraly based Italians made large moves (655,888 between 1890 and 1900) to American cities in search of the prosperity that elluded them back home.

__Works Cited﻿ __ "Italian Immigration." spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. Web. 13. Jan. 2011. "The Italians." thinkquest.org. Web. 14. Jan. 2011