Station 3Discrimination

against German and Italian Immigrants

German immigrants peaked during the 1800’s due to violent conflict and lack of job opportunity. Many who came to America faced discrimination and were under constant suspicion for who they were truly loyal to, and whether they would be a benefit, or hinderance to the United States.

Italian immigrants also came to America for jobs and peaked between 1880 and 1920. Many Italians worked for cheap labor in dangerous conditions and were stereotyped as being poor workers and anarchists plotting to the downfall of democracy. Beyond that Italian immigrants also became stereotyped as being criminal associates of the mafia making their attempted image as an upstanding citizen futile.

Document A:Italians Not Wanted news article Courtesy of: Long Island Wins

Transcript from above article:

Published: 1895

Italians Not Wanted:Iowa coal operators should think twice before they begin the importation of Italian and other such people to work their mines. After they have though twice they should decide not to take such steps. Italian minors are not wanted…. Our people can make no place for them in the commonwealth…. They are not desirable elements in the population. With

others of similar character, they have cursed Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, and other states. The cheapness of their labor is not economy.

Document B:The Unrestricted Dumping- Ground

Courtesy of: The Informed Broker

Document C:

Regarding the Italian PopulationCourtesy of: Our Nineteenth-Century American Museum

Document D:

Hun Rule AssociationCourtesy of: Hoosier State Chronicles

Hun was a derogatory word used in the early 1900’s to stereotype and dehumanize German people as uncivilized barbarians and monsters.