A view from the bridge contextual research

1. Life condition for immigrants

1.1. No knowledge of English language and little education

1.2. Faced great difficulties

1.3. Had to accept poorest paying and most undesirable jobs

1.4. Grouped in little older sections of the cities that now became little Italy (overcrowded)

1.4.1. US east coast

1.4.2. New York city

1.4.3. New Jersey

1.4.4. Pennsylvania

1.5. Some of the people had owners and had to build their own houses in wood or other materials

2. Why did they move to the US

2.1. Many came from rural Italy

2.2. Italy's economic condition wasn't stable after 1861 (poor standard of living)

2.3. Taxes were imposed on Italians and particularly in southern Italy (Sicily) people suffered of poverty

2.4. Italian diaspora was the term used to indicate the large number of immigrants that had moved to the US

3. Birds of passage

3.1. 1/3 of the immigrants

3.2. Those who intended to stay only to get enough money to return to Italy and help their families

3.3. Many were prevented from returning due to the outbreak of WW1

4. Labour and work conditions

4.1. MEN: Employed in manual labour

4.2. MEN: Constructions of streets, sewers, subways,

4.3. WOMEN: seamstresses in the industries

4.4. Many established small businesses in Little Italies