Introduction
1.1. The 1920s in the United States
The 1920s - also called the Roaring Twenties - proved to be a decade of triumphant capitalism in the United States. The American economy which was characterized by recession after World War I began to recover. By 1922 it was growing rapidly and prospering. New industries like the car industry stimulated other industries like rubber, oil and steel production and the construction of new highways. Besides, the mass production of cars brought hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Technological innovations like the assembly line increased the productivity by more than 40 per cent. The proportion of women working outside home went up, too. There was a need for secretaries, typists and filing clerks, which were new women's jobs. Real wages increased dramatically.
This rapid process of modernization took place without governmental intervention. American politics went back to a tradition of the late 19th century, namely the faith in a strong economy with a weak state. Warren G. Harding's presidency which was marked by bribery scandals was followed by President Calvin Coolidge whose motto was "The business of America is business."
The 1920s were a bad time for organized labor. Union membership went down because the managements of the factories discouraged its growth by intimidation and brutal violence.
In summary one can say it was a time of severe hardship and repression for working-class men and women but a time of prosperity for the middle and upper classes.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. The 1920s in the United States
1.2. Greenwich Village in the 1920s
1.3. People in Greenwich Village
2. The Italian Community
2.1. Immigration and Settlement
2.2. Religion
2.3. Education
2.4. Recreation
2.5. Family
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the socio-cultural development of the Italian immigrant community in Greenwich Village, New York, during the 1920s. It explores how these immigrants adapted to the American environment, specifically focusing on the tension between their traditional, patriarchal values and the pressure of Americanization, individualism, and new urban structures.
- The impact of 1920s American economic and cultural shifts on immigrant communities.
- Social stratification and ethnic divisions within Greenwich Village.
- The role of the Catholic Church as a stabilizing institution amidst social change.
- Educational systems and their influence on the socialization of immigrant children.
- Recreational patterns and the evolution of social clubs for youth.
- The decline of traditional Italian patriarchal family structures in the face of modern American life.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Immigration and Settlement
The earliest group of Italian settlers had come from the North of Italy, from Genoa, with the first wave of Italian immigrants. Before the mass movement from the South and Sicily, they had established themselves in a position from which they could look down on the ’low’ Italians, could take pains neither to know nor to be classed with them and could dominate the affairs of the Italian community from a distance.
Compared with the later crowds who moved in and out of Greenwich Village, the Genoese were few but up to 1930 their small group furnished all of the prominent men whom the district had produced. The North Italians had moved in amongst the Germans , the Irish and Blacks in the Eastern part of the district.
In contrast to the North Italians who had come in family by family, the Southerners arrived in droves. Town by town they occupied individual houses, and people from the same province moved into the same block. The mass movement of South Italians into Greenwich Village in the fifteen years before World War I resembled the corresponding movement into the country as a whole.
Many of those who remained to make up the Italian community in the post-War years had come with the intention of a temporary stay. Through the accident of the War, they had remained in the district because their gains had not met their expectations yet, or because they had put off the day of return so long that their children who were established in the American community could not be uprooted.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides a historical context of the 1920s in the United States, discussing economic developments, prohibition, and the social climate, alongside the unique environment of Greenwich Village.
2. The Italian Community: This section details the demographic makeup, religious institutions, educational challenges, recreational habits, and the family structure of Italian immigrants as they adapted to American life.
3. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the fundamental changes in the lives of Italian immigrants, emphasizing the disintegration of patriarchal family structures under the influence of American individualism.
Keywords
Greenwich Village, Italian Immigration, 1920s, Americanization, Patriarchal Family, Catholic Church, Social Adaptation, Ethnic Communities, Urbanism, Public Culture, Prohibition, Generation Gap, Immigrant History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the life and social transformation of the Italian immigrant community in Greenwich Village, New York, during the 1920s.
What are the key thematic areas covered?
The central themes include immigration patterns, the influence of religious and educational institutions, changes in recreational activities, and the evolution of the Italian family structure.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to analyze how Italian immigrants adapted their Old World traditions to the pressures of an American urban environment and how this led to the gradual disintegration of traditional values.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The author uses historical analysis, drawing on sociological observations and contemporary studies (such as those by Caroline Ware) to interpret the cultural development of the district.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the settlement patterns of Northern and Southern Italians, the role of the Catholic Church as a social hub, the varied educational experiences of children, and the shift from patriarchal to romantic marriage ideals.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Important keywords include Greenwich Village, Italian immigration, Americanization, patriarchal family, social adaptation, and urban history.
How did the Italian Church attempt to retain relevance in the 1920s?
The churches adapted by modernizing their institutional programs, building gymnasiums, offering social and athletic activities, and focusing on social welfare to compete with secular agencies.
In what way did the Italian family structure change in America?
The patriarchal family system, which emphasized absolute obedience and arranged marriages, declined as children adopted American ideals of romantic love and individualism, leading to a generational conflict.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Gritt Hönighaus (Autor:in), 2000, The Italian Community in Greenwich Village in the 1920s, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/3432
