The Role of Italian Americans During (and after) World War I and World War II
World War I
In the 1920s, around the time when World War I ended, Italian immigrants were not allowed to come to America. A huge number of Italian Americans (10% of all United States soldiers) fought in World War I. After the war ended, Italian American children were required to stay in school until at least 8th grade, so they no longer worked to earn money for their families at a really young age. Italian American war veterans took many jobs after the war - some started working as firemen and policemen, while others continued their work as carpenters, welders, and plumbers.
After World War I, a lot of Italian Americans became involved in politics (as mayors or congressmen), theatre, music, and sports for the first time.
In the 1920s, around the time when World War I ended, Italian immigrants were not allowed to come to America. A huge number of Italian Americans (10% of all United States soldiers) fought in World War I. After the war ended, Italian American children were required to stay in school until at least 8th grade, so they no longer worked to earn money for their families at a really young age. Italian American war veterans took many jobs after the war - some started working as firemen and policemen, while others continued their work as carpenters, welders, and plumbers.
After World War I, a lot of Italian Americans became involved in politics (as mayors or congressmen), theatre, music, and sports for the first time.
World War II
When Italy declared war on the United States in 1941, many Italian Americans chose to fight in the United States army to defend their new country. Italian immigrants who were accused of being disloyal to the United States were sent away so that they could not fight against United States citizens or soldiers. In addition to the thousands of Italian American men who fought in World War II, this war provided Italian Americans with many jobs, like for war material production.
Do you know Rosie the Riveter? Rose Bonavita was an Italian American woman who worked as an aircraft riveter, and was just one example of many women who worked during World War II for their country.
Italian Americans were also contributing enormously politics and popular culture (especially sports) during this time. Do you recognize the man in the picture below?
Italians continued to immigrate to America (in smaller numbers) even after World War II. Many families and individuals who had come earlier and planned to eventually go back to Italy had found stable work and a good life in their new country. For this reason, a lot of Italian Americans chose to stay in America longer than they had planned.