The Interwar Period and WW2

Italian Americans During the Interwar Period and WW2

Throughout the long and storied history of Italian American migration to America, many peoples from different regions of Italy left the old world in search of a better life. As is the case with any immigrant group, they often took their culture, politics, and feuds with them.

In the long and storied history of Italian American migration to America, many peoples from different regions of Italy left the old world in search of a better life. As is the case with any immigrant group, they often took their culture, politics, and feuds with them. Since the inception of Italian migration to America there had always been a certain level of unease between the migrants and native born populations. Much of the earliest migration from Italy to the Bay Area, for example, (around the time of the Gold Rush) was done by Italian revolutionaries who sought to unite the entire Italian peninsula and were subsequently forced out by anti-revolutionary forces (Borelli). These animosities would be lessened by the fact that much of the ensuing Italian American migration to the area was merchants/skilled laborers from central and northern Italy who were viewed as the cultural descendants of Michaelangelo and da Vinci. Italians in the Bay Area were proud of their “colony” and its measurable success compared to other Italian American enclaves in other parts of the country. The San Francisco colony continued to take strides until the interwar period, between the first and second world wars.

As will be demonstrated, in those interwar years there was a very obvious “Americanization" that occurred within the Italian American-community. Italian American community leaders felt the need to standardize to a more American way of life. Ultimately, Italian Americans during the interwar period and WW2 underwent a period of rapid change that seemed to enforce conformity in a variety of sectors such as approaches to Italy regarding war/peace, politics, and culture.

The following will be demonstrated in the following 3 pages:

Ultimately, like many different groups throughout history, Italian Americans experienced a period of rapid change during the years between the end of first and second world wars. Events such as the Great Depression and rising world tensions had notable impacts on the community. Many Italian Americans felt the need to demonstrate their patriotism and commitment to being American citizens by supporting the war effort, adopting American cultural customs (such as educating their children to speak primarily English), and ensuring that others in their community were doing the same.

Note on diversity:

The following evaluates how the cultural norms and customs of Italian Americans changed in a manner that cannot be described as accidental. The reasons why the changes in cultural identity of Italian Americans occurred are presented and the particular ways that those changes came about is also mentioned. Additionally, readers should consider the ways in which the author’s positionality within society impacts the writing, analysis of sources, etc.

Credit: Davis Letsinger