Though the majority arrived in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Italians have been arriving to "The New World" as early as Christopher Columbus. Their reasons for doing so have varied. Population density, politics, social unrest and economy in their native land motivated them throughout the years to migrate the United States. Upon arrival, they soon learned that the "American Dream" was not wholly indicative of the types of struggle and adversity they would encounter. As they encountered this adversity and struggle, Italian immigrants have made their culture a major component of American life.

During the years between 1880 and 1920, four million Italians migrated to America. Undoubtedly, this was a result of the intolerable situation in Italy. Warring provinces, natural disaster, and political issues plagued the Mediterranean Peninsula. At one time the Italian Government imposed 22 different taxes upon landholders. This situation was worse for those in Messogiorno, the...