Why The Greeks Came To America

Greeks emigrated from Greece in larger numbers starting in the 1890’s. Over the next several decades about 400,000 people came to America (Iliou, 2007). As with many other immigrants groups of the time, the Greeks came from poor areas in search of a better life. Many of the early immigrants were peasants working small farms, barely scraping out a living. After the grape blight near the end of the 19th century, many made the choice to immigrate to America for economic opportunities. Unlike other immigrant groups, the Greeks did not flee their countries because of political or economic oppression. They were poorer but were not serfs, many owed their small plot of land. They came to America to improve their lives. Greeks arriving in America often had a name of a fellow Greek to

Other jobs were that of street peddlers or shoe shine boys. The Greeks took any job they could find – and worked in a wide range of occupations and spread out to wherever the jobs were (Iliou, 2007). They worked in textiles, industry, manufacturing, as shopkeepers. They adapted very well to American life because they were willing to work hard and go where the jobs were. From New York, which was the first stop, the Greeks expanded to Chicago, which became a large area for Greek immigrants. In Chicago many received help from the Hull-House (a settlement house) which was owned by a philanthropist and social reformer, Jane Adams. The Hull-House helped the Greeks, and other immigrants, assimilate. It helped with school, helped teach English, helped with jobs and was a social center. From Illinois, the Greeks spread westward. They worked as miners and on the railroads. They worked in factories and shops. They were very hard workers and had a philosophy to work to better themselves. When they made enough money, many of them opened shops and restaurants of their