2. Why did Italians immigrate to America in the late 19th century?

After the American Civil War, which resulted in over a half million killed or wounded, immigrant workers were recruited from Italy and elsewhere to fill the labor shortage caused by the war. In the United States, most Italians began their new lives as manual laborers in eastern cities, mining camps and farms.

Geographic distribution: United States

People: Francis B. Spinola, Amadeo Giannini