Greek Immigration to the
United States
By Maura McCarthy and Ali Hassan
Typical Reasons for Immigration
(and why the Greeks did not have these problems)
Political – Many immigrants leave their homelands for political reasons, however, Greece
is a very democratic country. There is no true political oppression and no harsh
military requirements.
Religious – Another typical reason to leave one’s native land is for religious persecution.
In Greece, 98% of the population is Greek Orthodox. Muslims account for 1.3% and
they do not suffer from any religious persecution.
Social – The Greek society does have obvious social classes but they are mainly defined
by wealth.
Why Greeks immigrated
during
“The Great Wave”
(Economic Problems)
1. Greece is a primarily agricultural
economy and secondarily
mercantile.
a. Agricultural methods
were primitive
b. The land was
inadequately cultivated
c. The natural landscape is
very rocky and difficult to
work with.
d. Economy was
completely dependent on
one type of crop (currant).
Economic Problems Continued
2. Most Greeks lived in small
towns
a. These towns, for the
most part, were very
independent.
b. The majority of
families raised their own
food/living materials
c. Each man’s products
were identical to his
neighbors. Thus, internal
commerce was non
existent.
Economic Problems Continued
Above: A boat off of the
island of Crete.
Right: A current Greek
Highway.
3. Transportation facilities were inadequate
a. Too much effort was required to transport items for a profit to be gained
b. External trade was limited.
When They Came to the US
1. The Great Wave
a. More than 500,000 Greeks, mostly men
b. 1890-1924
c. Great Wave ended with congressional legislation
2. Closed Door period
a. 30,000 Greeks, mostly brides of previously settled Greeks
b. 1925-1945
3. Postwar Migration
a. 75,000 Greeks. Most attend college/universities after legislation provided for
immigrants under displaced persons acts
b. 1946-1965
4. The New Wave
a. 160,000 Greeks
b. Easier entrance if relative already settled in America.
5. Current Phase
a. Declining immigration
b. 1980’s – approx. 2500 Greeks annually
c. 1990’s – approx. 1,500 Greeks annually
d. 2000 Census – 1,175,591 reported Greek ancestry
Settling Patterns
•
•
1860-1890
-Majority CA, AR, NY, MA
-Industrial Cities- NE, Midwest
1920s Settling Patterns
-Largest of 20th Century- NY
-Midwest-Detroit, Milwaukee,
Cleveland
-South- TX, Tarpon Springs, FL
-Pacific Coast- Salt Lake City, San
Francisco, CO, WY, ID, NV
•
Statistics: Greek 1st Generation
Population Living in the US (Lerner
117)
1870- 390
1880- 776
1890- 1,887
1900- 8,515
1910- 101,282
1920- 175,976
1930- 174,526
1950- 169,335
1960- 159,169
The Workplace
• Occupations of 1st-
generation immigrants:
– Factory laborers, peddlers,
busboys, bootblacks (Vecoli
588)
– Padrone Systemexploitative (Saloutos 52)
•Savvy businessmen- development of
professional class (1940s)
- doctors, lawyers, dentists, etc.
(Saloutos 46)
-upwardly mobile
-entrepreneurial abilities
-shoeshine business
(Saloutos 48-49)
-candy manufacturing
business (Vecoli 588)
Religious Traditions
“Hellenism and Greek Orthodoxythe one intertwined with the
other-served as the cord that
kept the immigrant attached to
the mother country, nourished
his patriotic appetites and
helped him preserve the faith
and language of his parents”
(Vecoli 586).
-Early churches grew out of
“kinotitos” (communities)
(Vecoli 586)
-1864- 1st Church- New Orleans
(Vecoli 586)
-By 1930- approximately 200
churches (Moskos 337)
The Family
• Ideal Family = patriarchal
-man- husband, father,
center, authority figure,
-woman- wife, mother,
preserver of culture (Vecoli
584)
• Philotomo- “love of honor”
-obligation to
family/community (584)
• Parents sacrifice great deal for
children, strict discipline code
(Moskos 339)
• Common for parents to live w/
children, once parents elderly
(Vecoli 584)
Continuation of Culture
Extremely Important
• Organizations for Cultural
Preservation- (Voceli 593)
-AHEPA (1922)
-GOLPS (1931)
• Greek Newspapers
-1st- 1892- Boston
-since then, more than 100
have appeared
-New York daily-conservative- Atlantis
(1894-1971)
-liberal- National Herald
(1915-present) (Moskos
341)
Americanization
American born generation
begins to replace
immigrants:
~ English introduced into
liturgy in 1960’s
~ Women’s role in church
increases
~ Increasing incorporation of
non-Greeks through
marriage
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in front of the
World Trace Center Towers
Changing Traditions
~Used to hold wakes in home of
deceased and have a meal
following the funeral at the
home. Now, the wake is held in
a funeral home and meal is at a
restaurant.
~Used to celebrate the name
day of a child’s saint. Now they
typically celebrate birthdays
Greeks Today
~ Greeks initially made up
the proletarian class right
after the Great Wave.
~ In the 1920’s they began
to open shops, own small
businesses
~ Since 1960’s, Greeks
have been an upwardly
moving ethnic group. Their
education has surpassed
the levels of Americans of
N. European decent. Greeks
have also been very visible
in Politics – Michael
Dukakis, Paul Sarbanes,
Olympia Snow.)
Senator Paul Sarbanes from
Maryland (YEAHHHH MARYLAND)
Famous Greeks
Michael Dukakis
Harry Agganis
Science and Technology-George
Papnicolaou
Literature- Mary Vardoulakis
Journalism- Constantine
Phasoularides
Music- Dimitri Mitropoulos
Education- Michael Anagnos
Sports- Jimmy Londos (wrestling),
Harry Agganis (baseball)
Politics- Michael Dukakis, Paul
Tsongas
(Vecoli 591),(Moskos 337)
Where are they now?
Most Greeks live in the
following cities:
New York City- 250,000
Chicago – 120,000
Boston – 100,000
Los Angeles – 45,000
Detroit – 40,000
Philadelphia – 25,000
Baltimore – 20,000
Cleveland – 20,000
Pittsburg – 20,000
Today, Greeks continue to establish
themselves as an influential ethnic group in
the worlds of politics, arts, and humanities.
At the same time, they have been able to
uphold their cultural values.