Immigrants and Community

I. Chain Migration

A. Transient Migration--while the popular image of immigration to the United States--of "huddled masses yearning to be free"--has some basis in reality, migrants were much more mobile than we have generally given them credit for, and many made several stops before reaching the United States--and some of those immigrants were only in the country briefly before moving on elsewhere, including back to their home village or farm.

B. Development of Ethnic Identity--when in Europe or Asia, peasants and other migrants' prime identification was with their home village or region, rather than in an over-arching national identity.

1. Orange Riots (1870 and 1871)--Sometimes ethnic identity was obscured by other perceived differences, particularly for religious and even class differences.

a. The Orange Riots took place in New York City between rival Irish immigrant groups of Protestants from the province of Ulster (known colloquially as "Orange" for the fraternal marching group many belonged to affiliate with the Orange Order), and Roman Catholics. Catholic groups were determined to prevent the Orange Order groups from marching through their neighborhoods to celebrate the victory of William of Orange over King James II, which in the Catholic view meant the continued political domination of Ireland by England.