Migration to the United States soared in the late nineteenth century. Why did these people come to America? What were their experiences? How would the experience of an Italian coming to New York City in 1890 compare with that of another Italian immigrant to Argentina at the same time?

The history of immigration to the United States can be distinguished in four periods: the colonial era, the mid-nineteenth century, the first twenty years of the twentieth century and post 1965. Each era was distinguished by the others for the reasons that led people to emigrate and for the different races and ethnic groups involved in mass movements. The mid-nineteenth century was the protagonist of mass immigration from central and western European countries (Germany, Ireland), while the early twentieth century were characterized by the arrival of southern and eastern Europeans (Italy, Eastern countries). Since 1965, strong immigration has begun again in Asia (China, India) and Latin America (Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras).

From 1836 to 1914, over 30 million Europeans emigrated to the United States.

In the most cases, migrants arrive in the United States in search of greater economic stability and work. Others do it to escape from totalitarian regimes.

The Italian immigrants who arrived in Argentina differed from those who emigrated to the city of New York in that those who did to Argentina constituted a very large percentage of the population of that country, their descendants being the bulk of the population today (60% of Argentines are descendants of Italians).

On the other hand, those who came to New York City did so in smaller numbers, and formed a minority with respect to Irish and English immigrants and the Americans themselves, with which they suffered many cases of discrimination. Today, Italian-Americans constitute the 6% of American population.