{"id":3989,"date":"2024-06-26T17:57:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T21:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/?p=3989"},"modified":"2024-06-26T17:57:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T21:57:26","slug":"immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable","title":{"rendered":"Immigration to New York in the 1930s and 1940s: Was the city hospitable?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It&#8217;s no secret that New York City&#8217;s demographics have been shaped by a continual influx of immigrants over many centuries. Various conflicts erupted around the world, forcing people to abandon their homes in search of a better life. As a result, for many immigrants from all over the world, New York became a new home, where they found work, bought housing and started a family. The 1930s and 1940s were difficult times as well. It was a period of global upheaval, followed by an immense influx of immigrants from European countries. However, amidst the economic depression and global conflict, one may wonder if New York was actually hospitable to immigrants during World War II. Learn more at <a href=\"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/uk\/\">new-york-yes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0be0fd6b53b\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0be0fd6b53b\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable\/#Immigration_Act\" >Immigration Act<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable\/#What_was_the_attitude_toward_refugees_in_New_York_during_the_war_period_of_the_1930s_and_1940s\" >What was the attitude toward refugees in New York during the war period of the 1930s and 1940s?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable\/#Number_of_immigrants_who_came_to_New_York_during_World_War_II\" >Number of immigrants who came to New York during World War II<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable\/#What_were_the_living_conditions_like_for_immigrants_in_New_York\" >What were the living conditions like for immigrants in New York?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Immigration_Act\"><\/span>Immigration Act<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.new-york-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/ag-lbz9qafupau3icsli655mnxwlqtgae3sdw4tvlu9gmte0ea-nvtfpqdy_qikaseukewddiarfe9mcqomemcf0denmpa1ecsaykrii5uovdqcgg0iqmzfwsnwrzhhtizt8t9oiy384x97dpo8pamq.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Already in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, New York City was a highly populated city made up mostly of immigrants. As a result, in 1924, the United States Immigration Act was passed. First and foremost, it attempted to prevent the immigration of specific groups that parliamentarians at the time considered undesirable. In particular, the law imposed strict quotas based on citizenship. This had a reasonably successful result, reducing the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country. These quotas were based on the national origin of the United States population as determined by the 1890 Census. The policy was intended to benefit immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while severely limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Asia. This strategy resulted in the following distribution: the government prioritized immigrants from large populations, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland, while rigorously limiting immigration from smaller populations, such as Italy, Poland and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on this, we can conclude that this law was the first indication of hostility and discrimination. This law has been heavily criticized by both the public and politicians. In particular, it unfairly targeted immigrants based on their nationality and ethnicity. Furthermore, the adoption of this law effectively barred millions of people from fleeing poverty, persecution and political turmoil in their home countries, denying them the opportunity to seek a better life in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_the_attitude_toward_refugees_in_New_York_during_the_war_period_of_the_1930s_and_1940s\"><\/span>What was the attitude toward refugees in New York during the war period of the 1930s and 1940s?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.new-york-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/cyey3adadw-p6tujiobaqttg7statweisl7ihz9okrnrewizqnflpnisnq2wvtjeqyqkzjmtbvnqsss5b8tbkupb4lxgb0lhsh8d01qrcbntagqgm_k3zhelmuq45pmzhoo3tzeyrcynjkfvhglhnno.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the start of World War II, New York has been hit by a new wave of immigrants. These were Jews fleeing oppression, as well as those affected by military actions in their home country. Many of them were left with nothing; they had no money, housing or clothing, and some even lost their loved ones. Everyone chose to settle in New York since it was a multicultural and welcoming, city where all dreams come true. But was this actually the case?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New Yorkers, like citizens in other American cities, were dissatisfied with another wave of immigrants from European countries in the 1930s and 1940s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the late 1930s, the American Institute of Public Opinion Gallup polled the public on whether more Jewish exiles from Germany should be permitted to come to the United States to live. To this question, 72% of the people said &#8220;no&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But why was there such hostility against immigrants? First and foremost, throughout the war, New Yorkers believed that Germany and the Soviet Union could utilize immigrants as spies. That is why the city held such a negative attitude toward all newly arrived refugees. In addition, special caution flourished at the state level. Everyone who entered the country was extensively examined to ensure that the &#8220;relatives rule&#8221; was followed, and permits were denied to immigrants whose close relatives were still in Nazi territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Number_of_immigrants_who_came_to_New_York_during_World_War_II\"><\/span>Number of immigrants who came to New York during World War II<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.new-york-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/kogullomwpevlo8h1hi8eha184lmctmhoh3qdluf8duheptchivincnhdhwi5dnguisjftdkhmizudvvrmh2kww1q3fgiujy9pu5cggkau0k-22kupoqce_n_blgplxoh_bxmkcr_btfsd-b4h_lvfm.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During World War II, the total number of refugees that came to the United States was about 318 thousand. More than a third of the immigrants came from Germany, more than 50,000 from Italy and more than 35,000 refugees from Poland and other European countries that were under occupation between 1939 and 1945. This study was carried out by the New York City Affairs Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of those who arrived during World War II settled in New York. For example, only around 20,000 of the estimated 125,000 German-speaking Jewish immigrants from Germany and Austria remained in New York. They settled in the Washington Heights neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it should be recalled that not only were New Yorkers and the government unfriendly to immigrants, but so was the city itself, which was consumed by the aftermath of the Great Depression and the severe economic crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_were_the_living_conditions_like_for_immigrants_in_New_York\"><\/span>What were the living conditions like for immigrants in New York?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.new-york-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/jzun4u9yfknp2sda45glysumef_fy02vwrmp5ve4tvwdpiwrfuoyiqnyki-0plbn-lwuerifphhe0mxlkbxa9awipo5qwxfjk2w08kjw5vmsywbu-lm4zpvvmlsg8yqdjyv3eulvskrgi87nomuqxe4.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Immigrants faced difficulties in practically every aspect of their lives after arriving in America. This did not circumvent the living conditions. Of course, many were able to relocate their work from Europe. Furthermore, many Jewish and non-Jewish scientists found new places for discovery and research at New York universities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wealthy immigrants could afford to live on Manhattan&#8217;s Upper West Side and in the adjacent Queens neighborhood on the East Bank of the East River. Less affluent refugees, workers and peasants moved into Upper Manhattan&#8217;s Washington Heights, located between Inwood to the north and Harlem to the south. Choosing an area to reside in New York City has always been tied to socioeconomic status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Especially fortunate were those who had relatives or friends in New York. They could live with them for some time. As for those who lived in the city, they for the first time offered their assistance to various humanitarian organizations that provided temporary accommodations. Such institutions have always been overcrowded and cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, immigrants in New York encountered challenges practically everywhere. Many of the refugees, who were previously middle-class and held professional positions, began to work physically. Their qualifications were no longer useful. To assume a prominent position in New York, you had to obtain a new local qualification. Additionally, many women had gone to work for the first time in their lives, and some faced open anti-semitism when looking for employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should also be noted that learning English was one of the most pressing problems facing refugees in New York. Learning the local language usually offers more opportunities for employment, social life, societal standing and the ability to obtain new housing in a desirable area of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the <a href=\"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/uk\/eternal\/yak-pid-chas-drugoyi-svitovoyi-vijny-nimczi-zdijsnyly-provalnu-operacziyu-pastorius-u-nyu-jorku\">Second World War<\/a>, New York City received a large number of immigrants from Europe. For them, this time in the city was filled with significant problems and challenges. Despite the economic crisis, immigration restrictions and anti-immigrant attitude of the time, the city provided them hope for a better future. In a terrible wartime environment, far from their homeland, they attempted to start a new life in New York, create new communities and contribute to the development of the city and country, leaving their mark on history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.new-york-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/05\/cjeiihe2iuw_msab2hknqb5idvrnnpgac9pioutop81l1-vimlbnye-xcpu6re7pkmc936vqukmkx2pz8sv_ylnba0izuhnd_lo00ylyswaj97whxqf7yensolwjuyundvzfmoqxldb5kvrcv6j8avq.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s no secret that New York City&#8217;s demographics have been shaped by a continual influx of immigrants over many centuries. Various conflicts erupted around the world, forcing people to abandon their homes in search of a better life. As a result, for many immigrants from all over the world, New York became a new home, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":300,"featured_media":3816,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[498],"tags":[2218,981,2216,2213,2215,2219,2214,2217],"motype":[491],"moformat":[93],"moimportance":[101,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-3989","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-voenna-istoria","8":"tag-create-new-communities-and-contribute-to-the-development-of-the-city-and-country","9":"tag-during-the-second-world-war","10":"tag-far-from-their-homeland","11":"tag-immigration-to-new-york-in-the-1930s-and-1940s-was-the-city-hospitable","12":"tag-in-a-terrible-wartime-environment","13":"tag-leaving-their-mark-on-history","14":"tag-new-york-city-received-a-large-number-of-immigrants-from-europe","15":"tag-they-attempted-to-start-a-new-life-in-new-york","16":"motype-eternal","17":"moformat-longrid-korotka","18":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","19":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/300"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3989"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3990,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3989\/revisions\/3990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3989"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3989"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3989"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new-york-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}