In an appealing manner, Polish Immigrants describes early immigration, the terrible conditions in Poland, the effect of inducements from America, and the changing conditions in the United States and their effect on Polish Americans. The many problems new arrivals faced are explored and the group's history is then traced. Concluding with a look at Polish Americans in the present day, this book covers recent immigration numbers, census data on Americans with Polish ethnic background, Polish-American communities in U.S. cities today, present-day ties between Polish Americans and Poland, and attempts by Polish Americans to promote cultural heritage.
History covered includes:
Poland and Polish immigrants during World War II
Polish refugees' attempts to assimilate into American culture
The evolution of a Polish-American consciousness
Economic factors in Poland that drew people to America after martial law was declared there in the early 1980s
The low value of Polish currency, problems for illegal immigrants, and the formation of mutual aid societies and charitable organizations in the United States.
Polish cultural contributions to U.S. society.

Excerpted from Polish Immigrants by Scott Ingram, Robert Asher
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Chapter Excerpt