Rocco Corresca's Migration To America

Rocco Corresca, a late 19th century Italian immigrant, moved to the United States after hearing promises that America bred opportunity and, “everybody was rich and that Italians went there and made plenty of money, so they could return to Italy and live in pleasure ever after”(immig. test.) Corresca’s ambition drove the decision to emigrate to America. This ambition for a better life appeared in Corresca’s description of the “house” owned by Corresca’s grandfather. “it was a dark cellar that he lived in and I did not like it at all. Very rich people were on the first floor. They had carriages and servants and music and plenty of good things to eat, but we were down below in the cellar and had nothing.”(immig. test.) Corresca mentioned how …show more content…
Thus, Corresca decided to migrate to the United States in order to make money and create a better opportunity in life. Rocco Corresca’s tale of a journey to America in order to escape poverty in a native country or to find better opportunities became common amongst many immigrants pouring into the country at the time. It can be argued that the increased industrialization and influx of immigrants caused the American Dream to become unreachable by native-born Americans after being displaced in lower-tier jobs. This age of flourishing urban centers and mechanization resulted in a loss of skill, economic control, and freedom. Despite this, over the course of the 19th century, the American Dream became more accessible as the Market and Transportation Revolutions restructured the American economy, and the Industrial Revolution gave lower-class, landless citizens and immigrants new opportunities. Along with the transfiguration of American currency, and the growth of lower-class and immigrant ambition, the American Dream became more easily obtainable by many. The Market and Transportation Revolutions each had significant impacts on the American economy. The Transportation