Causes of Serbian immigration to the United States
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Abstract
The first emigration of Serbs from their countries and their immigration
to the Umted States started in the first half of the nineteenth century. At the
beginning they emigrated in very small numbers. However, their emigration
increased rapidly at the turn of the century. In the beginning of their immigration to the United States, the Serbs knew next to nothing about that country. However, in time, due to occasional articles published in a number of newspapers and magazines, their knowledge increased. Unfortunately, the economic possibilities in the New World were greatly exaggerated. Mass emigration of Serbs, as well as other South Slavs, took alarming proportions in the beginning of the twentieth century and forced their governments to intervene. What promted Serbs to leave their homes and go to the United States? The question is complex because, before 1918, the Serbs lived
under various conditions, in different states, and under different governments — Serbian, Montenegrin, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman. The governments of those countries did not invest much in the economic development and, therefore, living conditions for many were difficult, particularly for people in the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Such conditions and mistreatment of the Serbs were major causes for their immigration to the United States, the country of opportunities. For some, United States offered relatively good life and a great possibility to support their families in their native countiies. However, a large number of them were lost in the new society without job and moral support fiom their relatives. In order to relieve themselves psychologically, some of the Serbian emigrants expressed disappointment and sometimes hostility toward the country they once admiied and dreamed of, in letters to their relatives and friends. Various agents contributed a great deal to the immigration of Serbs to the United States and other countries, especially before World War I. In regard to their activities, they can be divided into the following groups: private agents, agents in the service of certain countries, travel agents, agents of steamships, and agents of American industrial companies. A large number of emigrants were swindled by agents. They lost their money without reaching their desired destination. The principal motto of
those agents was “the more emigrants, the more money” and they followed
it without the slightest concern for the future and the well-being of their
clients. The successful activities of agents and the immigration of the Serbs
was criticized sharply in Serbian newspapers, both in Serbia and the United
States. All efforts to prevent a mass immigration of Serbs to the United States
proved to be more or less fruitless. The extensive immigration continued up
to the outbreak of the First World War. After the war, it decreased considerably due mainly to the creation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the United States Quota Acts of 1921, 1924 and 1929. After World War II, Serbs continued to immigrate to the United States. However, at that time most came for political and just a few for purely economic reasons. In addition, the political emigrants’ families joined them. Only more recently did Serbs emigrate mainly to improve their economic and professional status.
to the Umted States started in the first half of the nineteenth century. At the
beginning they emigrated in very small numbers. However, their emigration
increased rapidly at the turn of the century. In the beginning of their immigration to the United States, the Serbs knew next to nothing about that country. However, in time, due to occasional articles published in a number of newspapers and magazines, their knowledge increased. Unfortunately, the economic possibilities in the New World were greatly exaggerated. Mass emigration of Serbs, as well as other South Slavs, took alarming proportions in the beginning of the twentieth century and forced their governments to intervene. What promted Serbs to leave their homes and go to the United States? The question is complex because, before 1918, the Serbs lived
under various conditions, in different states, and under different governments — Serbian, Montenegrin, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman. The governments of those countries did not invest much in the economic development and, therefore, living conditions for many were difficult, particularly for people in the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Such conditions and mistreatment of the Serbs were major causes for their immigration to the United States, the country of opportunities. For some, United States offered relatively good life and a great possibility to support their families in their native countiies. However, a large number of them were lost in the new society without job and moral support fiom their relatives. In order to relieve themselves psychologically, some of the Serbian emigrants expressed disappointment and sometimes hostility toward the country they once admiied and dreamed of, in letters to their relatives and friends. Various agents contributed a great deal to the immigration of Serbs to the United States and other countries, especially before World War I. In regard to their activities, they can be divided into the following groups: private agents, agents in the service of certain countries, travel agents, agents of steamships, and agents of American industrial companies. A large number of emigrants were swindled by agents. They lost their money without reaching their desired destination. The principal motto of
those agents was “the more emigrants, the more money” and they followed
it without the slightest concern for the future and the well-being of their
clients. The successful activities of agents and the immigration of the Serbs
was criticized sharply in Serbian newspapers, both in Serbia and the United
States. All efforts to prevent a mass immigration of Serbs to the United States
proved to be more or less fruitless. The extensive immigration continued up
to the outbreak of the First World War. After the war, it decreased considerably due mainly to the creation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the United States Quota Acts of 1921, 1924 and 1929. After World War II, Serbs continued to immigrate to the United States. However, at that time most came for political and just a few for purely economic reasons. In addition, the political emigrants’ families joined them. Only more recently did Serbs emigrate mainly to improve their economic and professional status.
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