They left Italy because of oppression (both political and economic), poverty, disease, and natural disasters. Unfortunately, the Italians did not receive a warm welcome in America. In the North End and elsewhere, they "encountered privation, crushing labor, and outright racism..." (Zwingle, 51).
In the 1860s, Genoans were the first Italians to move into the North End, settling into a three block long area off Fulton Street. As mentioned earlier, these early immigrants were followed by other Italian groups, each of whom settled into their own enclave within the North End. This created even greater cultural diversity as Italians from the North and South of the home country mingled with a new influx of Sicilians (Bruner and Sayre, 641). Thus, it is incorrect to speak of "the" Italian community in this area of Boston; what has emerged over time is a rich and multifaceted polity that ahs taken an important role in the development of the region.
Among the many changes taking place in the area in the late 19th century centered upon the transformation of many established churches into Roman Catholic Churches - churches that were once Protestant enclaves and even synagogues serving the Jewish community served as community center. Also instrumental in advancing the community during this time period was the Settlement House Movement, which brought social work and educational programs and agencies into the area ("A Historical Overview..." 2). Several generations of immigrants, largely from Italy, learned English and trades in these agencies. A North Bennett Street Industrial School was located in the area in 1881 under the sponsorship of Pauline Agassiz Shaw to teach Italian and Jewish immigrants skills needed for employment; eight years later, the Hebrew Industrial School was also placed in the area ("A Historical Overview...,) 2).
Stephen Puleo (104 - 107) commented that as the Italian immigrants gained fluency in Englis...