What were some of the reasons for your family to immigrate to America?

what were/are some of the reasons for you or your family immigrating to America/UK
or any other place to which they settled?

To have a better life. To be able to own a parcel of land (coming from Ireland).
:)

yes, mine too, what I had hard time understanding was why they didnt want to
share history of poland till I learned more.

maybe there was things they didnt want to share, maybe things were so tough
they just wanted to forget. I cant talk to my grandparents, they all long passed
so I am only going on what I heard others say about their grandparents who came
from same general area.

That is why it is hard to hear someone say, you are not Polish, no, not by citizenship
only by blood. whats the difference if my grandparents came yesterday, 20 years ago
or 75 years ago? my blood is still All Polish, my father married my mother who was
All Polish. so each set was all polish. Not even everyone is Poland is 100% but only
by citizenship. And then I have seen some really mean posts who say come here
and we will take your American money, we think you Americans are stupid. this was
on a forum last night, but it was posted back in 2003. it was because those of us who
want to re-connect with our heritage and culture, and it makes me angry that
someone would say that, because it isnt me who has identity crisis, its those who
cant accept who have the identity crisis. they cannot identify with those who have
left and found a different life. some for the better and some not.

I see your point.

I suppose it is just "easier" to point fingers at Americans, because America is "larger than life". I still can't get over how much our culture is "everywhere". I don't always understand the fascination that other countries have with the US. Whether other people love us or hate us, just depends on what aspect of the country they are focusing on at the time. There is more good to this place than bad. No, we aren't perfect. No, our government isn't perfect. No, our society isn't perfect. But the US is better than a lot of other places, too.

We are a melting pot. I like that, because I believe that diversity lends strength and character to a country. And like you said, even Poland is a blend of other Slavic peoples.
My family tree is blended from various immigrants, and I am thankful that my ancestors made it to this country and worked hard to bulid it.

Don't worry if other people act like you aren't "authentic" Polish because you were born here. It is not anyone elses place to tell you what you are, because you already know what is truth in your heart, Patrycja. That is what matters most! :)

Amen Shopgirl!!!

better opportunities :)

You know what is funny? Nowdays Poles go in opposite direction. Back to Europe.

maybe you meant to say Poland is a blend of lechitic western slavs

more than 20 lechitic tribes were united by the Polanie tribe to form Poland

-Polanie- founders of the Piast dynasty (Poznan and Gniezno area)
-Goplanie- lake Gaplo in Kujaw area
-Lędzianie - Bug and upper San river area (from them comes word Lach-Pole)
-Wiślanie - around Krakow (Little Poland)
-Ślężanie -Wroclaw area
-Opolanie - lived by the Odra river - name of city Opole comes from them
-Gołęszyce- upper silesia
-Pomorzanie- baltic region (gdansk-szczecin), included kashubian
-Dziadoszani- lower silesia
-Trzebowianie-lower silesia (legnica area)
-Bobrzanie
-Golęszycy- upper silesia
-Mazowszanie

What period of history would this refer to?

I imagine that with the fluctuating borders of Poland (over a period of hundreds of years), a lot of people moved around in and out of the general region in response to invaders, economics, and numerous other factors.

Does anyone really know?

Poland began to form into a recognizable unitary and territorial entity around the middle of the tenth century under the Piast dynasty.



Poland has been a country for a ver a 1000 years

Amen is right :)

Shopgirl, you are alright!!

Thanks :)

Bring this back up to the top, cause I know there is others whos parents, grandparents immigrated, and I will add, also why did they immigrate to other
countries? was it during the war? prewar? better life? change of scenery?
avoid the drafts? russian rulers? to meet family?

whatever the reasons please share. its interesting to hear stories and also a learning
experience for everyone.

My parents got displaced after WWll. My grandfather served alongside the US pilots and was given the honor to come to the US. So it was a war thing.

I couldnt think of a better reason for someone to be allowed into the states.. this
was some of the reasons that a good portion of Polish immigrants were allowed
to stay and become automatic citizens if you fight in the military for the united states
back during WWI and WWII. but they deserved it.. risking ones life for their country
or another country.. gallant

my great grandfather served as an officer in the prussian cavalry. he became involved with the daughter of a prussian general. the affair was discovered, when the girl became pregnant. great grandfather wanted to marry the girl, but it was out of the question in her family to marry a polak. in fact, they made it clear that great grandfather's life was in danger. so he emigrated to the united states. years later, after founding a raising a family in the u.s., he returned to poland during world war i and served with distinction in the intelligence services. i like to think he went back and gave that prussian general what he deserved... in any event, this story means that there is a good possibility that somewhere in germany there is a bastard branch of our family line, which possibly nobody even knows about...