Lithuanian Americans

Waves of Immigration

The differences between the first two waves of Lithuanian immigrants to the United States, however, are greater than simply having disparate reasons for emigrating. The first wave of immigrants were derived primarily from the peasant population and arrived before the U.S. immigration restrictions of 1924. The second wave, composed primarily of skilled and educated individuals, immigrated under the U.S. Displaced Persons Act of 1948, following World War II and Lithuania's incorporation into the Soviet Union. (World War I and the restrictive immigration laws of the 1920s had severely limited Lithuanian immigration between the two waves.) These two groups ultimately formed very different conceptions of themselves as Lithuanian Americans. They had different relationships with their homeland, had different socioeconomic backgrounds, and arrived during different eras in U.S. history. Studying the two distinct waves, therefore, is useful for understanding the factors that produce variations in the processes of ethnic identity and ethnic mobilization.

The first wave of Lithuanian immigration to the United States, beginning in the 1880s, was a response to the abolition of serfdom; compulsory military service introduced by the Russian czar in 1874; religious, political, and national oppression by Russia; and famine in Lithuania. Many Lithuanians, of course, believed that the “American dream” of wealth and a better life was awaiting them in the United States. The movement to the United States grew through the 1880s and peaked during the late 1890s and early 1900s. Information about Lithuanian immigration before 1899 is not available because incoming Lithuanians were not registered as Lithuanians but instead were counted as Poles, Russians, or Germans. The 16-year period following the start of registration of Lithuanians by the U.S. Immigration Service shows a constant stream of Lithuanian immigration to the United States. In all, approximately a quarter-million Lithuanians immigrated to the United States. The peak years within that time frame were 1907, 1910, 1913, and 1914. The majority of the immigrants settled in urban industrial centers, especially in Chicago and in northeastern states such as New York and Pennsylvania.

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