Iseljavanje iz Banske Hrvatske u Sjevernu Ameriku do Prvoga svjetskog rata: Nacrt problematike

master's thesis

• Title (english): Emigration from Civil Croatia to North America until the First World War: A Sketch of issues
• Author: Ivan Blažinović
• Mentor: Damir Agičić (mentor)
• Committee member: Nikola Anušić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Tvrtko Jakovina (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of History); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-05-24, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; History; Croatian and World Modern and Contemporary History

Abstract

Druga polovica devetnaestoga stoljeća bila je pozornica najveće masovne migracije Europljana još od srednjeg vijeka. Prvi val, iniciran ponajviše ekspanzijom Sjedinjenih Američkih Država na zapad kontinenta i (ne)slavnom kalifornijskom zlatnom groznicom, donio je na obale Sjeverne Amerike milijune migranata iz zapadne i sjeverne Europe. Približavanjem kraju stoljeća, val masovne migracije, seli se istočno – prema istočnoj i jugoistočnoj Europi. Kao dio najveće i najsnažnije regionalne države,... More Austro-Ugarske Monarhije, Banska Hrvatska je postala nekom vrstom žarišta za emigraciju u SAD. Pod pritiskom demografske tranzicije, nesigurne političke klime, i najvažnije, izrazito loše ekonomske situacije uzrokovane općenitim izostankom industrijalizacije i modernizacije – mnogi su stanovnici Hrvatske i Slavonije pobjegli preplovivši ocean. S ili bez umiješanosti posrednika pri iseljavanju, ukrcali su se na gigantske parobrode, najčešće putujući u trećoj klasi lociranoj ispod palube. Po konačnom dolasku u Sjevernu Ameriku, bili su ispitani i pregledani na otoku Ellis. Neki su migranti vraćeni u Europu, no većina je ušla u SAD gdje se suočila s novim izazovima. Nakon dana i tjedana provedenih u nesanitarnim uvjetima na brodovima, mnogi su hrvatski imigranti u SAD-u nastavili živjeti u sličnim uvjetima te raditi najopasnije i najslabije plaćene poslove. Neki su na radu i poginuli, a neki su se, poraženi svojom američkom sudbinom, vratili u domovinu. Ipak, većina je ostala i na ovaj ili onaj način – prosperirala. Većina emigranata iz Hrvatske i Slavonije u SAD-u je bila privremeno, s ciljem brze zarade radi moderniziranja i proširivanja svojih seoskih imanja po povratku u rodni kraj. Takvi su po povratku u svoja sela bili slavljeni kao heroji. Oni koji su odlučili ostati u Americi, nastavili su raditi i s vremenom se počeli udruživati u fraternalističke saveze i organizacije, poput Hrvatske bratske zajednice. Zadržali su transatlantske veze sa svojim prijateljima i obiteljima te njegovali različite aspekte hrvatske kulture i tradicije. Uz to, čak su i oni koji su ostali u SAD-u, postali izvor potrebne financijske pomoći domovini – pritok emigrantskog kapitala značajno je pomogao u oporavku domaće ekonomije i pojedinih mjesta i gradova. Unatoč naporima Austro-Ugarske i SAD-a da se transatlantske migracije reguliraju, “branu” migracija je zatvorio tek Prvi svjetski rat. Danas, iako je većina američkih Hrvata u potpunosti asimilirana, neki oblik transatlantske povezanosti, i prije svega zajedničke povijesti – i dalje postoji. Less

Abstract (english)

The second half of the nineteenth century saw the greatest mass migration of European population since the middle ages. The first wave, initiated mostly by the US' western expansion and the (in)famous Californian gold rush, brought millions of migrants from western and northern Europe to America's doorstep. Nearing the end of the century, the mass migration wave moved eastward – towards eastern and southeastern Europe. As a part of the region's biggest and most powerful state,... More Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia became somewhat of a hotspot for emigration to the United States. Pressured by its demographic transition, unsure political climate, and, most of all, a dire economic situation due to the general absence of industrialization and modernization – many Croatian and Slavonian citizens fled across the Atlantic. With or without the involvement of travel or emigration agents and agencies, they boarded gigantic ocean liners and traveled predominantly in third class, located below deck. Upon finally reaching North America, they were questioned and examined at Ellis Island. Some immigrants were sent back to Europe, but most entered the USA where they faced new challenges. After days and weeks of traveling in unsanitary conditions, now they often lived in unsanitary conditions, did the worst and lowest paying jobs, and often stayed in sub-par accommodation. Some died working in dangerous conditions, and some returned to their homeland, defeated by their American fate. Yet, most stayed, and in one way or another – prospered. Most emigrants from Croatia and Slavonia were temporary migrants who moved to America in search of relatively swift profit, for the purposes of modernizing or expanding their rural estates. Those migrants returned to their villages, where they were often hailed as heroes. Those who decided to stay in America worked, survived, and eventually started organizing into fraternal unions and other organizations, such as the Croatian fraternal Union. They maintained transatlantic connections with their friends and families and nourished multiple aspects of Croatian culture and tradition. Additionally, even those who stayed in America became a source of highly necessary financial support to their native land, in form of emigrant funds which considerably boosted the home economy. Despite the efforts to regulate transatlantic migration from both Austria-Hungary and the USA, the sole event that had the power of finally „closing the floodgates“ was the First World War with the restrictions it posed. Today, even though many of Croatia's emigrants were completely assimilated, a transatlantic bond exists, in different forms and from various sources. Less

• Keywords: Emigracija; migracije; Banska Hrvatska; SAD; Amerika
• Keywords (english): Emigration; migrations; Civil Croatia; Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia; USA; America
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:783431
• Study programme: Title: History (single major); specializations in: Research, Teaching; Course: Teaching; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije povijesti (magistar/magistra edukacije povijesti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-05-27 12:49:44