Italians in Colonial America and the Founding of the United States

Many Italians came to the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s, but they were not the first Italian immigrants to America. Those who came in the colonial period, while not large in numbers, played an important role in the development of what became a new nation. The Declaration of Independence contains the most powerful and revolutionary proposition in American political history that, “all men are created equal.” However, before the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress, a version was submitted for review to an Italian immigrant, whose earlier writings in the Virginia Gazette were paraphrased in Jefferson’s draft. Who was this man? Who were his compatriots? Who immigrated to the North American colonies? What was their role in the development of the colonies and their pursuit of freedom? Thomas Frascella will answer these questions and more about Italians who came to America between 1600 and 1793 and their role in forming the United States.