Mentor/s
Professor Jennifer McLaughlin
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Immigration has been a constant factor of historical growth in America’s history, forging newfound developments across a variety of fields. Whether it be fluxes of immigration affecting the nation as a whole or just within a single state, the impetus behind this research was to uncover how immigrant communities within the state of Connecticut were able to establish themselves within the state’s history. The research examines the work of local historians, museums, US Census data, naval records and genealogical records to uncover how a series of European immigrant groups partook in unique trends that significantly impacted the state’s development through history. This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of how these differing trends among distinct communities produced significant developments encapsulating how immigrant groups acted as substantial agents of change. Groups such as the Irish community spearheaded industrial shifts, the Portuguese immigrant community single-handed mastery of maritime trades and the Polish community’s unique contributions to urban expansion perfectly encapsulated how unique trends allowed such immigrant groups to distinguish themselves in their contributions to a state’s history. This thesis concludes that as these communities underwent unique changes their actions created a mutual relationship with the state they had resided in, contributing to a system of advancement, while simultaneously benefiting from the environment. These benefits range from political expansion among these communities to the augmentation of Connecticut’s capabilities as national power. This thesis highlights the intricate interplay between communities and state development showcasing the critical advancements driven forward by distinct trends.
College and Major available
History
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Best Writing
Connecting Continents: Historical Analysis of European Immigrants and their Impact on Connecticut’s Development
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Immigration has been a constant factor of historical growth in America’s history, forging newfound developments across a variety of fields. Whether it be fluxes of immigration affecting the nation as a whole or just within a single state, the impetus behind this research was to uncover how immigrant communities within the state of Connecticut were able to establish themselves within the state’s history. The research examines the work of local historians, museums, US Census data, naval records and genealogical records to uncover how a series of European immigrant groups partook in unique trends that significantly impacted the state’s development through history. This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of how these differing trends among distinct communities produced significant developments encapsulating how immigrant groups acted as substantial agents of change. Groups such as the Irish community spearheaded industrial shifts, the Portuguese immigrant community single-handed mastery of maritime trades and the Polish community’s unique contributions to urban expansion perfectly encapsulated how unique trends allowed such immigrant groups to distinguish themselves in their contributions to a state’s history. This thesis concludes that as these communities underwent unique changes their actions created a mutual relationship with the state they had resided in, contributing to a system of advancement, while simultaneously benefiting from the environment. These benefits range from political expansion among these communities to the augmentation of Connecticut’s capabilities as national power. This thesis highlights the intricate interplay between communities and state development showcasing the critical advancements driven forward by distinct trends.
Students' Information
Alexander Kasperuk: Bachelor's of Arts in History, member of Phi Alpha Theta's history honor's society and graduating in 2025.
Winner, Best Writing 2025 Award
Honorable Mention: Dean's Prize: College of Arts and Sciences 2025 Award