Concept map on ITALIAN EMIGRATION at the beginning of the 1900s. At the beginning of the twentieth century, millions of Italians emigrated, some to the United States (the southerners), some to Argentina and Brazil (the northerners). Driven by great hope for a better future, after a ship journey of about a month in terrible conditions, unfortunately, the welcome and treatment in the new lands was not as they expected: prejudice, hostility leading to racism against them.