Hungarian Immigration to Cleveland, Ohio: a Microcosm of the U.S. Immigration Experience

Many immigrants have come to America fleeing political persecution or seeking civil rights not found in their own native countries or political systems.

In 1956, many Hungarians fled the country and came to the U.S. because of the Soviet take over of Hungary and the futher establishement of Hungary as a satellite nation of the U.S.S.R.  Some estimate that between 6,000 and 9,000 of these "revolution immigrants" or "56ers" wound up in Cleveland.  Many Hungarians and Hungarian-Americans were against communism and the political takeover of Hungary, so they easily welcomed and supported these new immigrants in the Buckeye Road area and in the Hungarian community in general.

(1)  Examine the first picture.  Why would people protest a revolution that was taking place in thier old country, thousands of miles away? 

(2)  Examine the second picture.  It takes place 20 years after the first.  Why do you think this issue (Hungarian freedom) was still so important and relevant for these people (so many years after the revolution and so many miles away from where they live now)?

(3)  Examine the third picture.  These are men who call themselves "Hungarian freedom fighters."  What do you think they were trying to organize and do for Hungary?  In what ways could they help their cause?  How could they actually "fight"?

(4)  What other countries had organizations in America to help fight a particular cause "back home"?