Grande Guerra ed emigrazione: i dibattiti al Consiglio dell’emigrazione nel 1917

The First World War is a turning point for the history of Italian emigration. A significant period within the war, from this point of view, was represented in 1917. In that year, the United States approved the Literacy Test, which prevented access to illiterate immigrants; it had an irreparable impact on Italian emigration. The essay reconstructs the political and social debate that developed within the Emigration Council in 1917. Two contradictory political positions emerged in the debate. They well highlighted the new political climate that the war had created about emigration as well that emerged in 191