Jackie BerchteinPeriod 23-10-14Russian Immigration Russian immigration was an event that occurred in three waves over the last three centuries. The first wave occurred just after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and continued into the 1930s. The second wave occurred after World War II and continued into the 1950s. The third wave began in the 1970s and continues today as America continues to welcome immigrants. The first Russian immigrants to America were actual traders trying to escape their communist country. Most Russian immigrants who have arrived since the 1960s and 1970s have settled in and around New York. Brighton Beach, in Brooklyn, New York, is one of the few remaining Russian neighborhoods in America. In 2008, there were more than 700,000 Russian speakers in the tri-state New York metropolitan area. They had all immigrated to Alaska first, and soon Alaska became full of explorers looking for fur and gold, of course. Many Orthodox Russians were running to try to escape government oppression in Russia, which did not allow them to practice their religion. Russian immigrants faced an extremely difficult journey to America, finding themselves in situations where they had to wait months, sometimes years, to get their papers to go to America. Russia's violence towards its people led the Russians to flee and settle in America. Due to Russian immigration, Russian immigrants experienced economic and cultural changes, but also contributed greatly to American society, particularly through their culture. Arriving in a new country speaking no English and having no money can be the worst feeling ever. Russian immigrants hoped to come to America for an economic change in which they could have a good movement in America. At first, it was very difficult for them to convince other Jewish immigrants to join the group because they had not had the same experiences as them. Although Russian immigrants tried to integrate as Americans, they also contributed much to America. In conclusion, Russian immigrants benefited culturally and socially from their move to America. They gained many jobs and the opportunity to adopt a new lifestyle, free from communism. Although they adapted many things from America, they gave America the chance to benefit economically from their arrival by creating more jobs. Russians dreamed of life in America in the hopes of one day being free from communism and having the right to their own religion and being able to practice it anywhere and at any time. Russian immigrants came to America with nothing and many became wealthy and business owners.’.