Sicily was primarily agrarian and experienced significant economic troubles in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The island’s economy was marked by poverty, high unemployment, and few possibilities for advancement. The collapse of conventional sectors, such as sulfur mining and agriculture, intensified the economic crisis. Furthermore, the unification of Italy in 1861—intended to produce a more affluent and united country—frequently left inhabitants of southern provinces like Sicily feeling forgotten and excluded. The unification process resulted in considerable political reforms, which did not always help the poorer southern provinces. The advent of the Mafia as a social and economic force caused additional instability and insecurity for many Sicilians. The combination of economic stagnation, social dissatisfaction, and political neglect created a strong drive for migration.

Between 1840 and 1920, nearly 1 million Sicilians, primarily men, left the island, migrating west. Fueled by economic misery, political instability, and the appeal of opportunity, almost 90% moved to the US; a mass exodus transformed Sicily and the communities that welcomed these immigrants to the US. The men left behind villages populated mostly by women, children, and older men, which altered the social hierarchy of Sicilian culture, giving women autonomy and power for the first time.