MASARYK UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Antonín Čermák and Czechs in Chicago

Final Thesis

Brno 2016

Supervisor: Author: Mgr. Zdeněk Janík, M.A., Ph.D. Mgr. Martina Zálešáková

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Declaration I hereby declare that I have worked on this thesis on my own and that I used only the sources mentioned in the bibliography. I agree with storing of this work in the library of the Faculty of Education at the Masaryk University Brno and making it accessible for study purposes.

…………………………………………… Mgr. Martina Zálešáková

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Acknowledgment

I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to my supervisor Mgr. Zdeněk Janík, M.A., Ph.D. for his valuable advice, tolerant approach, kindness and patience he provided to me during my work.

3 Abstract

The diploma thesis attempts to outline the Czech immigration to the United States especially to one of its biggest American cities, Chicago. The thesis also deals with explanation of related terminology such as assimilation and acculturation. On an example of a Czech American immigrant, Antonín Čermák, is throughout the work demonstrated the process of assimilation and acculturation. On his personality is clearly visible fluent adaption to the new American culture while also retaining his affection for the native culture. The thesis further highlights the effort of many Czech Americans to preserve their heritage such as the Czech language and Czech national traditions holding considerable number of activities throughout the year.

Key words

Immigration, immigrant, Czech Americans, assimilation, acculturation, Americanization, heritage, melting pot, salad bowl, push factors, pull factors.

4 CONTENT

INTRODUCTION...... 6 1. IMMIGRATION...... 8 1.1 Push and pull factors and means ...... 8 1.2 From Melting Pot to Salad Bowl ...... 10 1.3 History of immigration to the USA and Chicago ...... 11 1.4 The Czech immigration to the USA ...... 12 1.5 Waves of immigration ...... 14 1.6 Antonín Čermák´s immigration to the USA ...... 15 2. ASSIMILATION ...... 16 2.1 Acculturation and Americanization ...... 17 2.2 Assimilation and acculturation ...... 19 2.3 Preservation of the Czech language and Czech customs...... 20 2.4 Czech cultural traces in Chicago ...... 22 3. ANTONÍN ČERMÁK ...... 26 3.1 Čermák and his political career...... 26 3.2 The mayor of Chicago (1931-1933) ...... 27 3.3 Čermák versus Al Capone ...... 28 3.4 Čermák´s assassination and his funeral ...... 28 3.5 Perceptions of Antonín Čermák by media...... 29 3.6 Perceptions of Antonín Čermák by a historian ...... 30 3.7 Antonín Čermák´s assimilation to the USA...... 32

CONCLUSION...... 33

BIBLIOGRAPHY...... 36

ELECTRONIC SOURCES...... 37

APPENDIX ...... 40

5 INTRODUCTION

The term migration and immigration has been one the most frequent topics of recent days and last few years. Hardly anyone would not notice what has been happening in Europe these days, the situation or state, which has been often called the European immigration crisis. Current situation in Europe can serve as clear evidence that migration, that is the movement of people from place to place, has been sort of natural need of human beings. What has been happening nowadays is not something unusual or extraordinary. In fact going back to history such examples were also visible in other parts of the world. The North American continent can serve as a great example as it was facing several immigration waves in the past. Even these days many people from various parts of the world long for moving and living in its northern parts, such as in the United States or Canada. This final thesis focuses on Czech immigration to the United States particularly to Chicago area. The immigration with the following process of assimilation and acculturation is throughout the work demonstrated on an example of Antonin Čermák, a Czech immigrant, who for his greatest achievement, the position of a Mayor of Chicago, could be certainly labelled as one of the most successful Czechs outside the Czech Republic. The thesis has been divided into three subsequent parts. In the first part the thesis explains the term immigration and states the main reasons for people leaving the Czech lands for the United States. The difficulty which Czech and all the other immigrants had to face as well as the many obstacles they had to overcome in an effort to adapt to the American culture will be covered in this section as well. As regards the immigrants in America, the explanation of the melting pot reference followed by a salad bowl or mosaic metaphor is also part of this section. A brief history of immigration to the United States is not omitted as it focuses mainly on Chicago area. Chicago, the largest city of the state Illinois, is then introduced in connection with the Czech minority living there in the past and now.

6 The next part concentrates on the process of assimilation and its different perception by several experts on the topic. In this section is also further explained other related terminology such as acculturation and Americanization. One of the subchapter bearing the name Preservation of Czech language and Czech customs along with the following one Czech cultural traces in Chicago aim to show the persistent interest of many Czech Americans in Czech culture and their native language. Various cultural events being organized by Czech-American countrymen will not be omitted as they are observed in order to preserve and remind roots of the homeland. The last chapter of the thesis deals with the personality of Antonín Čermák, his political career and relationship with Al Capone, how he adopted to the process of assimilation, to which category of immigrants he belonged and the perceptions of his personality by media and a historian. A part of this thesis is a summary table illustrating perception of Antonín Čermák by various media sources which is attached to this thesis in the Appendix.

7 1 IMMIGRATION

The topic of this work, as the title of the thesis says, is very closely connected with the term immigration. The main character Antonín Čermák, born in the Czech Republic came into America along with his parents at his very early age. Due to the fact that he was born outside the USA, he is considered an immigrant even though he spent almost all of his childhood and the rest of his life in the USA. Immigration is related to the term migration – the movement of people from one country to another. (Senker 2008:6) This term describes the movement of people from their own country to settle permanently in another. These people are immigrants to their new country, and emigrants in their native country. Senker defines two groups of immigrants: - Legal immigrants have permission to settle in their new country - Illegal immigrants (also called undocumented migrants) live in the new country illegally, according to immigration law (ibid., p. 6)

1.1 Push and pull factors and means

There are many reasons why people migrate. Some migration experts talk about “push and pull” factors. Push factors are those that make people leave their country. Perhaps they have little chance of making a good living. Their country may be affected by natural disasters, such as famine or floods, or by problems such as conflict, civil war, or political persecution. The decision to migrate is difficult and painful. It means leaving behind family and friends and travelling to an often-unknown destination. It is also expensive, so the decision is not taken lightly. (Senker 2008:7) Relatively few people leave their countries even if they are in a desperate situation – the poorest people are seldom the ones to move because they cannot afford to travel. (ibid., p7) Pull factors are those attracting, or literally pulling migrants to a new country. People may hope for a better standard of living and improved healthcare and education services, or they may want to live in a country with more freedoms – to escape from persecution and danger. They may desire a better life for their children. A huge wealth

8 gap between More Developed Countries and Less Developed Countries is one of the basic reasons for migration. For example, most immigrants to the U. S. and Canada come from poor countries and are seeking an improved standard of living. But there are just as many people moving between Less Developed Countries as there are moving to More Developed Countries. (ibid., p.7)

Except for push and pull factors Daniels defines means as one of the major factors in migration. (Daniels 2002:17) According to him push factors are the forces existing in the place of origin that encourage persons to emigrate. These forces may be catastrophic, political, and economic. Pull factors represent those attractive forces drawing migrants’ attention. Noneconomic attractive forces include promises of political or religious freedom or climate or military service freedom. Daniels defines means in the meaning of the ability to migrate. This includes the availability of affordable transportation, the lack of restrains on mobility in the place of origin and the absence of effective barriers at the destination. (ibid., p.17)

“The mutual dependence of the push and pull factors is seen in the fact that even the strongest push will fail to disengage an individual from his place of origin unless he can identify an alternative accessible location in which the relevant negative factor is absent, markedly weaker, or avoidable.” (Suárez-Orozco et all:48) Therefore, there is a certain symmetrical relationship between factors that motivate people to leave a permanent residence and those that attract them to another specific locus (e.g., unemployment versus job opportunities, religious persecution versus religious freedom, marginal status versus full social acceptance). From this viewpoint, push and pull factors are frequently opposite sides of the same coin. (ibid., p. 48)

A lack of symmetry occurs when the destination appears to the potential migrant to be characterized by special, highly salient attractive qualities, so that even if certain of the negative qualities of his place of origin persist at the destination, these attractive qualities may play a powerful role in decision making. (ibid., p.48) There are a variety of approaches with regard to the conceptual definition of integration in a new social system. Terms such as socialization, resocialization,

9 acculturation, accommodation, and normative behaviour have been widely used. (Price, 1969 in Suárez-Orozzo:50)

1.2 From Melting Pot to Salad Bowl

America has traditionally been referred to as “melting pot” deserving such designation by its attitude towards more or less never-ending influx of immigrants. People of many different countries, races and religious coming in hope to find freedom, new opportunities, and a better way of life were welcomed and given a chance to stay and live their life. Roger Daniels in his book Coming to America talks about the major immigration myths that most Americans believe. One of them is the myth of Melting Pot which is actually based on the phrase of Israel Zangwill, a Jewish writer (1849-1813). In his play The Melting Pot (1908) he compared America to a melting pot. “America was a melting pot in which nationalities and ethnic groups (but not races as we understand the term) would fuse into one.” (Daniels 2002:17) Despite Zangwill´s invention of the term, similar idea had been around for more than a century. A Frenchman Hector St. John le Crevecoeur (1735-1813), who came from France to spend a few years in America, marvelled at the astonishing diversity of settlers. He had written romantically of the American as of the “new man” being “melted into a new race of man”. (ibid) According to Daniels the myth of Melting Pot contains part of the truth whereas some historians argue about the melting pot myth claiming that it simply did not happen. According to Glazer and Moynihan it does not correspond to the actual American experience. (ibid) The truth is that the process of turning the newcomers into Americans never really happened. The United States seem to preserve more or less features of a “salad bowl” or a “mosaic”. Those are the popular metaphors denoting the group of people of similar national and ethnic background sticking together in order to keep their old customs and their old identities alive. Such examples are visible in most of the cities

10 throughout the United States where areas such as “Chinastown”, “Greektown” or “Little Italys” can be found. Joyce Millet, an American cultural historian, highlights the new trend of these days leading toward multiculturalism not assimilation (the term will be explained later in chapter 2). Millet in her article states the transition from the old metaphor “melting pot” to new metaphors referred to as “salad bowl” and “mosaic” and further explains that American immigrants are not being blended together in one pot, but rather they are transforming American Society into a truly multicultural mosaic. (Millet, 2010)

1.3 History of immigration to the USA and Chicago

The history of Czech immigration to the United States of America reflects in a certain way the situation of Czechs in their homeland. The most important waves of immigration were always connected with particular religious, political or economic problems in the Czech lands (Sakson-Ford 1998.). These main reasons for immigration can be tracked back from the early 17th century (after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620), through the revolutionary year of 1848 and later the outbreak of WWII until the important years in modern history of Czechoslovakia, 1948 (when the Communists seized power) and 1968 (when the Soviet occupation stopped political reforms). The city of the biggest importance for Czechs has been Chicago. First Czechs came to Chicago in 1852 and were among those immigrants who had the largest influence on the development of the city. The beginnings were tough for new immigrants in the 1850s and 1860s. The first Czechs in Chicago found employment most often in the garment and timber industries or in slaughter houses. But new immigrants in the 1870s and other decades could be surprised by the thriving Czech community in Chicago. They could find several Czech quarters, such as Prague or Pilsen, where Czech language was used exclusively. The business districts in these quarters were full of Czech banks, stores, cafes, and restaurants. Czech

11 influence can be seen in Chicago even nowadays, as it is not too difficult to find Czech names of various places and streets in Chicago. If in the 1860s Chicago had a population of about 10,000 Czechs, in 1920 it already had 200,000 Czech inhabitants. Unlike Czechs in New York, who worked in large factories and were usually unqualified, Chicago Czechs found employment in offices, garment shops, and their own small businesses. In the 1920s Czechs controlled 15 state and federal banks in Chicago and more than 50 percent of the assets of all building and loan associations in the city. It is significant that the largest Czech company in Chicago was a brewery in the district of Pilsen. The importance of various fraternal and benevolent societies grew in concord with the development of the Czech community in Chicago. The largest Czech Church in the United States can be found in the “Windy City”. Those Czechs who were not able to find proper employment in Chicago very often set off for the west to become farmers. Most often they went to Iowa. Chicago has still the largest concentration of Czech Americans in the United States and it remains the center of Czech American culture. (Polišenský 1996; Sakson-Ford 1998.)

1.4 The Czech immigration to the USA

The American society accepted Czech Americans and other Slavs better at the beginning of WWI. However, the Czech-American community was not united. The Czech-American society was divided into groups of Progressives, Catholics, Protestants, Socialists and members of other protective, benevolent or fraternal organizations. They had never unified in a joint action before WWI. Catholics or Socialists or other Czech groups, none had in their program the formation of a free state where Czechs and Slovaks would have governed together. However, when the United States declared the war on Germany, the Czech-American society together with Slovak Americans joined in order to support the formation of Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak National Council (CNC) was created as the main organization fighting for Czechoslovak independence in the USA. The CNC organized the lecturing and the

12 negotiating of future first Czechoslovak president T.G. Masaryk with American president Woodrow Wilson which resulted in the agreement on the existence of Czechoslovakia. Undoubtedly, the Czech-American community had a great influence on changing the borders in Central Europe after WWI. (Polišenský, 1996.)

Following the situation of the Czech-American Community in the 1920s, more than 600,000 Czechs of the first generation and more than 300,000 Czechs of the second generation lived in the United States. Two-thirds lived in big cities and only one-third lived outside the big cities. The influx of newcomers from Czech lands was very low during the years of WWI. Therefore, neither the Johnson-Reed Act in 1924 or the National Origins Plan in 1927, which restricted the numbers of newly-arrived immigrants to one sixth of one percent of the number of people of that heritage living already in the U.S., had any influence on the actual numbers of new Czech immigrants. In fact, the first three decades of the 20th century are considered as the Golden Age of Czech-American Culture. Czech Americans attracted the attention of average Americans. They recognized the Czech-American economic, cultural, public and civic achievements, as well as the efforts the Czech Americans exerted in order to establish the political sovereignty of Czechoslovakia. (Chada 1981; Laska 1978; Sakson-Ford 1998.) The idea of America as the “melting pot” was replaced with a different idea in the 1960s when John F. Kennedy became President of the United States. Kennedy proclaimed that America is a country of immigrants and its unity is based on the distinctness of its individual components. The idea of America as a “nation of nations” caused increasing interest in the historical and ethnic roots of each individual; Czech Americans were no exception. Children of Czech immigrants started putting together their family trees, contacted their forgotten relatives and visited places in the homeland where their ancestors came from. (Polišenský, 1996.)

The political changes in Czechoslovakia in 1989 opened the old country to the Czech Americans who began to strengthen the ties again. The process of globalization also reduces the differences between nations. Therefore, one day the Czechs in the Czech Republic and in the United States may be a lot closer to each other.

13 1.5 Waves of immigration

The first permanent resident from the Czech lands came to the American continent in the first half of the 17th century. The largest influx of Czech immigrants happened, however, during the large waves of immigration in the second half of the 19th century. This immigration, of a predominantly economic character, was aimed at either big American cities or rural areas of the Midwest and the Southwest, where Czechs very soon established thriving communities. Czech immigration reached its peak at the beginning of the 20th century. This period is considered the “Golden Age” of Czechs in America. The character of Czech immigration to the United States changed to political before and during WWII and after the communists seized power in Czechoslovakia. In fact, many of these Czechs refused to be marked as immigrants and considered themselves exiles, who fought for a free Czechoslovakia.

The Czech community also produced many Americans whose accomplishments were acknowledged by broad public. Czech Americans became famous in various fields of human activity including business, science, astronautics, politics, arts and sports.

Czech immigrants who arrived to the United States presented a broad spectrum of people who differed in their religious conviction, ideological opinions and in political attitudes. Czech immigrants in the United States included Catholics, Protestants and Freethinkers. Czech Americans had also various political opinions, however; most of them preferred the liberal ideas. Czechs always kept education in high regard and therefore they very soon began to establish Czech schools where they could educate their children.

Czech Americans were known for their rich cultural life, especially for their love for music, dance and drama. To adapt themselves better to the new reality of the new world, Czech Americans established many organizations which differed in their purpose as they were created by people of various interests and priorities. They included benevolent, religious, heritage, genealogical, educational, scientific, cultural, sports, hobby, charitable, veteran, public affairs or trade promotion organizations. Various Czech-American periodicals informed Czech Americans about happenings in their community and about national and international issues.

14 1.6 Antonín Čermák´s immigration to the USA

Antonín Čermák belonged to the group of legal immigrants who had permission to settle in their new country. In his person we found that he, as multicultural leader, had more behavioural and perspective repertoires available than did leaders who were monocultural. He communicated with all the citizens of Chicago and made sure that everyone was able to express opinions and that the other understood. Thanks to his negotiation in two cultures, he was able to adjust better than people who overacculturated (the term acculturation will be explained later in chapter 2.1). (Brož, 1998) Following the theory of push and pull factors, in case of Čermák´s family, push and pull factors of their immigration are clearly visible. The family decided to leave Czechoslovakia to start a new life abroad. No wonder that their decision fell on United States, quite popular destination at that time. Some of those pulling factors were the information provided by a wave of Czech intellectuals who went to the United States at the end of the 1860s. Upon arrival a famous Czech poet J. V. Sládek talked about excellent conditions, political freedom and economic opportunities but what is more these conditions were available for anyone willing to work not only for farmers. Miners and industrial labourers could benefit as well. (Johnston, 2008) “And Anton Čermák´s father was a miner from Kladno, who said to himself, armed with just this information, that he would take his family with him and start a new life abroad. “ (ibid) After the year 1853 the railroad connecting the East Coast with Chicago already existed so it made Čermaks´ family journey much easier and comfortable. (Brož, 1998) Travelling before 1853 was rather complicated and time consuming due to the fact that the only way to get from New York to Chicago was by a boat to New Orleans and then along the Mississippi River to Saint Louis. (ibid)

15 2 ASSIMILATION

The term assimilation belongs to one of many which have been used to refer what is essentially the same process immigrants and sojourners go through in an unfamiliar culture. According to Kim, assimilation emphasizes acceptance and internalization of the host culture by the individual. (Kim, 2003 p. 260)

Assimilation is a slow and a gradual process. It takes time. For example, immigrants take time to get assimilated with majority group. Assimilation is concerned with the absorption and incorporation of the culture by another.

Although Czech Americans always considered the immigration affairs in their lives, everyday demands continued the process of assimilation to the prevailing American (Anglo-Saxon) culture. Czech Americans became unconsciously part of this process. The assimilation process is a logical result of the new challenges which Czechs had to face when they arrived to America. The intensity of the process, known as the “melting pot”, differed from location to location and it progressed slowly, but no areas avoided it. (Chada, 1981.)

We can determine four different ways Czechs in the United States related themselves to their origin. Some Czech Americans were embarrassed by their origin and suppressed their inherited culture and totally accepted the prevailing culture, which they considered more acceptable to Americans. Another group of Czech Americans decided to settle outside the Czech community; however, they unconsciously retained sentiments for their origin. Though they ceased to maintain their immigration contacts, they did not openly deny their origin and “occasionally paid lip service to their Czech heritage” (Chada, p. 229). The relationship of the third group of Czech Americans to their heritage was influenced very much by American materialism. They forgot about their national origin because of the pleasure and novelty the American culture could offer them and replaced Czech values with American ones. The last group of Czech Americans consists of people who accepted the American way of life but still did not give up their ethnic origin. These people kept in high regard the Czech tradition their

16 ancestors had left them and at the same time they “accommodated to the pragmatic aspects of the American life (Chada 1981:229).” This combination of Czech tradition and American pragmatism was reflected in the civic, economic and public activity in their communities. (Chada, 1981.)

The process of assimilation cannot be stopped. There is no point saying if it is a positive or negative process. Definitely it is a natural process which is difficult to fight against. New generations of Czechs, who had more opportunities in education, choice of occupation and in mobility had to leave their communities to meet these opportunities and eventually acquired the American value system. Another factor which influenced the assimilation was that the longer Czechs were in the United States, the less firm were their ties with the traditions in their homeland. Frequent marriages with non-Czechs lessened the chances of preserving Czech traditions for the next generations even more. (Chada, 1981.)

2.1 Acculturation and Americanization

The following definition according to Kim aptly captures the term acculturation. “Acculturation has been defined as the process by which individuals acquire some (but not all) aspects of the host culture.” (Kim, 2003, p. 260) Acculturation requires immigrant children to navigate their way in both the culture of their parents and mainstream culture. (Price, 1969 in Suárez-Orozzo:50) Bicultural competence has several dimensions, such as knowledge of cultural beliefs and values, positive attitudes toward both majority and minority groups, a sense of efficacy in both cultures (i.e., the belief that one has the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships in both cultures), communication ability, role repertoire (i.e., a range of culturally appropriate behaviours), and a sense of being grounded (i.e., a well- developed social support system in or of both cultures). (Suárez-Orozoo:87) The ability to be bicultural not only increases an individual´s knowledge base, that is,

17 cognitive content but it encourages and fosters some important skills. (ibid) For those who embrace biculturalism, adaptability and flexibility of coping and the ability to relate and empathize with a variety of people from different backgrounds are the greatest assets. Furthermore, the bicultural individual is capable of learning from many cultures because he or she is more than just sensitive to many cultures – he or she is a part of and apart from many cultural realities. (ibid., p. 87) Americanization, on the other hand, refers to the organized effort during and following World War I. to compel immigrants and their children to adopt certain Anglo- American ways while remaining at the bottom socioeconomic strata of American society. (Tamura 1994:52) The national movement to Americanize immigrants and their children began at the turn of the twentieth century. It escalated into a feverish crusade even before America entered the First World War, producing a frenzy of xenophobia between 1915 and 1921. (ibid., p. 52) The movement reflected a felt need of older Americans, generally of north European, Protestant ancestry, for greater national unity behind what they regarded as traditional American values. It developed as a reaction to the millions of southern and eastern European immigrants who arrived in the United States from about 1880 to 1914, who seemed much more “foreign” and therefore threatening than had earlier immigrants. The threat was magnified by the crowding of the “new” immigrants into industrial cities in the northeast and midwest, where they often transformed established neighbourhoods into overcrowded slums. Underlying the Americanization movement was what Barbara Miller Solomon has called “the Anglo- Saxon complex,” the conviction that American traits derived from English forebears, a conviction that found intellectual credence in the nineteenth century. (ibid., p. 52) While the Americanization campaign was in many ways a product of its time, its characteristic push for Anglo-conformity echoed earlier attitudes of cultural arrogance in American history. (Tamura 1994:53) During the colonial period the predominant English Americans were ambivalent at best toward other European but non-English Americans. Greatest prejudice focused on the two largest groups, the Irish and the Germans. Non-whites were the target of a more hostile racism in which all European Americans participated. Colonists branded Native Americans as uncivilized, dispossessed them of their lands, and demanded that they strip themselves of their culture, convert to Christianity, and adopt other Anglo ways. Where it proved

18 profitable, colonists imported enslaved Africans. While the experience of each ethnic group was unique due to cultural and historical differences, patterns of discrimination first developed against Native Americans and African Americans during the colonial period laid the basis for later discrimination against Asian immigrants and their children. (ibid., p.53) America´s entry into World War I. “gripped the nation like a fever,” arousing “intense patriotism” and “a suspicion of all things alien.” (Tamura, 54) The resulting atmosphere fuelled the efforts of Americanizers to “mould the immigrant into a full- fledged American with undivided loyalties.” Amid calls for “100 percent Americanism,” Americanization became a national crusade. (ibid., p. 54)

2.2 Assimilation versus acculturation

Some specialists preferably use the term assimilation instead of acculturation. Such examples could be visible in Milton M. Gordon´s work Assimilation in American Life (1964). According to him, cultural assimilation referred to conformity to the host culture in behaviour, values, and structures while structural assimilation was the large- scale entrance into the friendship circles, social clubs, and institutions of the core society at the primary group level. Marital assimilation meant widespread intermarriage and identificational assimilation occurred when the group identified exclusively with the host society and lost its separate identity. (Tamura 1994:50) Gordon placed structural assimilation at the centre of his model. He believed that once structural assimilation occurred, all other types of assimilation would follow.

“If children of different ethnic backgrounds belong to the same play-group,” he wrote, “later the same adolescent cliques, and at college the same cliques, and at college the same fraternities and sororities; if the parents belong to the same country club and invite each other to their homes for dinner; it is completely unrealistic not to expect these children, now grown, to love and to marry each other, blithely oblivious to previous ethnic extraction.” (Tamura 1994:51)

19 According to historian John Bodnar, immigrant communities were not the harmonious and undifferentiated groups Gordon assumed them to be. (ibid., p. 51) Immigrants within the same group came to America with unequal resources, skills and attitudes, and the histories of all groups include divisiveness and intra-group rivalry as well as solidarity, commonality and cooperation. (ibid., p. 51) According to a nonlinear, bicultural model the host culture does not replace the immigrants´ traditional culture but instead is added onto it. Bicultural people choose the appropriate behaviour for certain occasions from their bicultural repertoire. (ibid., p.51) Closely associated with acculturation is the concept of ethnic identity, and with it cultural pluralism, first articulated in 1915 by Horace M. Kallen. Kallen argued that ethnic identity would not disappear, but that cultural diversity would persist. He viewed the United States as a “fabric woven of different but persisting ethnic communities.” Within the idea of “the invention of ethnicity”, groups adapt, construct, and recreate in the host society and within the group themselves. (Kallen, 1915 in Simon 2012) Gordon´s model provided a useful framework for understanding the varying degrees of acculturation – in terms of behaviour and values, friendship circles and clubs, intermarriage, and identity with the host society. In fact acculturation and the persistence of ethnic identity together characterize experience of society. (Tamura 1994:52)

2.3 Preservation of Czech language and Czech customs

Despite the effects of increasing assimilation, many Czech Americans do not want to surrender their heritage and try to preserve as much of it as possible. The Czech language and Czech national traditions create the most important and visible part of their heritage. In the preservation of what makes Czechs different from other immigration groups in America, we can see the main purpose of the Czech American organizations, although their names very often suggest that their primary goals are different than the preservation of the Czech heritage.

20 According to Chada (1981), one of the results of assimilation is the loss of the native language. However, Czech language has not disappeared totally from the Czech- American communities. Many Czechs of older generations still speak Czech fluently in everyday situations and even the younger Czech people still know some expressions which they like to use when there is somebody who understands them. But most Czech Americans are forced to use English in most daily situations and therefore the importance of the existence of the Czech language in the USA can be considered doubtful. Czech must seem to younger Czechs American as an archaic language of their ancestors. But despite these factors, Czech communities across the United States offer Czech language classes, which are very popular not only among Americans of Czech descent. Czech is taught at several American universities. Courses of Czech for children are also arranged. As an example can serve a charitable and educational organization United Moravian Societies in Chicago, founded in 1939, offering among other activities Czech school for children 4 years and older. (United Moravian Societies) This is a proof that some Czech Americans think that the Czech language is very important for preservation of their heritage and that they do not want to let it die.

That Czechs in America are also very proud of their various customs and that they want to preserve them can be seen at numerous Czech festivals and other events all over the United States. These customs include traditional Czech cooking and baking, music and dance, holding Czech national holidays or sewing and wearing Czech folk costumes, called “kroje” in Czech, on special occasions. The Czech folk costumes function as one of the symbols of Czech heritage and therefore they are often considered as the most important artifacts in the family’s possession. Many folk costumes have a historical value, too, as many of them were brought from the Czech lands by the ancestors of today’s Czech Americans. Czech Americans also created their own American versions of folk costumes. The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa display the largest collection of folk costumes outside the Czech Republic. One of the oldest Czech festivals in the USA where can be variety of such folk costumes admired is perhaps Moravian Day Festival in Chicago. The festival is held annually in the end of September around the holiday of Saint Wenceslas, the Czech

21 patron Saint (the first festival was held on September 24th, 1939 in Pilsen Park, Chicago). (United Moravian Societies) “Everybody has a costume from the town that they're from," said Cynthia Holas, dance instructor. (ABC7NEWS) "We just want to carry on the traditions and make sure our kids and their kids know where they originated from and what's it all about," said John Skach, historian. (ibid) The Moravian Day festival focuses on the spirit, beauty and talent of the Czech, Slovak and Moravian regions. In order to preserve the traditions it shows future generations the music, dancing and culture of the ancestors. (United Moravian Societies) The points presented in this paragraph demonstrate that the traditional Czech customs are very important for many Czechs Americans and also very interesting for the younger generation and therefore they have a chance to survive in America.

2.4 Czech cultural traces in Chicago

Besides the United Moravian Societies, the annual and occasional events or celebrations, there are more Czech cultural traces in Chicago which can support the theory of the United States to be more of a salad bowl than a melting pot.

Focusing mainly on Czech Americans living in Chicago, the cultural traces illustrating the beginnings of Czechs in Chicago can be found in various parts of the city. Yet the most of them are to be found in the south-western parts of the city called Cicero and Berwyn. In the past the majority of population of Cicero was formed by Czechs and their descendents. In 1920´s about 80 percent of all 60, 000 inhabitants were of Czech origin. Cicero was also an important industrial part with great job opportunities thanks to Western Electric Company1 which had its seat there. (Brož, 1998) Nevertheless in early 1980´s the Western Electric company closed and Czechs moved west, settling in places in western parts and suburbs of Chicago. (Ruzich, 2008)

1 1 Western Electric Company- was an American electrical engineering and manufacturing company (1881 to 1996), producing telephone equipment. Many Czechs were employed in this company.

22 As regards the Czech monuments and memorable places the Bohemian National Cemetery of Chicago, Velehrad mission house with a nearby Church of Virgin Mary Svatohorská, a monument of Karel Havlíček Borovský on the shore of the Lake Michigan should not be left unnoticed.

Bohemian National Cemetery (founded in 1877) suited on the area larger than 120 acres, is one of the largest projects of the Czech community in the United States in the 19th century. Several notable places such as the Family Mausoleum of the Čermák´s family and Masaryk memorial mausoleum belong to the most visited sites of the cemetery. Its regular maintaining service, occasional building construction as well as the spring and fall guided tour is another proof that the Czech Americans really care about preserving their heritage. (Bohemian National Cemetery)

Increasing expansion of Hispanic believers in recent years made from Cicero and its vicinity almost literally Hispanic area. Even though the fame and its biggest attendance is the history, the Church of the Virgin Mary Svatohorská along with the nearby Velehrad mission house, still play an important role in the life of the Czech Americans. Nowadays especially Velehrad offers various services from common church services such as christening, weddings, serving Czech Holy Masses, library service, Hlasy národa editorial office and more. ( Hladík, Česká katolická misie)

The previous subchapter also talks about preserving customs in connection with traditional Czech cooking and baking. Chicago has several restaurants serving traditional Czech cuisine. The oldest Czech restaurant not only in Chicago but also in the United States is undoubtedly Klas restaurant (1922) located on Čermák Street in Cicero. A present Czech-American owner Frank Saballus bought Klas in 2003. He claims that thanks to his mother he is aware and also proud of his Czech ancestry. (Ruzich, 2008)

“For me this building defines Czech culture in Cicero and the United States. It´s important to keep it around so we can remember our roots” he said about his restaurant. ( ibid )

23 Vesecky´s Bakery, situated on Čermák Road in Berwyn is another authentic well-known pastry shop. The bakery is run up by the 4th generation of the Vesecky family for over 100 years. The most popular items are “kolačky” (kind of pastry), Czech apple strudel, a loaf of “houska” with sliced almond and filled raisins, in Czech called “vanočka”. (Gerbert, 2014)

Compared to Klas restaurant and Vesecky´s bakery, the Czech Plaza Restaurant on Čermák Road in Berwyn is not as old. This family-owned restaurant has been serving authentic Czech specialities (such as typical Czech gravies, soups and more) for over 45 years. (Czech Plaza Restaurant)

Apart from Berwyn and Cicero, there are rather new restaurant facilities in other parts of Chicago and its outskirts. Most of them operate less than 20 years. The fact that these restaurants are scattered around the city of Chicago only copies the reality of the Czech Americans not being stick with a particular location as they used to be in the past.

As for the sport and sport events, American Sokol (Falcon), a fraternal organization founded in 1962 in the Czech lands by Dr. Miroslav Tyrš, has its stable position in the United States. American Sokol offers its members physical training in gymnastics and other athletics and also family oriented activities. (American Sokol Organization) It is based on credo: “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body” (ibid) There are currently 35 American Sokol units or clubs operating in North America and six Sokol Halls in the Chicago area such as in Naperville (1984) or Brookfield. Strong ties with the original land of Czech Sokol can be observed in number of activities which are occasionally organized. In 2018 a big Sokol even called Slet will be organized in Prague, the Czech Republic. The American Sokol unit in Brookfield organizes an official tour. (ibid)

Apart from the Czech minority, a cosmopolitan Chicago provides home to other large communities of various nationality such as for people from Poland, China, Greek, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Mexico and from many other countries. Their traces are clearly visible throughout the city of Chicago as their goal is to preserve their heritage and keep the old traditions. Chicago is known for the considerably large number of Polish immigrants, as well as a nice little Chinastown or a Greektown. Except from the

24 Czech there are traces of many other nationalities in Chicago which nicely demonstrate the newest trend of these days leading toward multiculturalism. (Millet, 2010)

25 3 ANTONÍN ČERMÁK

Following the concept of immigration, assimilation and acculturation it will be further demonstrated how the personality of Antonín Čermák, the Czech-American immigrant, adopted these concepts. As Antonín Čermák was one of the most important American Czechs ever, reaching the peak of his career in 1931 when voted Mayor of Chicago, the process of assimilation, that is a gradual changing of a person and his adapting to a new country, can be very well demonstrated on his personality. The time of his greatest success came when Chicago was being hailed as the second biggest Czech city in the world. According to the statistic in the 1920s and 1930s more than 100, 000 Czechs were living there. He was also the only foreign-born mayor that Chicago has ever had. Čermák is often labelled as a Czech who became an American hero. (Johnston, 2008) Although he came to the United States as young as one year old, he could serve as a good example of such integration. Influenced by the environment of his Czech parents and other Czech speaking people in the community they lived, he certainly never lost his ties with the Czech culture. From the very beginning Tony (as he was often called by friends in the English surroundings) followed the footsteps of his father who used to work as a miner in Kladno. They both became workers of the local mines in their new home place, a small mining town called Braidwood. (Brož, 1998) Used to hard work from Czech mines, Čermáks´ did not face any trouble adapting to the place until 1889 when Tony lost his job. This actually caused a big change in his life. He stood on his own and entered the gates of the city of Chicago working there as a carter at the beginning. Thanks to his talent in business he later became successful in a lot trading which was actually the main reason of his economic success. (ibid 1998)

3.1 Čermák and his political career

His entry into politics may seemingly indicate high range of assimilation. That is partially truth but without his friendship with Vladimír Červený (a Czech-American and a member of Democratic Party) he would be never able to reach such position in

26 politics. Especially highly valued was his ability to earn the respect of several ethnic minorities living on the premises of Chicago. So Antonín entered politics as a Secretary to Mr. Červený. Gaining valuable experience he managed to become a municipal bailiff in 1899 at the age of twenty-six. A post of the municipal bailiff meant for him not only duties but also numerous advantages such as the contact with interesting people and access to very important pieces of information. (Brož, 1998 p.16) During his rather long political career as a chairman or a Cook County Board President, Čermák worked on various projects in favour of the city. (ibid) In 1907 he became a chairman of the United Societies for Local Self- Government organization associating Germans, Czechs, Italians, Polish, Belgium, French, Hungarian and several other ethnic groups in Illinois. Two years later, in 1909 Čermák was elected in to the City Council of Chicago for Bridgeport part, the 12th electoral district. In 1922 he became Cook County Board president. He was two times re-elected to this position. On the 24th February 1931 Čermák won primary election. His biggest success came shortly when by 200, 000 votes he defeated William Hale Thompson of Republican party in the general election on the 7th April. (Brož, 1998)

3.2 The mayor of Chicago (1931-1933)

Čermak´s extraordinary success in election of 1931 (when voted the 44th Mayor of Chicago) can be perceived as rather exceptional compared to lifetime achievements of many other Czech-American immigrants. That is perhaps why special attention of Chicagoans along with the United States citizens was paid to his victory. Having crime city reputation thanks to Al Capone and other gangsters, Chicago was coping with a rather poor financial situation at that time. (Brož, 1998) Čermák started well as a very capable and energetic officer defending mainly the interests of the city and its residents. He decided to change the tax system and also supported partial repeal of Prohibition law.

27 3.3 Čermák versus Al Capone2

Growing development and history for Chicago change with upcoming economic crisis at the beginning of the 20th century (1920). It was a time of prohibition – ban on the alcohol sale. This was one of the opportunities for local gangs with their biggest leader of that time – Al Capone. The fact that Cicero, in the early 20s known as a centre of Czech immigrants with its population as high as eighty percent of all Cicero inhabitants, became also popular with notorious gangster Al Capone should not go unnoticed. Gangsters around Al Capone saw this peripheral area away from the centre of Chicago as a great possibility of moving their unfair business there. (Brož, 1998) Antonín Čermák decided to end the issue with Al Capone and his followers – bring a charge home and arrest them. Al Capone was imprisoned in the hardest prison – Alcatraz in San Francisco. It was probably Čermák´s fatal step and in 1933 he was shot by G. Zangara. Originally it was believed that the president Roosevelt was the assassin´s target who was in the moment of shooting shaking his hand with the mayor Čermák. Later the theory has changed and it was believed that Čermák, whose aim was to follow the gangsters in Chicago, was the assassin´s target. Assassin himself never mentioned who was his target and whether he acted in concert with somebody or acted on his own. (Dehningová 2012:112)

3.4 Čermák´s assassination and his funeral

While on a business trip in Florida, Čermák had a planned meeting with a leader of Democrats regarding the functioning matters of the city Chicago. He happened to be there at the same time as newly elected president F. D. Roosevelt who on the way back from his fishing trip was supposed to stop and greet crowds of people at the Bayfront Park Square in Miami. Čermák was advised to join his friends to meet the President.

2Al Capone is one of the most renowned American gangsters of all times. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Italian immigrants. He was the co-founder and boss of the Chicago gang during the Prohibition era.

28 Although Čermák´s plan was to spend a few days of holiday in Cuba he decided to come to see the President and greet him first. As they shook their hands warmly while exchanging a few words, two shots hit the Mayor. Čermák accompanied by the President Roosevelt was taken to the hospital in Miami. On the way wounded Mayor Čermák reportedly uttered the line: “I am glad it was me instead of you.” This memorable sentence is engraved on his tomb. Whether the sentence was ever said has been a subject of American historians´ discussion for many years. For nineteen days Čermák was fighting for his life. Some of his messages were “Tell Chicago I´ll pull through.” or “I was elected to be World´s Fair mayor and that´s what I´m going to be.” (Benzkofer, 2013) His determination to live was obvious. Nevertheless, the fact was that Čermák was shot-up to lungs and he succumbed this injury in the hospital. Before that he shared the president his feeling – he was really glad that he was the target of the assassin and not the president. (Dehningová, 2012:112) Unfortunately Čermák´s health conditions suddenly worsened and he eventually died on 6th March 1933. Coffin covered by American flag was carried in a long parade to Chicago Stadium on Madison Street. There were about 25, 000 people present at the Stadium. After several speeches the next stop was the Czech National Cemetery. The funeral ceremony was quite simple. The coffin with Čermak´s remains was then put to their family tomb which was built three years earlier. About seven months later the President Roosevelt stopped at the cemetery to honour. (Brož, 1998)

3.5 Perceptions of Antonín Čermák by media.

Appendix attached to this thesis contains a summary table aiming to show the perception of Antonín Čermák´s personality by a number of various media. The result of the research shows that Čermák was perceived only positively as extraordinary and even charismatic. Highly valued was his attitude towards corruption and criminality in

29 the town of Chicago as well as his contribution to the development of the town. The research also shows a deep admiration for his effort to protect Presidents Roosevelt´s life. He was founder of many organizations and had to face Great Economic crisis. He was able to use his origin in order to address immigrants from other European countries, mainly Polish people. He was popular not only with Polish immigrants but also with Scandinavian, Irish and German immigrants. He organized miners in order to reach higher wages. He was experienced and responsible politician. He was proud of his origin and active at many organisations such as Sokol. He wanted to end prohibition which enabled to derive profit from the black market with alcohol to Al Capone and his gangsters. On day of his shooting he was fighting for the students´ interests. He was fighting against the organised crime which was represented by Al Capone, corrupt police, civil officers and mafia. He gained votes for the Democratic Party not only from the immigrants of the central and Eastern Europe but also from Black Americans. He was successful in the safer streets fighting. He was a man of strong will.

3.6 Perceptions of Antonín Čermák by a historian.

Josef Opatrný3 perceives Antonín Čermák as a very able politician who used his great potential to his advantage. Opatrný also states that the fact that prohibition in America was still in place Čermák used in his favour in the run up to the mayoral elections of 1931. (Johnston, 2008) Opatrný stated difficult conditions of Chicago which showed Antonín Čermák´s ability to face inconvenient working conditions. He talks about the city as an important centre of agricultural products in particular and an important industrial centre at that time. One of the city´s biggest businesses, its slaughterhouses, were the symbol of Chicago. The processing tonnes of meat required a massive labour force and that was originally what brought young Čermák to Chicago. (ibid) “He really took like a duck to water in the cosmopolitan city atmosphere. And he quickly realized that the differences between the numerous ethnic groups living there could prove to be politically important. He started to get involved in the Democratic Party.” (ibid)

3 Josef Opatrný- teaches American history at Prague´s Charles University. He is a specialist in the period.

30

Historian Opatrný continues to describe how Čermak’s political star rose fast: “In the 1900s he first became a member of the Illinois state legislature, and quickly advanced through its ranks. His political career peaked in 1931. It really was enormous, his achievement – he became one of the most important American Czechs ever – his career peaked when he was voted mayor of Chicago. “ (ibid) The historian emphasizes the fact that “all this was at a time when Chicago was being hailed as the second biggest Czech city in the world. Because, in the 1920s and 1930s, statistics tell us that more than 100,000 Czechs were living there.” (ibid)

Doctor Opatrný further describes Čermák´s contact with his motherland throughout his life. “Cermak left Czech soil when he was only one year old. But he spoke fluent Czech, and he kept in touch with the Czech community, not only in the United States, but here as well. He visited what was then Czechoslovakia in 1932. He had been in contact with Tomas Garrigue Masaryk during the First World War, when he was already a significant politician. And when he came here in 1932, it was in part to spend his holidays with President Masaryk in Topolčianky.” (ibid) According to Doctor Opatrný, while Czechs and Germans, say, living beside each other in Europe would not necessarily get on with each other at the time, these national tensions vanished upon arrival in America. (ibid)

Doctor Opatrný explains his opinions about Čermák´s strange death as follows: “I think that it was most likely an attack on Mayor Cermak. But of course, American historians have been arguing about this for 70 years and still haven’t come to a conclusion. There are motives for both cases, but I think it was probably Cermak that Zangara was aiming for. But it’s also true that after the attack Cermak was quoted as saying to Roosevelt ‘I’m glad it was me and not you’. And this is taken as a proof that Cermak himself thought this was an attack on Roosevelt.” (ibid)

31 3.7 Antonín Čermák´s assimilation to the USA

Čermák did not necessarily follow the pattern of a complete assimilation. Even though he spoke English fluently with the native like accent, thanks to his family and the Czech minority which surrounded him, he respectfully preserved his mother tongue. The absence of another typical feature of the immigrants’ assimilation, the intermarriage (that is marriage to an American born citizen), can be observed in Antonín´s life. Marrying a Czech countrywoman Marie Hořejšová undoubtedly proves Antonín´s strong desire for Czech culture and legacy. With his wife, a seamstress, they had three daughters. Occupied by politics and business, Čermak always appreciated supportive warmth of their home. (Brož, 1998) While Antonín Čermák acculturated into American middle-class and later upper class society, he also retained aspects of his Czech cultural heritage. Many could anticipate the pressures and dilemmas coming from the conflicting forces of absorption and differentiation but he reaped the unfortunate consequences of that predicament.

32 CONCLUSION

The main aim of this final thesis was to demonstrate to what extent a Czech American immigrant, Antonín Čermák, preserved a Czech identity in contemporary America. This final thesis outlined a history of Czech immigration to America. It also introduces famous American personalities of Czech descent and describes social and cultural institutions of Czech Americans. The last part of the historical background concentrates on the importance of their origin, preservation of Czech language and customs, and relationship of Czech Americans to the Czech Republic. Czech Americans are very proud of their origin and many of them try to preserve their heritage despite the fact that they are slowly Americanized. One way in which they want to reverse the process of assimilation is to strengthen the ties between them and the Czech Republic. The personality of Antonín Čermák along with Czech- Americans living in Chicago in the past and now demonstrates the importance of origin. First chapter dealt with immigration, the second chapter explained the terms assimilation, acculturation and demonstrated the persistence of immigration identity. Last chapter explained acculturation of the personality of Antonín Čermák into American middle-class and later upper class society. Thereby he also retained aspects of his Czech cultural heritage. Antonín Čermák revived the alliance and interests of two elements - the Slavic and the Anglo-Saxon peoples. Citizens of Slavic origin must remember that in voting for Čermák they were voting for their own interests, for the due recognition of Slavs, and for an increase in their participation in the government of the city. Čermák´s successful appeal to Republican independents who were disgusted by the open crime, corruption, and vulgarity and his candidacy came at a time of rising immigration awareness among all the Slavs in Chicago.

Čermák, as the only foreign-born and second Democratic mayor that Chicago ever had, united the city’s different immigrant communities. While Antonín Čermák acculturated into American middle-class and later upper class society, he also retained aspects of his Czech cultural heritage.

33 Czech integration into the American mainstream was accompanied by a strong impetus to maintain Czech culture and ethnic consciousness. Various organizations strove to promote a Czech immigration identity. Economic hardships created by the Great Depression further undermined efforts to promote Czech culture. He reinvigorated Czech culture and reignited interest in the homeland and by that Czechs could become a well-integrated part of the United States´ multiculturally diverse society, but they also represented a cultural group dedicated to their ancestral homeland. Czech people together with Antonín Čermák belonged to the immigrant groups which have made life in America possible. While many Czechs wholly assimilated to American society, Antonín Čermák maintained some degree of Czech identity. In Chicago is Antonín Čermák reminded by Čermák Road, Čermák-Chinatown Station and 2 memorial plaques. By establishment of many organizations Čermák helped to preserve rich cultural life of Czech Americans, especially their love for music, dance and drama differed in their purpose as they were created by people of various interests and priorities. Various Czech-American periodicals informed Czech Americans about happenings in their community and about national and international issues. The Czech Americans still present their pride in their heritage by holding Czech cultural festivals and other events across the United States. Despite the fact that Czech Americans are slowly Americanized, they are very proud of their origin and many of them try to preserve their heritage. They still attempt to reverse the process of assimilation through strengthening the ties between them and the Czech Republic. Although not every Czech-American is a member of Czech-American organizations, the Czech-American press is still vivid on the Internet, Czech Americans realize the importance of the preservation of Czech traditions in America and Czech- American organizations are relatively well known among many Czech Americans. Most national Czech schools in America were already closed but Czech Americans still have opportunities to learn Czech on various courses offered by national Czech organizations. Czech studies can be also studied by some American universities. Antonín Čermák shared many common characteristics by which he contributed to American society. His frequent visits to the Czech Republic proved the good relationship between Czechs in the new and old country.

34 Some aspects of Czech cultural heritage in America will have tendency to disappear but the fundamental elements of Czech identity will certainly survive on into the future in America, since they represent such an important part of the Czech American that is natural for most individuals. Following the process of the assimilation the older Czech Americans preserve their Czech identity more than the younger generations. Some aspects of Czech cultural heritage in America will have tendency to disappear but the fundamental elements of Czech identity will certainly survive on into the future in America, since they represent the naturally important of every Czech American. Despite the fact the Czech people were till then followers of Republicans, Antonín Čermák, candidate for Democrats, motivated them to change of political orientation. Čermák was able to use his origin to address various types of immigrants. He was branded as an experienced and responsible politician who was successful in every town district. As the Democrat he was prominent especially for his leadership among the native and immigration Czechs. (Brož, 1998)

35 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Brož, Ivan. Čermák versus Al Capone. Praha: Knižní klub 1998. ISBN 80-7176- 825-1

• Chada, Joseph. The Czechs in the United States. New York: 1981.

• Daniels, Roger. Coming to America, A History of Immigration and Ethnicity in American Life. New York: Perennial, 2002. ISBN 0-06-050577-X

• Kim, Young Yun (2003). Adapting to an unfamiliar culture. In W. B. Gudykunst (Ed.), Cross-cultural and Intercultural Communication (pp. 243-257). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

• Polišenský, Josef V. Problematika studia dejin českého masového vystěhovalectví. Vysťahovalectvo a život krajanov vo svete. Martin: 1982.

• Rechcígl, Miloslav Jr. Postavy naší Ameriky. Praha: Tiskárny Havlíčkuv Brod, a.s., 2000. ISBN 80-86239-00-4.

• Sakson-Ford, Stephanie. The Czech Americans. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers,1999. ISBN 0-7910-5052-1.

36 ELECTRONIC SOURCES

• ABC7NEWS.Moravian culture celebrated in Lemont. 20. Sep. 2014 [online].[quot. 2016.18.06] Available on the internet: http://abc7chicago.com/society/moravian-culture-celebrated-in-lemont/316708/

• American Sokol Organization [online].[quot. 2016.21.08] Available on the internet: http://american-sokol.org/history/

• Benzkofer, Stephan. Tell Chicago I´ll pull through. 10. Feb. 2013 [online].[quot. 2016.10. 06] Available on the internet: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-10/news/ct-per- flash-cermak-shot-0210-20130210_1_band-shell-chicago-mayor-anton-cermak-bullet

• Bohemian National Cemetery. Guide and Map. [online].[quot. 2016.21.08] Available on the internet: http://www.friendsofbnc.org/mapimages/map_brochure.pdf

• Czech Plaza restaurant. [online].[quot. 2016.21.05] Available on the internet: http://czechplaza.com/

• Dehningová, Kateřina. Proti proudu zeměkoule. The Czech Republic: Carpe

diem, 2012, ISBN 978-80-87632-72-0. [online].[quot. 2016.08.06] Available on the internet: https://books.google.sk/books?id=IO5WAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA112&dq=Antonín+Čermá k+versus+Al+Capone&hl=sk&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Anton%C3%ADn% 20%C4%8Cerm%C3%A1k%20versus%20Al%20Capone&f=false

37 • Gebert, Mike. Vesecky´s Keeps the Bohemian Bakery Alive in Berwyn. 2014 [online].[quot. 2016.21.08] Available on the internet: http://chicago.seriouseats.com/2014/04/veseckys-in-berwyn.html

• Hladík, Dušan. Česká katolická misie, Brookfield, IL. Naši členové. [online].[quot. 2016.21.08] Available on the internet: http://czechmission.com/clenove/

• Johnston, Rosie. Antonín Čermák: from Czech miner to Chicago mayor. 18. June 2008 [online].[quot. 2016.08.06] Available on the internet: http://www.radio.cz/en/section/czechs/antonin-cermak-from-czech-miner-to- chicago-mayor • Klas restaurant, Chicago. About Klas restaurant. [online].[quot. 2016.12.06] Available on the internet: http://klasrestaurant.com/html/about.html

• Millet, Joyce. Understanding American Culture. From Melting Pot to Salad Bowl. 2010 [online].[quot. 2016.20.08] Available on the internet: http://www.culturalsavvy.com/understanding_american_culture.htm#Top

• Ruzich, Joseph. Cicero's roots entwined in restaurant. 27.Feb. 2008 [online].[quot. 2016.6.06] Available on the internet: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-02-27/news/0802260635_1_czech-al- capone-restaurants-and-businesses

• Senker, Cath. The Debate about Immigration. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. 2008, ISBN 978-1-4042-3755-1. [online].[quot. 2016.08.06] Available on the internet: https://books.google.sk/books?id=VN8tLSA8bbwC&pg=PT4&dq=what+is+immigratio n&hl=sk&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt-o2x- vfNAhUC6RQKHWoJB_sQ6AEIIzAA#v=onepage&q=what%20is%20immigration&f =false

38

• Suárez-Orozco, M. Marcelo, Suárez-Orozco, Carola and QIN-HILLIARD, Desirée. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the New Immigration. Zväzok 3. [online].[quot. 2016.08.06] Available on the internet: https://books.google.sk/books?id=zKXpeJpoUJIC&pg=PA50&dq=point+of+view+imm igration&hl=sk&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi90b7pgPjNAhXGSBQKHWVtAqwQ6AEIWj AH#v=onepage&q=point%20of%20view%20immigration&f=false

• Tamura, H. Eileen H. Americanization, Acculturation, and Ethnic Identity: The Nisei Generation in Hawaii. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1994, ISBN 0-252-02031-6. [online].[quot. 2016.08.06] Available on the internet: https://books.google.sk/books?id=SkYhzCp0UyAC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=accult uralization+assimilation+final+thesis&source=bl&ots=pBORtovDP8&sig=hwxj1gUag 4clj9XV3RsZFAc24A4&hl=sk&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq7byO7OvNAhUBOBQKHeq ACZQQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=acculturalization%20assimilation%20final%20thes is&f=false

• United Moravian Societies. [online].[quot. 2016.10.08] Available on the internet: http://unitedmoraviansocieties.org/#moravianday

39 APPENDIX – PERCEPTION OF ANTONÍN ČERMÁK

Names of media Perception Examples of Antonín Čermák Hospodář positive • He was hardworking person.

Český starosta Chicaga • He wanted to represent a part of Antonín Čermák ve staré vlasti the Czechoslovakia on the World Exhibition in Chicago.

Stream.cz positive • Funeral vehicle had to stop many times. 14.2. 2016 • A lot of people participated and Den atentátu na Antonína paid him a tribute. Čermáka (video) National Geographic Česko positive • He was against corruption.

17.4. 2013 • He fought against Al Capone. Češi v novém světě hledali štěstí a někteří se i proslavili TN.cz positive • Development of the town. 6. 3. 2013 • He helped to put Al Capone into Antonín Čermák: Čech, který prison. dobyl USA a zachránil život prezidentovi • He saved Roosevelt´s life. positive • He was founder of many AHA Online organizations. 24. 2. 2013 Antonín Čermák: Čech • More than 150 000 citizens of zachránil amerického Chicago came to his funeral. prezidenta! • He saved American president´s life.

40 positive • He had to face Great Economic Česká televize crisis and Al Capone´s mafia 9.5.2013 Školy neměl, teď ji má: • He saved American president´s Na starostu Čermáka life. nezapomínají Češi ani Američani

positive • His parents had merit in Rukojmí.cz – internetové noviny Homestead Act (Zákon o usedlostech) which ensured Jde o patologii moci, když land for every citizen without američtí Češi prahnou po exception of skin colour. Pražském hradu a čeští

Američané zase po Bílém domě...?

positive • He was able to use his origin in Lidé a Země order to address immigrants Město starosty Čermáka from other European countries,

mainly Polish people.

• He was able to face Al Capone.

positive • He organized miners in order to Praha6.cz - AKTUALITY reach higher wages. SPECIÁL: Základní škola nese jméno slavného starosty Chicaga - Antonína Čermáka positive Česko-Slovenská filmová • He was the biggest enemy of databáze organised crime.

Výstřely v Miami

2015

41 iDNES.cz positive • He was able to face Al Capone´s 9. 5. 2013 mafia and financial problems Škola v Praze 6 nese jméno which Chicago as a town had in chicagského starosty původem the 1930s. z Čech SVORNOST positive • He was experienced and responsible politician. 15.2.2010

15. února 1933 – spáchán • He was against corruption and atentát na českého starostu criminality. Chicaga Antonína Čermáka • He was proud of his origin and

active at many organisations (Sokol).

• He was popular not only with Polish immigrants but also with Scandinavian, Irish and German immigrants.

• He wanted to end prohibition which enabled to derive profit from the black market with alcohol to Al Capone and his gangsters. Omicron.cz positive • He protected the president´s life 2000 by his own body. Češi v Americe: život mimo zákon Pražský patriot.cz positive • On day of his shooting he was 8.5.2013 fighting for the students´ Atentát na prezidenta USA interests. odnesl český starosta Chicaga.

42 Krajane.net positive • He was fighting against the 6.3.2013 organised crime which was Český starosta Chicaga represented by Al Capone, Antonín Čermák zemřel před corrupt police, civil officers and 80 lety mafia.

• He gained votes for the Democratic Party not only from the immigrants of the central and Eastern Europe but also from Black Americans.

G.cz positive • He defended an interest against 10.8. 2015 gangsters. 9 věcí, které má Amerika jen díky Čechům Olser.cz (blog Břetislava positive • He was supporter of abolition of Olšera, novináře a spisovatele) prohibition 6.4.2009 Asi byl Masaryk vhodnější než starosta Chicaga Čermák…? Aktuálně.cz positive • He was successful in the safer streets fighting 28.7.2014

Chicago • He laid down his life for president´s life.

Český rozhlas positive • He was winner in the war with 13.1.2013 Al Capone – boss of gangland.

Výstřely v Miami, smutný • He was a man of strong will. příběh Antonína Čermáka

43 TÝDEN.cz positive • He was engaging in the fight for formation of Czechoslovakia. Jak kladenský rodák zachránil amerického prezidenta • He never forgot about his original homeland

• He was active member of Sokol and other Czech national organisations.

• He successfully fought against Al Capone´s mafia.

44 The list of media sources:

Medium number 1: Hospodář http://www.czsk.net/svet/clanky/osobnosti/cermak.html

Medium numb. 2: Den atentátu na Antonína Čermáka https://www.stream.cz/slavnedny/10009288-den-atentatu-na-antonina-cermaka-15-unor

Medium numb. 3: http://www.national-geographic.cz/clanky/cesi-v-novem-svete-hledali-stesti-a-nekteri- se-i-proslavili.html

Medium nub. 4 http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/zpravy/zajimavosti/antonin-cermak-cech-ktery-zachranil-zivot- rooseveltovi.html

Medium numb. 5 http://www.ahaonline.cz/clanek/musite-vedet/83888/antonin-cermak-cech-zachranil- americkeho-prezidenta.html

Medium numb. 6 http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/svet/1099616-skoly-nemel-ted-ji-ma-na-starostu- cermaka-nezapominaji-cesi-ani-americani

Medium numb. 7 http://www.rukojmi.cz/clanky/1328-jde-o-patologii-moci-kdyz-americti-cesi-prahnou- po-prazskem-hradu-a-cesti-americane-zase-po-bilem-dome

Medium numb. 8 http://www.lideazeme.cz/clanek/mesto-starosty-cermaka

Medium numb. 9 http://www.praha6.cz/aktuality/prejmenovani-skoly-cermak-2013-05-09.html

Medium numb. 10 http://www.csfd.cz/film/390264-vystrely-v-miami/prehled/

45 Medium numb. 11 http://praha.idnes.cz/prejmenovani-zs-interbrigady-na-zs-anotina-cermaka-fxp-/praha- zpravy.aspx?c=A130509_1926156_praha-zpravy_eb

Medium numb. 12 http://www.svornost.com/kalendarium-15-unora-1931-spachan-atentat-na-ceskeho- starostu-chicaga-antonina-cermaka/

Medium numb. 13 http://www.omicron.cz/amerika/Hnizdo/PraceUSA/Clanky/Chicago%20+%20Kosmel/ Chicago-historie/index.htm

Medium numb. 14 http://www.prazskypatriot.cz/cesky-starosta-chicaga-zachranil-prezidenta-usa- cermakuv-vnuk-prijede-poprve-do-prahy/

Medium numb. 15 http://www.krajane.net/articleDetail.view?id=2672

Medium numb. 16 http://g.cz/9-veci-ktere-amerika-ma-jen-diky-cechum

Medium numb. 17 http://olser.cz/1505/asi-byl-masaryk-vhodnejsi-nez-starosta-chicaga-cermak/

Medium numb. 18 http://www.aktualne.cz/wiki/geografie/staty-a- mesta/chicago/r~af73c32a166111e49cce002590604f2e/

Medium numb. 19 http://www.rozhlas.cz/dvojka/radiozpravy/_zprava/vystrely-v-miami-smutny-pribeh- antonina-cermaka--1156456

Medium numb. 20 http://www.tyden.cz/rubriky/zahranici/amerika/jak-kladensky-rodak-zachranil- americkeho-prezidenta_261225.html

46