Immigration 1880-1914

1. Immigration1880-1914 “The largest mass movement in history.” BEGIN

2. Table of Contents • Where are you coming from? • Trip across the sea • Entering America • Life in the cities • What does the future hold?

3. Where are you coming from? • China • Russia • England • Ireland

4. Trip Across the Sea • Ming How Chow (Chinese rice farmer) • Aharon Solomnik (son of Russian tailor) • David Coppersmith (English cartographer) • Michael Flannegan (Irish farmer)

5. Entering America • Angel Island • Ming How Chow(Chinese rice farmer) • Ellis Island • Aharon Solomnik(son of Russian tailor) • David Coppersmith(English cartographer) • Michael Flannegan(Irish farmer)

6. Life in America • New York City • Aaron Simon (son of Russian tailor) • Boston, Massachucetts • Michael Flannegan (Irish farmer)

7. Russia Your name is Aharon Solomnik and you are a Jewish, ten year old boy. Your father was a successful tailor until the soldiers began setting restrictions. Now you have to be in your house at 6 pm and your father’s business is suffering. The soldiers are making life hard for the Jews. If a Jewish person is out after curfew, they are killed. Decide to Stay in Russia Head for America

8. Stay in Russia Your family has chosen to stay in Russia. Now you cannot practice any Jewish holidays and several of your friends’ relatives have been murdered during pogroms. Your dad now wishes he had thought more about immigrating to America. Try Again Buy a ticket now

9. Head for America? You have many relatives who have already made the journey across the great ocean. Their letters tell you that they are free to practice their religion and the children can play on the streets in the evening. They all live with other Jews in New York City and feel safe and happy. Buy a ticket now Decide not to go

10. Ireland Your name is David Flannegan. You were a potato farmer until the potato famine struck. You now have no money and are struggling to support your family. The bank wants to repossess your farm and home. You don’t know what you are going to do. Decide to Stay in Ireland Head for America

11. Stay in Ireland You decide to stay in Ireland and try to revive your farm. Your family has owned the farm for generations and you don’t want to give up on the tradition. The potato famine spreads and you loose everything. The bank takes over the farm and you and your family go to live with relatives in Dublin. Try Again Buy a ticket now

12. Head for America? You have sold your farm to the bank and gathered your belongings. You’re ready to leave Ireland right away. On the day you are to buy your tickets, you receive a letter from some friends that have been living in America for several years. They tell you that people are fighting for factory jobs, but they were lucky enough to get one and were able to rent an apartment. Buy a ticket now Decide not to go

13. China You are a single man who’s a farmer and owns a small piece of land. The Chinese government is imposing high taxes and you’re worried you will not be able to pay. Each day, you become more and more frustrated with the government. You have heard that America is a good place to farm, but you’re not sure if you could even afford the ticket. Head for America Decide to Stay in China

14. Stay in China You decide to stay in China and conditions only get worse. You are having trouble finding another piece of land that is affordable. Taxes continue to rise and your government seems to be causing trouble in the surrounding areas. It looks like war may be in China’s future. Try Again Buy a ticket now

15. Head for America You are having trouble getting enough money for the ticket. You continue to farm, but floods wash away many of your crops. You decide to sell your land and seek out a better life. The money you made is just enough to start over. Decide not to go Buy a ticket now

16. England Your name is David Coppersmith. You are a single man who works as cartographer. When your parents died, they left you a good deal of money. You’ve decided that you’d like some adventure in your life and are thinking about moving. America sound like a great place to make money and start a new life. Buy a ticket now Decide not to go

17. Stay in England You decide to stay in England because you heard that a quota had been started for immigrants coming from England. You don’t feel like paying the money for a ticket and traveling if you’re not going to be let into the country. You continue with your business and save your money for a future adventure. Try Again

18. Buying Tickets You and your family could only afford to purchase tickets in steerage class. This ticket purchases you a room you share with others on the bottom of the boat. You have been warned that you can only bring one bag per person. You heard that the trip is tough and you know of a few people who have been sent back to their country because of sickness, but the pros out weigh the cons and you’re going!!! Steerage Class

19. Coppersmith Buys a Ticket You get to the port to purchase your ticket and you see a line of finely dressed people with leather suitcases. You figure that is the line you should be in. The other line is full of screaming babies and people dressed in old clothing and holding ragged bags. With your inherited money, you purchase a first class ticket to America. You plan on leaving in a week. Begin your adventure

20. Chow Buys a Ticket You could only afford to purchase a steerage class ticket. This ticket purchases you a room you share with others on the bottom of the boat. You have been warned that you can only bring one bag. You heard that the trip is tough and you know of a few people who have been sent back to China because of sickness, but the pros outweigh the cons and you’re going!!! Steerage Class

21. Steerage Class You travel across the Atlantic Ocean for weeks. You and your family often sit on the floor of the boat and get sores on your skin. The food is rotten and your sister contracts dysentery. The people who die are thrown overboard, but she is trying to hold on until you all get to America. First site of America Contract dysentery

22. First ClassDavid Coppersmith You enjoy your voyage to across the Atlantic Sea. You eat your meals in the ballroom. Each night, you take a warm bath and sleep in a cozy bed with clean sheets. First site of America

23. Steerage ClassMing How Chow You travel across the Pacific Ocean for weeks. You sit on the floor of the boat and get sores on your skin. The food is rotten and you become very sick. The people who die are thrown overboard, but you are trying to hold on until you get to America. Continue to Angel Island Visit the doctor

24. First sights of the Statue of Liberty Dock at Ellis Island

25. Contract Dysentery Your sister is very ill. The ship doctors can do nothing for her. They allow her and some others in steerage class to come to the deck for some air. Your family will still try and make it to America. First site of America

26. Enter Ellis IslandProcessing Center New York, New York Find out about getting your name changed, registration, medical exams and literacy tests. Flannegans Solomniks

27. Enter Angel Island You wait several hours to get off the boat with the rest of the people in steerage class. You don’t care because you’re finally in America. After waiting in a very long line with your bag, processors begin shouting words you do not understand. You are pulled to a line that says, “Medical Exam.” Medical Exam

28. David Enters Ellis IslandProcessing center New York, New York When you and the other first class passengers get off the boat, a processor is waiting to meet you. You’re quickly processed and face no hassles. A friend you wrote before you left is waiting to help you with your bags. He will share his apartment with you until you get your own place. He already has several high paying job interviews waiting for you. Your trip to America has been great and you think to yourself, “My American Dream” is about to come true!” Read another’s path

29. Doctor on Board You go to the doctor and he says there is nothing he can do for you. You have a stomach and skin infection. He allows you to go back to steerage class and says, “Good luck entering America.” You’re not sure what he means, but you’re glad he let you go back to your room. Continue to Angel Island

30. Medical Exam The doctors look at your skin, listen to your heart and examine your stomach. They mark a strange letter on your shirt and send you to another line that says “Deport.” Deportation

31. Deportation Although you don’t really understand what is going on, you know it’s not good. They push you into a line where people are mumbling to themselves, hugging relatives and crying. Soon they begin to push everyone outside and you see a docked boat. You finally realize you are being sent back to China. Someone who speaks Chinese tells you you’re being sent back because you are sick. Your American Dream is over…for now. Read another’s path

32. Dock at Ellis Island You and your family make it off the boat. You think all your dreams are about to begin… You’re in America. Processors push you to follow the others inside. Registration

33. Solomniks at Ellis Island You wait in line for hours and when you register, they change your last name from Solomnik to Simon. Before you even have a chance to argue, they push you into the line for the medical exams. Medical Exam

34. Flannegans at Ellis Island You and your family wait in line for hours. Finally, you receive your papers and go to the room where the medical exams are being completed. Medical Exam

35. Medical Exam Your whole family goes through the medical exams without problems, until your sister is examined. The doctor on the boat had given her antibiotics to cure the dysentery, but she still suffers from dehydration and seems weak. The doctors are unsure of what to do with her. Pass Medical Exam Sent to the Sick Ward

36. Sick Ward Your sister is allowed to stay three days in the sick ward. The doctors believe she will make a full recovery. They allow her to rest and then she passes the medical exam. Pass Medical Exam

37. Literacy Test Your family passes the medical exam, but now it’s time for the literacy test. They have to be able to read their own language. Illiterate Literate

38. Illiterate You decided to stay together even though some of you passed the literacy test and some of you didn’t. The processors mark a strange letter on your shirts and send you to another line that says “Deport.” Solomniks Flannegans

39. Literate Congratulations! You and your family have passed the registration process at Ellis Island!!!! Processors hand you the papers and you and your family load onto the barge which will carry you to Manhattan. Family members are waiting for you at the dock! Begin your American Dream

40. Deportation Although you don’t really understand what is going on, you know it’s not good. They push you and your family into a line where people are mumbling to themselves, hugging relatives and crying. Soon they begin to push everyone outside and you see a docked boat. You finally realize you are being sent back to Russia. Someone who speaks Russian tells you you’re being sent back because someone in your family was either sick or illiterate. You cannot complain to anyone. Your American Dream is over…for now. Read another’s path

41. Deportation Although you don’t really understand what is going on, you know it’s not good. They push you and your family into a line where people are mumbling to themselves, hugging relatives and crying. Soon they begin to push everyone outside and you see a docked boat. You finally realize you are being sent back to Ireland. Someone who speaks Gaelic tells you you’re being sent back because someone in your family was either sick or illiterate. You cannot complain to anyone. Your American Dream is over…for now. Read another’s path

42. Literacy Test Tá neart cuimhne agam ar Chonall Néill Óig. Bhí mé 'mo leath-ghasúr mhaith mhór nuair a fuair sé bás. Agus ar ndóighe chuala mé iomrádh air ó bhí airde do ghlúin ionnam. Nó b'annamh fear nó bean ar a' bhaile a dheánfadh tamall cómhráidh gan Conall Néill Óig a bheith leo ar thús nó ar dheireadh an tsean- chuis. Your family passes the medical exam, but now it’s time for the literacy test. They have to be able to read their own language. Illiterate Literate

43. Medical Exam Your whole family goes through the medical exams without problems, until your sister is examined. The doctor on the boat had given her antibiotics to cure the dysentery, but she still suffers from dehydration and seems weak. The doctors are unsure of what to do with her. Pass Medical Exam Sent to the Sick Ward

44. Aaron Simon While in Russia, your family received a letter from friends saying you could live with them until your parents found a job and an apartment. They are waiting for you when you arrive in Manhattan. They help you carry your luggage to the apartment. Go to the tenement

45. Going to the tenement The sights and sounds of streets are so foreign to you. People are speaking all kinds of languages. Your friends tell you that all the apartments in their building are rented by Russian Jews. They live in an area called an ethnic enclave. You look around and see kids your age selling newspapers and shining shoes. Inside the tenement

46. Inside the tenement Your friends show you to the apartment. They share it with two men who pay rent. Sleeping is tight, but beds are rotated…when one person sleeps, the other works and then they exchange. This set up makes the apartment affordable. Where’s the restroom?

47. Down the hall The restroom is shared with other families who live on the hall. The sanitation in the tenement buildings is very poor. Trash is even thrown into the streets from the windows! Time to find a job

48. Finding a job Your father is able to get a job as a tailor working out of the apartment. Everybody has to help, but it’s still not enough. Even though you’re only ten, you need a job! Sell newspapers Work in a factory

49. Selling newspapers Your children are up at 4:30 a.m. to pick up papers and stand out on the corner selling news-papers. People call your kids “newsies.” They work all day and sell the evening paper as well. They get home after dark and are not able to go to school; being able to afford the apartment is more important than school right now. What’s in the future?

50. Factory Worker Your children get a job changing spools of thread in a sewing factory. Children of all ages work there and it is very dangerous. It is dark and extremely hot during the summer. They arrive at work at 6:00 a.m. and leave at 7:00 p.m. When they get home, they eat dinner and go to bed. What’s in the future?