Immigration

[|The Huddled Masses] – the statue of liberty is the tallest metal statue ever constructed and it was the tallest building in New York when it was completed. It stands 151 feet high and weighs 225 tons. The statue was a gift from the French Republicans who wanted to advance their political cause. [|The New Immigrants] – in 1886, around 334,203 immigrants came to the United States. They came in dedication to the Statue of Liberty. Most of the immigrants who got to see the statue mainly came from eastern and southern Europe. Between 1882 and 1914 about 20 million immigrants came to the United States. [|The Chinese Exclusion Act] – from 1882 to 1943 the United States wouldn’t let any Chinese immigrants into the country. This was the first law to ban immigration by race or nationality. This was called The Chinese Exclusion Act. From 1850 to 1865, political and religious rebellion within china left 30 million dead and the country’s economy in a state of collapse. in 1892 The Geary Act was passed that required Chinese aliens to carry a residence certificate with them at all times or they would be deported. [|Contract Agreement] – in the 19th century there was a high demand for manual laborers to build railroads, raise sugar on pacific islands, mine precious metals, construct irrigation canals, and perform other forms of heavy labor. These workers exchanged nine hours of labor a day six days a week for a small salary, clothing, shelter, food and medical care. The credit ticket system was then formed. A broker advanced the cost of passage and workers repaid the loan plus interest out of their earnings. Mostly Chinese immigrants used the ticket system. Between 1885 and 1924 about 200,000 Japanese workers went to Hawaii and 180,000 went to the mainland. [|Immigration Restriction] – The Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907-1908, the Japanese government agreed to limit passports issued to Japanese in order to permit wives to enter the United States. In 1917 the United States barred all Asian Immigrants except for Filipinos because Filipinos were U.S. nationals. The immigration Act of 1924 placed a numerical cap on immigration and instituted a deliberately discriminatory system of national quotas. The U.S. later adopted a new immigration law which ended the quota system. [|United States's Changing Face] – The immigration level is at its highest level since the early 20th century. Around 10 million legal and undocumented immigrants entered the country during the 1980s, exceeding the previous high of nine million between 1900 and 1910. In 1950s two-thirds of all immigrants came to the United States from Europe or Canada. More than 80 percent or immigrants today are Latin American or Asian.

My name is Paul. I would like my family and friends to know about my journey to America. I was 16 years old when I was sent to America. I use to live in Italy. When I was a young man my parents had taken me forcefully and put me on a ship. They said they would be coming but they wanted me to have a better life and more opportunity in America. We were in Napoli when they put me on the ship. I then found out the ship was going to Chicago. I had no clue what I was going to do for work. So I had to start my new life in Chicago. I had found a good job working on railroads. I was a builder and fixer. I traveled outside the city to work to expand the railroads. There were a lot of people working on the railroads and there were a few kids my age working too. The work hours were long and hard. I worked about 15 or 16 hours a day. It’s not the easiest work but its good pay. A few people have died since I have started working but you can’t worry about it. Life in America is hard but there is more opportunity. I have never had a job this good and I am now making more then my family has ever made. I now have my own apartment and there is a lot more to do in the city. I just bought a radio the other day. It’s great! I am saving up to buy a telephone too. There is always to get around. I mostly use the trains but a lot of people drive cars. I am saving up to buy a car sometime soon. The hardest part of living in America would be all the people. I am still learning to speak English. It’s very crowded and I don’t always understand what everyone is saying. It’s always nice to meet a fellow Italian! Work is different because most of the workers are immigrants so it is easier to talk there. My rent isn’t too high but that’s because I make good money working. The food is different but it’s good. Some food is better but the spaghetti is terrible compared to back home. I miss my family very much but I am glad they sent me. America is a hard place to live in but it is worth it. I have a great job and a nice home. If anyone back home has not yet come to America then I really think you should. It takes a little getting use to the environment but its worth it in the long run. I love my life in America.