Journey to America Journal

Journey Across the Atlantic and Arrival in America

You have made an adventurous trip across Europe to reach your port of call (where you leave from) and got your first glimpse of the ship that will take you to America. You boarded the ship and found the small area that will be your temporary home for the two-week voyage. Then after a long journey across the Atlantic Ocean, your steam ship enters the New York Harbor between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island, and you get your first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. In your journal:

1. Write about the accommodations you experienced aboard the steam ship and the living conditions that you faced during the voyage.
2. Your character is someone who has come to America to either escape the life back at home or seek new opportunities here, describe how seeing the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island for the first time made your character feel.

Picture
Include an image of either the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. This will represent the first thing you see as you arrive in America. 

Medical and Legal Inspections

The ship is docking in the harbor and the upper classes are let off the ship and continue to their destinations. Steerage class awaits the first inspectors to arrive. You have come under the suspicion of the U.S. Customs inspectors and are told of a reason that you will be detained at Ellis Island. After the U.S. Customs officer releases you, you are forced to go through medical and legal inspections and it was completely humiliating and stressful. The steerage class passengers were not treated equally to the first- and second-class passenger. In your journal:

1. Using the information provided on your character’s country of origin, write about the reason you were detained and what happened to you when you first disembarked the ferry boat that took you to Ellis Island.
2. Describe the medical inspection you had to endure, include the types of health issues they were looking for and what they said about your health.
3. After the inspection, you were chalked with a letter. Write about this chalk marking and what it means.
4. Then describe the final legal inspection and the types of questions they had for you.
5. Lastly, what concerns did you have as you were waiting to pass the inspections?

Picture: 
Do an internet search on the medical or legal inspections at Ellis Island. Include an image that you think would best represent your immigrants experience at Ellis Island. 

Character Specific Reasons for Being Detained: 
Germany: In steerage there has been a breakout of a contagious disease called Yellow Fever. You do not feel any symptoms of the disease. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Poland: When the U.S. Customs agent searches your bag, they find an anarchist pamphlet. Which goes against American values. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Ireland: When the U.S. Customs agent searches your bag, they find tobacco in large quantity. U.S. Customs prohibits this amount brought into America and you are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island while the agents investigate further.

Yugoslavia: When the U.S. Customs agent searches your bag, they find an anarchist pamphlet. Which goes against American values. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Italy: In steerage there has been a breakout of a contagious disease called cholera. You do not feel any symptoms of the disease. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Romania: When the U.S. Customs agent searches your bag, they find a communist pamphlet. Which goes against American values. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Russia: In steerage there has been a breakout of a contagious disease called cholera. You do not feel any symptoms of the disease. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Norway: When the U.S. Customs agent searches your bag, they find a communist pamphlet. Which goes against American values. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.

Hungary: In steerage there has been a breakout of a contagious disease called smallpox. You do not feel any symptoms of the disease. You are told that you will be detained at Ellis Island.
 

Ethnic Enclaves and Living Conditions

After your long journey and inspection process, you are finally an American! In your journal:
1. Describe the process of determining where to live. How do you think you’ll be able to find a sense of security in a country where you don’t know the language and customs?
2. Describe the living conditions of which you encounter while living in the big city. Make sure you include details from your image in your descriptions.

Pictures
Search Jacob Riis’ photographs and living conditions during the Industrial Era. Add an image that you think would best represent what your living conditions were like during the Industrial Revolution.

Working Conditions

After settling into your new home, your first task was to find a new job. In your journal:
1. Describe where you are working and the working conditions. Does your job feel safe? What kinds of injuries do you see people receiving in your workplace from industrial accidents?
2. Also give details about the amount of money you will be making. Will you be able to save enough money to move out of the slums and/or bring your family to America from your homeland?
3. Lastly, describe how you feel about your new situation in America. Do you feel like you are better off than when you were living in Europe? Are you able to capitalize on the opportunities that America has to offer?

Picture
Think about the type of job that your immigrant would have found. Search working conditions in the United States Industrial Revolution. Add an image that best represents your immigrants working conditions.

Letter Home

You have established yourself in your new home and job. Now, you want to use some of the money you saved to help your loved ones come join you in America. Write a letter home to your family that includes:
1. Details about what they should expect upon arrival and a brief idea of the living and working conditions.
2. Describe what your life has been like in America. Most immigrants were better off than they were in Europe but also experienced some unwelcome treatment from many native-born Americans. Include one positive experience that has happened to your immigrant and one negative experience that they have had.
3. Explain to your loved ones how the established immigrants have tried to Americanize you and how you have had to persevere.
4. Explain to your family that you can’t wait for them to arrive and what you hope for the future when they are able to come to America.

Picture
Include a picture of what you are most excited to show your family about life in America.