Immigration

Letters from America- An Immigrant’s Letter Home American History Mr. Sontheimer Leaving your home to go off to a new place is very difficult. Immigrants that came to America between 1885 and 1914 were seeking betters lives but had very little understanding of the country that they were going to relocate their lives. In the case of many immigrants earlier waves of their fellow countrymen (or women!) were already in America and helped them to make the transition to a new life. You are going to put yourself in the place of one of these experienced immigrants and write a letter back to your home country to try and encourage more members of your family or community to join you(or not come!). Your final letter will be FIVE PARAGRAPHS LONG and follow the format that I have provided. All research materials will be available to you and may choose many of the details in your letter on your own. The following writing guide must be used for this assignment. You will also include 3-5 pictures to illustrate your letter. __Circle Your Country of Origin __  Ireland Russia Poland Italy China Japan Africa Mexico Germany Scandinavia  Other_  Circle the reasons you left your home country __ Religious Freedom Political Freedom Economic Opportunity  Rejoin Family Curiosity Taken Forcefully Others ___  __Circle the methods and include the route that you used to travel here __  <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Ship from Europe Ship from Asia Ship from Africa Land Passage from the South or North <span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: teal; font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Other: Ship from Scandinavia <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; text-decoration: none;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">All of the following details should be included in your opening paragraph. (Paragraph 1) **

__<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Circle the city where you have settled (or closest if you decide to be a rural dweller __ <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">New York City Philadelphia Charleston Harrisburg San Francisco Salt Lake City <span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: teal; font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Other: East Bay Sand Island <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">What do you do to support your family? Immigrants had a wide variety of jobs depending on h Salt Lake City) and include details from research about your job. Circle One <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Coal Miner Steel Worker Garment Worker Slaughterhouse Farmer <span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: teal; font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Fisherman <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> Other_ <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; text-decoration: none;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">How is life in America better? What do you like about living here compared to the place that you came from? Do you have more freedom? Do you have better food? What types of material possessions have you acquired? What else would you like to have? (remember all of these should be appropriate to the time period. You cannot have a plasma screen tv!) <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; text-decoration: none;"> <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">What is hard about being an immigrant? Do you pay high rent? Is your home crowded? Do you face discrimination at work? What types of wages are you paid? Do you have to food available that you like?
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Work __****<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> - All of the following details in this section should be included in your 2nd paragraph. **
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Improvements- __****<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> All of the following details should be included in your 3rd paragraph. **
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Obstacles- __****<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">All of the following details should be included in your 4th paragraph. **

<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Finish your letter back to your native country by trying to convince someone else to either join you or stay home. Promote the benefits of immigration or warn your compatriots back home about the dangers of coming. Remember to summarize some of your key arguments from earlier in the letter to complete the task. <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; text-decoration: none;"> __<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Pictures- __<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Your letter should be illustrated with 3-5 pictures that show aspects of your journey to America and the life you are living as an immigrant. If you need help inserting or finding photos please see me.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';">Conclusion- __****<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif';"> All of the following details should be included in your 5th paragraph. **

Terms to Define- Click on Links to research what these terms mean. Please create a summary for each one and place it in your wikispace. I suggest that you do this first in order to learn more for your letter. [|The Huddled Masses] , [|The New Immigrants] , [|The Chinese Exclusion Act] [|Contract Agreement] [|Immigration Restriction] [|United States's Changing Face] cut_ __ Grade Criteria-Please attach to final paper draft. __ __/15 Letter contains five well-written paragraphs that are joined together with a logical introduction and conclusion. Must include completed writing guide. ____/ 15 Letter contains AT LEAST three relevant and plausible details about immigration and the immigrant experience ____/ 10 Letter demonstrates creativity and enthusiasm for the assignment. ____/ 10 Required terms are displayed in wikispace with letter and pictures.<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; text-decoration: none;">

Dear Mother and Father,

America truly is the Land of Opportunity! The culture here is so very different, as is to be expected, although not necessarily in a bad way. Despite my joys in being here, I cannot help but to greatly miss my home with you back in Norway. The ship journey here was long and weary, but I didn’t mind much; I love the sea as you well know. I have settled on Sand Island, in the East Bay of Wisconsin. It is a good place to have come. There is plenty of wind and sun and wide open spaces. I live right by the water; as was my wish. I have found a job as a fisherman at a nearby port. The ship is called Temperance; and we have been very blessed so far. The fish are plentiful in these waters! One of my crewmates, Erin, has emigrated here from Ireland. He is a good friend of mine, and lives in the same building as I do. We do not spend very much time at home, though, and sometimes are out at sea for weeks. We just returned from a very successful fishing trip, and I earned myself a pretty penny. Tonight is going to be full of celebration.

America is so full of opportunity. I was able to find a job soon after arrival, and I feel like I am quickly settling in. I miss my country greatly, however; Norway was my home. There is a much larger variety of food here than here is back in Norway, but still; nobody can cook like mother. I have few possessions thus far. I live rather modestly in a large house with some other people. My room is rather bare apart from my writing desk, wardrobe, wash stand, and cot. I have a few pictures that I painted hanging on my walls.

It’s been difficult to adjust, but I am faring well I believe. As I do not speak their language so well, that has proved to be a problem for me in many situations. The work is hard, but the wages earned make it worth while. Prices are reasonable around here, though I cannot speak for other areas. After all I do live in such a small town, there is no need for extravagance. I eat a lot of fish, which isn’t much different than back home, ha, since I live in a fishing area. I have also been able to try a lot of things here that were never available to me back home.

I urge you to come join me here with the rest of my brothers and sisters. There are so many opportunities for careers here. It is definitely much different from home in that aspect. Employment does not seem to be an issue here! Of course, it can never compare to Norway in our hearts, but as far as moving forward with our lives and improving them; I truly believe that that could be done here in America. Write me back soon, I love you both.

Sincerely, Your son Finn