15th December
2009


Pretend you are either an immigrant coming to America, or a native citizen opposing the influx of immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.
Use your opinion, class notes and chpt 6 section 1 to discuss what your hopes are for yourself and/or the country.
I think that immigration was a good thing for America because it gave all these immigrants opportunities to do a lot more with their lives than before they even came here. For instance, Religious beliefs; Most immigrants just wanted somwthing to believe in on thier own free will, they didn’t want some guy telling them what to believe. Here in America, we have something called the First Amendment, Freedom of religion. We can believe in anything we want without getting rocks thrown at you or hanged. Another thing immigrants wanted was work. They wanted to make money and provide for thier families. A benefit that we have is that they will work for cheap. Say you own a small business, you have all of these immigrants willing to work for low wages. So with this you can hire all these immigrants to make you money and you pay little. They provide for thier families and you do as well. I really think that immigrants are a great thing for America. I don’t think that we shouldn’t let these immigrants come into our country. America is called “The Land of Opportunity” not “The Land of Crushed Dreams” what kind of country are we if we don’t let these people have an opportunity to have a life in America. The sky is the limit, these kind of people are willing to work and do it, let them have that opportunity.
The U.S. was founded by immigrants and their descendants.
Unless stagnation is desired, legal immigration is necessary and must be allowed. New ideas, new workers, and new skills with every boatload of immigrants; impoverished people who will work hard for success. Hard work, smart work, work is what makes the world go ’round.
The diverse culture of the U.S. has brought new ideas. From those ideas come innovations. New needs require new inventions, and with so many cultures, needs and wants are abundant. Innovations and technology satisfy those needs. If it is true that similar people think alike, then a society without immigrants would be rather slow, outdated, and ignorant. The U.S. must progress, thus it must grasp every opportunity that comes knocking.
To close your doors to people from war-torn countries, to exclude hungry, impoverished immigrants seeking freedom is inhuman and, frankly, unamerican. The lady liberty welcomes such people, she welcomes them to freedom and encourages them to begin anew in America. The U.S. should continue to grant asylum to immigrants.
The U.S. flourished with immigrants because we were able to fill all the positions for work. Immigrants basically built the U.S., they did the jobs, they did the labor, and they didn’t get any credit for it. But I believe that immigration should be done legally, those who do it illegally should be sent back to their country for trying to get free passage. Immigrants have brought new ideas to America, and we still use these ideas today. Immigrants should be allowed to come, but legally, not illegally.
I shall take the stance of an immigrant. I am of Celtic, Irish, and English decent and have a Pictish surname. My ancestors came because of necessity, be it the great potato famine, general famine, war, religious freedom, or work. My ancestors and their fellows have given our culture diversity seen in very few regions in the world. We have pizza, pasta, rice, burritos, salsa, and so many other foods that are greatly loved today. Even those who claim to be native are nothing more than the descendants of immigrants unless they are full blood native American. Even then, they came from elsewhere.
I am an Russian immigrant coming to America. The population pressure was a big reason why I left. Luckily it was easy for me to leave. I was able to bring my savings and other things as well. Some of my family were forced to stay in our village and since they were skilled workers they were banned from leaving the country. I hope when I get to America I can get a new and better job. I’m going to save up to help my friends and family to come to America. Hopefully the Americans will be accepting and consider me one of them.
I am coming to America because the Farm poverty and work was uncertain and America has plenty of land and plenty of work. I would like to have a higher standard of living instead of being forced to serve in the military. There is a better opportunity for social advancement instead of having a problem with to many people like a population pressure. I believe that if i would’ve stayed there then if i were to have a family they would be brought up in a bad way so I’m doing this not only for me but for my future family’s sake.
My name is Chanice Matlock and I am leaving my home country in England Because their is no work that i can find in England. I am coming to America on Steerage boat which is very uncomfortable everyone is bunked together and we al had to sleep right next to each other because of how cold it was traveling the seas. The ship had no windows and only 2 ventilators this ship crammed at least 2 ,000 immigrants.
I hope to gain plenty of land and plenty of work so i can feed and cloth and house my family. I now have to pay less for food and i don’t have to be pressured into doing anything I don’t want to like be forced to be a certain religion or be forced to join the military.
I am so happy to be here and so is my family.
The Irish belong in Ireland. The German belong in Germany. I am American and I belong in America. That’s that. There is no need for poor dirty people in the United Sates that don’t belong here. If they weren’t working hard enough to make a decent life in their own country, what makes them think they will here!? We need to feed our own families. Not needy immigrants. Who built America? Americans! Why let immigrants come in and mooch off of everything we’ve built!? They are here to take our jobs and take advantage of every resource we have. They do not deserve to be here.
I am an Irish immigrant coming to America. I come to America because it is the “Land of the Free”, which coming from Ireland, freedom is what I wish for. I also am hoping to find a better job so I can support my family so they can have a better life, instead of struggling all of the time. I know there may be some trying times in America, but I think it will be something we can get through much easier than in Ireland. I also hope to be accepted by the Americans, hoping that they know us Irish are going to work just as hard as everyone else. We are not coming to take advantage of anyone or anything, we are coming to make a better life for ourselves.
This is a travesty. I walk from my house every morning and what do I see? Poor, filthy godforsaken immigrants, scrounging around with nothing better to do than to lick the grime off of our feet. Certain words come to mind when I see this: GOOD FOR NOTHING. This damned and pitiful scourge on our free and pure mother nation has come to steal our American Dream and corrupt Lady Liberty’s soul into something that the devil himself could not bare to look upon. These leeches, fleeing their problems and adding on to ours, are everything a good American citizen is not. They’re cowardly, uneducated and unethical beasts come to nibble away at America’s foundation until it falls apart. This is a travesty.
I would choose to be a native. I would think that they would invade on my territory and that they are invading the homeland. I think they would be bad for work because maybe they wouldn’t know what they are doing. I think that the different languages would get in the way. There would have to be more jobs opened for them and that would take up time for the rest of the natives to work just to help someone else out that isn’t even from the same place.
I am so happy when my mom and dad told me we where going to live in america living in ireland was hard the past few years there was less food every year and my father had not had a job in ages. we had to sell the farm just to get tickets for the boat when i got to ellis island i was so happy because it was one step closer to being in america. while i was waiting for my turn to get my name and everything i was thinking about what it would be like when i was there would i lose my culture and everything in my homeland how hard it would be for my dad to get a job and get a good home all this comsumed me for three days while i waited. final i was at the front of the line and they cleared me and gave me my name. it was rough when we got off the boat there where all lot of people tell us to go back to our country but over all i have happy my family moved to the united states.
Well me being on immigrant there are plenty of reasons I left Ireland. I could barely support my family and was always just living on money to at every day. Not very many jobs and the conditions were horrible. My children and family never had anything to look forward to. My children have no education what so ever. They don’t know how to write or read and all this comes from the poor conditions our lives are based on in Ireland. I have heard of a great free nation were jobs can be found with pay to support your family easily and have no problem getting by in life. Education is available to children of all races and that’s always good for a child. Freedom is the word they use for the country. Freedom describes this country. Freedom of religion , of speech and more. So I am hoping things go good for me and my humble family because the conditions in Ireland is not tolerable. So I am on this ship with my family and a couple of supplies to start a new and fresh life in this wonder full free country. We are not the only immigrants i’ve heard. they accept all. thousands of new tongues and languages come everyday and America happily takes them in.
Dear John,
You sent us to America because of all the opportunities we heard about. The trip was long and hard, and we were so excited to see our new home. When we first saw the Statue of Liberty, the whole boat cried in amazement. But when we got off the dock, people were waiting in lines shouting at us, even throwing food. I didn’t get what we had done wrong, and i didn’t know what to tell the children. They told us to go back to our country where we belonged. They were angry with us for merely arriving. We were lucky enough to room with our gracious friends from the boat in their house the husband had built last month. I imagined we would be living among the New Yorkers; with the same iniquities and opportunities they had grown accustomed to. When we walked into the area we would be living though,
Immigrants in America today are not ruining opportunities that true Americans should have. True born Americans should have the right to more things than the immigrants because this is their natural homes. The immigrants that come over expect to rise to the top and have a better life than what they had. This idea is a total disgrace to the Americans who work hard to succeed and have an immigrant take their place. Immigrants are taking jobs that are rightfully Americans, and because of that more poverty is lining the streets. What’s worse than that is that immigrants are now out on the street begging for money. They expect that americans will hand over their money to someone who is ruining the society.
As I walk around the port, I see impoverished, gaunt and needy foreigners. They are great fodder for political machines and robber-barons. As if more corruption is needed; if we are to be a respectable society, we must purge ourselves of corruption beginning with the immigrants.
How is it when a child falls ill with a foreign disease? It is gut-wrenching and horrifying. The local physician does not know how to treat the disease. All that can be done is done: Sit and watch as the child is consumed. Immigrants enter with disease and illness. With poor hygiene practices and squalid living conditions, immigrants infect us all as they infest our society.
If all we were all Americans, we would not have racial issues. Gangs, clubs of hooligans, and schisms all pervade our society lowering and injuring it. With so many sects of culture, so many colors, chaos is inevitable. Already they band together, already they plot, why should we not act first and expunge them? They bring communism and anarchy with them. They will seize power, they will destroy the government and they will be tyrants.
The slums, the disgusting tenements are an eye sore and a waste of space. Think of the parks, the libraries, the factories and the houses that could be where those crumbling apartments are. Those immigrants, they suck the life, the charity, the land and work from our society.
They come like a colony of insects, quickly filling the workforce and stealing jobs from Americans. Americans are losing work to immigrants! No longer are our products American-made, no longer can we take pride in our factories, no longer can we walk clean streets.
I would choose to be an immigrant because I like freedom. So immigrants have freedom a lot. And immigrant likes to work so that’s why they come to the Unites States so they can have a better life. So for immigrants that was called American dream but I think immigrant do not came to the Unites States to invade.
Those dirty Macs, who do they think are! Who gives them the right to come to our free land, which we built up with our own hands! They do not have the right to come and invade our land, take our jobs, and our space!
As we waited for the first of the Macs to come off the boat, we were going to let them all know what we really thought of them. The first dirty, ugly Mac opened the door. The first scream came out from the crowd: “Get the hell off of our land! Get back to your own country your no good dirty Macs!” The crowd Cheered! And everyone started yelling at the Irish scum walking off the boat. The Macs looked confused they probably thought we would be giving them a party for coming into our land…. but they were wrong! We are going to fight for this land and not let them come without a fight.
I had a rock in my hand; I was going to use it to hurt a dirty Mac scum! I saw an elderly Mac Getting off the boat, I ran up and threw the rock as hard I as I could hitting her right in the forehead. The old women fell crying on the ground. I Yelled DOWN WITH THE MACS!!
I would like to be a immigrant cause it could be better to be one of them cause It is freedom to use slaves and working jobs and getting paid more for are hard work. Also better housing and water and we wont starve to death. And better working jobs that gives use more jobs . as well as people that are way nicer to use and they will take care of use at hard times .and cleaner air for use to breath that is much better for are lungs. And to have money for a child also plenty of friends
well in my opion i think we should not have immigration. they are so bad to our society!! i dont like how they are taking all of our jobs and leaving our natives jobless. without the natives the immigrants wouldn’t be able to come over. i think we would do better with out them. i hope they make it so immigration is no longer available. they need to learn how to survive in their own country, we are doing just fine in ours. they should learn a thing or two about being responsible and how to make their country better instead of deserting it. where would we get if we all just decided to give up on our country when things went bad, all countries have their ups and downs. i say the immigrants need to stick it out and deal with it!
today after getting of that cramped boat, we had things thrown at us! why you ask? for doin the same thing the aggressors did not ten years earlier! racist pigs is what they are! if things hadn’t gotten so bad in my county in Ireland i would have never came to this stinking country! i was under the impression that are hard life would be over, that america would be the land of freedom, is getinng hit by garbage freedom? is bein called a mac and a green n**** being freedom? is working til you bleed for 2 dollars an hour feedom? i dont think so, this counrty’s a SHAM!
Immigrants are not that bad for society. if anything they do in fact have alot more freedom then others here in the United States of America. I in fact am an immagrant of Russia hoping for a better life for me an my family in the united states.The support that was given over in Russia was not as big as it is here. i can have my children rome around places discover new things theyve never seen or done before, over there it was not like that at all. Always trapped in houses afraid of gun mans taking down inocent peoples lives right in front of our faces..that i did not want my children to witness any longer. Living in poverty wass nothing but a shameless wrecking thing. i am grateful to say i am an immigrant an say watever you please of me because i am proud of who i am.
I stepped off the boat, expecting to see a breathtaking view. But instead, I got hit in the head with a rock. I thought maybe it was an accident, but I looked around and everyone was yelling at us and throwing stuff at us. I wanted to get back on the boat and sail home to England. Then, a well dressed man came up to me and my family and smiled. He welcomed us and offered my dad a job and a place to live, but my dad just kept walking. We went to our apartment and met everyone we would be living with. There were a lot of kids my age, so, I won’t get bored! And we have hot water and a bathroom in our house! I’m so excited to live here!
i think thats immagration was a bad idea, we would have more jobs for the people that were born and raised here now. all they wanted was to come into are country for jobs thats all thay wanted, why cant they stay were they came form and start there working lifes there, we dont want them, and besides when they came they brought sicknesses that we didnt have and its killing are people. i just dont think we need there help and they need to stay were they came form.
Immigration in American is a good and bad thing. It’s good because we are the most diverse country there is. America is filled with different kinds of people, different cultures, different religions, etc. The immigrants come here for a better life for themselves and their children. They work hard and expect their kids to take advantage of getting an education so that they can have a better life. Immigration can be bad because it causes overcrowding. For the mort part it can be controlled, but the illegal immigration is what messes it up. Also, a lot of immigrants take most jobs from Americans because the employers see that they will work harder for less money then the Americans. So it’s not really their fault, it’s the American’s fault for being lazy. So I’m more on the pro immigration side then the anti immigration side.
I think and this is my humble opinion, that the this was bad because
1. we are a new country still full of problems with our regular people and needed to sort that out before we wanted more new people in here.
2. Another thing is we didn’t want half of them with all our laws and limitations so why let a few in, why would we want any more Unless they are very smart or athletic.
3. a lot of them brought bad things, New ideas that where bad, disease, and even mixed feelings like with the Chinese so…
and also to add more these were bad times with working conditions already in the toilet why do we need more people for these crappy jobs that our people even deem unworthy, some of the things said it brought more jobs what jobs cleaning up our crap, and trash? no they wanted to become successes now yes some thought it was just a blessing to be here others did not so then the rest did not like it here so when they got here they cried about everything that they had little, the wrong or no idea at all what they were crying about.
Also sometimes bringing in new people is bad because some times it brings in bad things wont name them all but ill let you use you mind, i don’t want to offend any one so i will keep my mouth shut.
Not much else to say on this i did not like this idea back then and will stick by it hopefully you don’t see me as anything more than a person with an opinion
I am a twenty nine year old man in hopes of making it to the united states the land of the free. with my wife and seven year old son we are coming from germany. the economy is bad theres no jobs we can find. thats why we are on the boat on our way that way i will be able to work hard and get enough money to supply food and warmth for me and my family so my son does not get sick from the cold so that we can live free.
I think the immagrints should have the right to come over to the united states because we are all equal we are the same but just the different religion and accent and race but we are all human beings and that we should not discriminate the people that come from somewhere else.
I am a French Immigrant and my name is Leixxus Bottoms. I am coming to America on the boat, I left my home country to come here to America. There are more jobs and a better life for me here I can start my family and support them much more than I can in my home country. In the land of “Freedom” you are much better off to do as you need or please. I am coming to “The land of the FREE” so that I could start my life and be treated as an equal. But you see its not like everyone says it is they don’t treat you well here the natives think that America is just there land. The way you are greeted, is horrid they don’t treat you like you think that they would once you step on that boat. The Natives think that they are in control of you. Coming to America to be free is a nice feeling but you have to work to be free. And it’s NOT easy. Now that I am in America and I have earned my freedom it is amazing but you still get treated like S**t.
My name is Brooke Ajer. I am an immigrant from Norway. I have heard of the great blessings that have come to people from living in this country, and i wish to provide my services in exchange for the great blessings and wonders of this country. If you’ll accept me, I will work hard as an exchange. This land is the “Land of the Free” according to everyone in this world. Please let me contribute to keeping it free.
I’m Immigrant and I’m ported to be. I lifted my country to come here to get a batter education and batter life. Immigrant here in America they work hart to live and they also smart and athletic Immigrants are not that bad for society because they can help united states to be a batter place and batter country for both American and the Immigrants by getting alone and work together to make it a batter country.
I think that immigrants shouldn’t be coming over to our land because we may be a new country but we still need to get totally settled within our entire country. Also, with all the new immigrants coming over and slavery just ending, the jobs are becoming even harder to get for the true Americans who were here first. Yes the government advertised that it is a better life, but with so many immigrants coming over and expecting to get a better life and be able to get rich quick, it is corrupting the ability to have Americans getting jobs and being able to become successful in our country. Another thing is that if everyone is coming to America, soon it will be too full and the Americans will probably be forced out and have to go to some other country to start living in better conditions. If the American people let this go on for too long then nobody will be able to live in good living conditions, and instead of this being a free country where it is a good place to live and get rich, it will be terrible and nobody will be able to do anything.
One big reason for not wanting them here is that if they can’t work hard enough in their own country and be successful there then why should they expect us to take care of them and see if they can work hard enough in our country. Also, since they are so desperate, the immigrants will work as cheap labor to make getting a good job even harder to get. Another thing to think about is that our fathers fought in several wars just to win this country for themselves and for their children. Americans fought the war for America and we built this country by ourselves. Now we have thousands of people coming to our country just to try and make it better when we don’t need or want them here. Finally, with so many immigrants trying to come over, we have to make even more laws for America, spend valuable time trying to stop them from coming, and it is making it even easier to corrupt the American Dream for everyone.
If I was a native back then, I’d be pretty pissed too! Here we are making something for ourselves, and bettering our country. We make it free for our man. But then men from Poland, Germany, Ireland, they come to our country and think that they are welcomed with open arms. They live in poverty in their country and think that they can change that in our country. Wrong, they’ll come here and work our jobs for lower pay. Making some of us loose our jobs, and others just get richer! They are ruining our freedom and country with their nonsense. Over in their country you hear “Oh Americans born in poverty can become rich?” Not “Oh Irish man born in poverty becomes rich!” See the difference. They don’t, But we do! Leave our country. All you want is to live in a country that is better than yours. Don’t leave and come to us, stay, change your country and be proud to be in your Country. Not ours!
i tabatha manning think that freedom is the most important thing to have if you dont have freedom you do not have anything in this life you cant work you cant have a family n you can live your long and happy life like a real citizen of the united states. if you dont have freedom you cant even walk out your front door, if you even have one. and thats what i think.
All of these immigrants coming to New York are ridiculous. They take our jobs; they crowd our streets; and even though there aren’t enough jobs or food for them- they still keep coming! There isn’t even a good place for them to stay: they’re staying in dirty, crowded tenements which are full of these awful people. Reformers always try to get them to move somewhere nicer- what about moving back to where they came from? They don’t belong here. They’re ruining our country with their filthiness. They come with diseases, lice, and who knows what else. Our good, nice, American children get sick with their filthy, awful, Irish diseases. We need to keep them out! This is a war. Not against slavery, or succession from the United States; but a war against filthy immigrants, and a war to stay away from them. This is a war to keep them out of our society, and a war to keep us safe.
All i see now is these beggars and good for nothing job robbers who screwed up there own country and look for us to feed them cloth them and bath them non-sense why should i have to brake my back again these swine should go back there rice crops and potato farms, don’t come off your boats with your hands out and nothing in return, that’s as bad as a dog getting food from you then biting your hand right after taking more than what’s yours of course they flock to us in the tons, right after we get done fighting imagine that, they come over when they can just sit around can latch on to mother America like the worthless leeches they are they bring nothing they bring disease famine greed and what do we get in return war, crime rates going up they cry in the streets for equality and what else they DEMAND RIGHTS as if they are right as if they could walk upon the same dirt as me they are worthless and I would not even let them eat the dirt I walk on if I could I would sink there ships and sell their children to owners for a good profit only then would they be good for something make a little money and someone gets a little worker and the only other way they could be good if there wife’s wash my shorts and there fathers sign in my army so my sons don’t have to that is when they would be good, so either do these things for me or be gone filth this is my land and my land only you shall not get rich of me nor my family so go back to your own land and leave mine ALONE.
In my opinion this is lame because the “natives” are telling us to go back where we came from like Ireland or Germany, but really they are pretty much immigrants too. It might not of been them but their family members. If they didn’t immigrate over to the “new world” then all of the native people would be immigrating over too.
I am an Irish immigrant. I have came to America for my right to be free. I want to be able to feed and cloth my children. I want to be able to live my life the way I believe, and not always having people telling me I can or cant do something that I now I can if I want too. Women need to have the same rights as man and I plane on supporting that believe her. The natives are not vary welcoming like I thought that they would be. My family and I are blessed to be her and live free. I am glad that I get to be one of the many immigrants to be here. I thinks that’s sad that we just got here and they are already drafting my beloved husband and there are not vary many whites living there family to go serve. I hope to have a batter life in America.
We may have fought years and years for a free and peaceful country, but it sickens me to see jews,germans, and micks running through the streets as if their blood and their fore fathers blood was shed to make it free. I’m ashamed that lady liberty has been treated this way by these dirty immigrants.
Native=It is a disgrace to our Nation to have all these random dirty people coming here as they please. They have brought nothing to help our nation! They just take our jobs,food, and land. We don’t need them we were fine without them. They will ruin us just like they did in there countries! My father fought to hard for this country for it to be so easily destroyed! I wont let this keep going on any longer! the end.
My name is Brittnee Behunin and I am an immigrant from Germany. I am told of the “Land of free” and wish to go there. Hoping I can start my new future here in America. America promises many things and my hopes are set high for this marvelous “Promise land.”
I would love to be a part of that. I have many things to offer. I can work hard and my family is respectful and also hard working. I will be a true American and be true to my (new) country. I see no harm in me coming to this country. I also offer many different cultures, traditions and food. I would live to join you as an American.
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i chose to be an immigrant because the immigrants were believed to come to America to live the American Dream to have a better future and have liberty. When the immigrants came to America they came in with a welcome that they didn’t expect but they stayed strong probably still thinking of not just the future for them but for there children to live in a better place away from the dangers that they came from. Being in immigrant is scary just put your feet in their shoes so you can see how they feel, coming to a new country not knowing anyone some not even knowing english and people still treat them like crap. They come here to better their lives and their families. Immigrants came to America believing in great opportunities, some become great people too but to become great you gotta work hard and keep your head up and thats what the immigrants did they gotta take all the yelling and abuses of the racism but they still believe in better life in America. Immigrants weren’t harmful to American society they flourished America by bringing good food and great culture. When i first came to America (i was six) it was hard for me to learn english and the cultures of America. I remembered getting my butt kicked by these white girls and i never knew why i was quiet i never said anything i didn’t know how to defend myself, it was really hard for me because i didn’t even know how to tell the teacher what happened so i had to get someone that spoke spanish so they can translate but the thing is that they didn’t like me either so the situation was hard but later on my parents came and put a stop to it and the solution was moving me to a different school which was like 30 minutes away. When i started that new school it was great i met new people that became my friends everyone was so nice and they helped me understand things, later on i learned english and stuff but i never gave up i knew i was gonna have a brighter future and look at me now i can read, speak, write two languages. I hope one day that the natives will find it in their heart and know that were all people who look for a better future. I don’t like racism its stupid they should get a life
and stop waisting time.
Brett i feel that you have no idea what you are talking about you say the word “OUR” as if america was “OURS” first i don’t know if you know this Brett but you are an immigrant and i’m pretty sure that immigrants built this beautiful country you live in and when you said that immigrants have no idea what they are crying about that just is stupid when have you actually talked to an immigrant about there situation in there country or when have you ever read a book or even watched a movie about something like that, brett you have no idea what you are talking about!
I have lived in this country for years and lived peacfully untill now. My father and his father fought to make this country what it is today and struggled for years to immigrate to America. Now these diesease stricen Irish are invading our land like they own the place! Stealing our jobs, taking our land, bringing there diesease and illness to our people. It’s not fair!
I’m an irish immigrant leaving behind a troubled life. I hope that I can establish a life with opportunities where I can make money for food and other needs. This ship is gruesome. There are a lot of starving people begging food from the sailers. I’ve been fighting down my hunger until we arrive to the United States. I heard that some of these immigrants already want to sign up for the military. I think thats stupid. They’re being tricked. Anyways, goodbye.
i think that immigration is a touchy subject for most americans. in my opinion there is no place like america because we made it that way. what makes these people think that they can come in and steal our country. OUR four fathers are the ones who made it as great as it is. if they want such a great country then they need to make it great. just like we did.
As an immigrant I would just like to say that I am the reason this country is what it is today. If my people and I never came over to your country, industrialization wouldn’t have been at all possible. I worked your factories, I did the jobs you didn’t want to do for less pay and I’m the one that allowed your buildings to scrape the sky, I made it so your cars could run on gas and I sat there as you treated me like nothing more than a petty insect, took your riducule, your small payments and your attitude and gave my family a better life. You needed me and you always will.
I came to this country because I felt it was the best choice for my family, as well as myself. Upon coming and being treated to poorly, I think it’s hypocritical. The Americans came here to seek better living conditions, did they not? I am doing the same, so why am I not welcome? Especially considering immigrants are FORCED to join the army? America is only equal to themselves, which if you ask me, is exactly what they were trying to get away from in the first place.
As a native to America i do not agree with Immagration. My founding fathers came to America and made this counrty what it is and they are just going to come over here and ruin everything. We used to get paid a quarter for jobs that they are now getting paid a nickel for. They are going take all our jobs because employers wont wanna hire an american when they can just hire an immagrant and save more money. How are we suppose to support our families if we arent able to find jobs. Immigration is just ridiculous and we should have never let them come over.
i am an imagrant. i came here to be free. i wanted to be able to get a job. feed my family. i wanted to be able to clothe my children. i heard from other people that this was the place to come. it had good services and good jobs for everyone. the natives welcomed us very kindly as i thought they would. the white people threw crap at us and called us names and told us to leave and go back to our home land.
I came to this country to escape the poverty in the place i used to live. It was terrible, people were getting sick and dying like everyday. There was a way bad shortage in food and evrything was falling apart. Now that I am in the United States everything seems to be going better for me i am now a very wealthy butcher and have a native family. Coming here was one of the best choices in my life!
America truly is a nation built on immigration, but what about after it’s foundation has been laid? They come here hungry, needy, and diseased, but with nothing to provide and no skills to speak of. The only thing they are ever even used for is cannon fodder and votes by corrupt politicians. The skills they do have, they sell for pennies and nickels, removing either our employment or our salary, either way sending us into poverty.
They do have needs, but so do us, the natives. And is it right for them to come and take what they need from what we have and leave us struggling? We were immigrants, but founded a beautiful nation, which fell to disease, corruption, and pollution once immigrants came to town.
I hate when whitee people, datz rite i said white, sit around and act like this is “their” country! i swear that they came from across thee ocean like er’body else(except mexicans dey camee frm across the border)butt forr realz unless you native, keyword NATIVE american then SHADDDDUPP! i agree wiff Louie F. from 2A that immigrants built diss BEEE-UUU-TEEE-FULLL country!
i am an immigrant! you are an immigrant we all are immigrants! i hate the fact that a immigrant such as myself gets discriminated against. but really i’m getting discriminated by a big headed immigrant who has his eyes closed, and has his head so far up his butt. and as for the kkk people who is all about white power that’s cool and everything because it’s your belief that this is your land. but don’t tell me to go back to my country when your ancestors are from across the ocean. yes blacks are from africa but remember when you whites came to africa and took them from their land. we liked africa it was nice.
This is Directed to LOUIE F. 2A.
That is not what i think that is what the people back then thought MR.LONGHURST said to think how they were thinking i am from south Korea so i cant say i don’t like immigrants i love most of them i was just stating what i thought the people thought back when immigrants started coming over here many years ago. Please don’t call me out unless you know what you are talking about.
I think being a immrgrand would be vary hard because you wouldn’t know if the americans will be nice or mean. Because they could treat us like they did with the african americans so i guse it would be bade or good or hard to. It all depends on how you see it. if you think positive you will think it’s grate but if you think negative you will think it’s very bade. So if I was a imrgrant comeing from irland i would be very nervous.
this is a continuation on my blog.but not just blacks but also the chinese.taylor miller man don’t say this FREE LAND was built upon your hands when you haven’t built anything in america. and as for the immigrants they built america, so they have just as much of a right to live in AMERICA as you do. immigrants have built things such as the union pacific rail road, (the chinese and irish). other things like the empire state building. and many more so have americans really built this free land or did they sit back taking all the credit.similar to immigrants in the past immigrants today take the jobs that we ” americans” are to proud and to ungrateful to take.so how are we taking away something you won’t do regardless.and if you get rid of us immigrants, it will be bad for the economy because most illegal immigrants cannot collect thier refund tax, and so the goverment doesnt refund our money. so you keep my hard earning money…… although this is a great argument i’m not advocating that immigrants should come in ilegally.rather what i’m saying is we shouldn’t stop them from comming at all. who can blame us from comming. wouldn’t you stop at nothing to have a better life, to come to the land of the FREE. to have more oppurtunities for your family. isn’t that what everyone wants just a better future for your loved ones a better life for them than you ever had.?. [[ funaki~status]]
As a native to america i dont think that we should let immigrants into our states. They are no good, their diseases that they will bring to the america’s will kill american’s and cause plenty of us to get sick. They will eventually steal our jobs because us americans will work for a quarter and those immigrants will work for a nickel, and instead of them living in the streets we will because we will not be able to support our families and feed our children.
Day 1,
There are so many people on this cold drafty boat I can’t stand it, but it is going to be well worth it. I get to go to America, the beautiful country that it is! I can’t wait to set foot on the soil and to call my self an American.
Day 2,
The boat seems to be getting more dusty and the children are more anxious. I am so excited to be able to go to America because I want to have a job and be able to help make the country better. I want to be welcomed and hope for love and care from all of the natives.
Day 3,
America is getting closer by the hour and I am so excited to see it for myself and be able to go to school and to have a farm that will be plentiful with potatoes and other goods.
Day 4,
We finally reached America. I walked off the boat with such pride just to have people throw rocks at me and call me names! I was disgusted! I thought that America was supposed to be the place to be, but people don’t care about that, they don’t realize how lucky they are to live here.
This kind man greeted me with a warm handshake and a piece of bread, and in return, he wanted me to vote for someone. He shoved the piece of paper in my hand and pushed me along, so he could campaign some more.
The people in this country are not grateful of what they have, they just want to get your vote or to put you into the war. I want to go back home, I don’t want to fight their war!
As an immigrant I think that coming to the United States has been one of the best choices of my life. There are so many more opportunities here than there were back in England. My family and I suffered from much starvation and poverty. Here we can actually have a home and food and hot running water. I always hear the natives talking about how we shouldn’t be on their land and how we don’t belong here. Well I think that they are wrong! They were once immigrants themselves and we deserve to be treated the same a the natives, because we are Americans too!
Coming into a new country has been a distant dream for my family and I, that we never thought possible. But the day has come in which we could come into America expecting a better future. I really think that this will be a good opportunity because I want to work for my freedom and accomplish things that I have wanted my whole life. Through my ways of culture and lifestyle, I hope to help others and always be a positive influence in whatever needed. I’m willing to do anything for my family and for our needs. I don’t want others to pity me for my disadvantages, but rather challenge me to prove them wrong. I will work hard to be looked at as other are and to earn those of the things I need. I will take advantage of all work opportunities that come my way and will not complain about those that don’t. I’m willing to work hard to gain my independence.
Hi my name is kaddyne Horstmann i’m comming to America because in Germany there’s not a lot of work, me and my family were in a very poor situation,no way we could buy food with the little money that we had even if me and my brothers work,I hope that here in America we can get a better education, better job for my mom and dad, hope that we can have a home to live a bed to sleep in. I also hope that the Americans accept us here in their country hopefully we can have a better life.
Re:
Dear John,
You sent us to America because of all the opportunities we heard about. The trip was long and hard, and we were so excited to see our new home. When we first saw the Statue of Liberty, the whole boat cried in amazement. But when we got off the dock, people were waiting in lines shouting at us, even throwing food. I didn’t get what we had done wrong, and i didn’t know what to tell the children. They told us to go back to our country where we belonged. They were angry with us for merely arriving.
We were lucky enough to room with our gracious friends, from the boat, in their house that the husband had built last month. I imagined we would be living among the New Yorkers; with the same iniquities and opportunities they had grown accustomed to. When we walked into the area we would be living though,it was almost worse than the poverty back in England. It’s a separate country in itself, and you need an American passport just to be accepted outside of our small community.
I really hope things will get better, but in the mean time pray for us John. I miss you sincerely and love you so much more.
(sorry, i didn’t finish before.)
Almost everyone’s ancestry can be traced to an immigrant. The only people who can claim that there family hadn’t immigrated here are native americans and even then it is theory that they migranted across a land bridge several centuries ago. However immigration should be limited to prevent population overflow and consumption of all natural resorses.
Many american see immagrates as people taking there jobs and make rude comments about them even go to the extrem and try to make a law to kick some of them out but what they dont understand is that we are the reason that they are what they are now. Americans whin about us taking there jobs but if you see it through theri eyes they take jobs that are very low paying why? because those jobs are the ones that the Americans dont want they say that its to low in paying but a immagrate says different he comes to work hard to support his families no matter how much the job pays. also immagrates want freedom too not just us that live here freedom to a religin and other stuff that maybe they might not have in there country. we shouldnt be so quickly to judge instead they should see it through there eyes. i dont see why we shouldnt be let into this country to find a new start and a better life.
Well i chose to be on the immigrant side…because im of dirrerent race and i think it okay for people from other places to travel wherever they want because i think eveyone should have their own choice and freedom of what they wanna do i also see nothing wrong with it i think doesnt do anything to anyone or should bother people i think they should treat them with the same respect as normal people beacuse they are just the same im sure i had a lot of ancesters who were immigrants from back in the day so i respect immigrants! :]
Today I got on the boat, coming to America! I am pretty excited to be somewhere free. This boat has many people and some nasty food, but its okay. I will be free when I arrive to america. :]
Today we are still sailing, and I am getting sick of these stinky people. But the dream is getting me through :] I’ll write again when I get there!
Today I landed in america, some people were nice and were welcoming. but there were others who threw stuff at me and called me names.. I hope it gets better.
Today I started working.. very hard labor and no pay.. but atleast I’m free.. right?
Today i am aboard the boat to America, i am very happy to be free. I don’t know what i will be doing once we arrive, i have no money, just the clothes on my back, and one bag. We are arriving right at this moment, the people seem to be angry that we are here. I don’t understand why, we are people just like them, and we want to be free like them, here in America. I have been giving a hard laboring job, very little pay, i hope it doesn’t get worse from here.
The U.S wouldn’t be anything like it is today without the immigrates. They brought with them many different cultures and ideas that the U.S was created on. Most Americans today have ancestors who immigrated to America. I researched and found that my family is decended from Ireland, that is on my mom’s side. I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing that my dad’s side of the family,probably has ancestors from Africa:] The fact is that I am who I am today because of my ancestors. America is what it is because of the many immigrates.
I’m an immagrant, and I’m pissed. I’ve come to America to lead a better life, and I am NOT letting anyone take that away from me for any reason. “Americans” stole this land to begin with, so really, THEY are the immigrants. This country IS big enough for the two of us. All I’m asking for is a little respect. All opposed to immigration, suck it!
As an immigrant I think that coming to America has been the greatest decision of my life. There are so many opportunities here compared to Ireland. My family and I suffered from starvation and poverty. Here we actually have a home and food and hot water. I always hear the natives talking about how we shouldn’t be on their land and how we don’t belong here. But I think that they are wrong! They were once immigrants themselves. We are no different than they are. I wish they could look past their riches and selfishness far enough to see that.
The Irish are always getting in my way. They think they own the place and can just come over here and invade our space. We have worked very hard to get our jobs and then those blasted Macs come and try to take them away from us. That’s just not right. We fought for this land, therefore it is rightfully ours. I wait for the ships to come in the harbor and then I throw rocks at those dirty Macs. But the damn Macs just keep coming!! This is our land not theirs!
Sorry i wrote that on the ben franklin blog not the immagration one.
I am an immigrant, currently living in new york, i came over to america because i wanted a better life for myself and my family.In America people are free and choose to work, do and say what they want and not be punished for them.YThere are many Opportunities in this great country and you would be crazy not to take advantage of them.
My personal thoughts,i believe that this country should welcome immigrants, but only if they do it legally.This country is a melting pot of different cultures, america was built on different kinds of people, it wouldn’t be america if it didn’t have different kinds of cultures and people.
Today i got on the boat to come to America, the land of the free. I cant wait to get there and see what it is like. I sure hope that it is a lot different from my country, cleaner prettier and i hope i get to do what i please! I want to get my own job that pays a lot, i want to start a family and do everything ive ever dreamed of doing!
We got off of the boat today and there was some very welcoming people, i got offered to go to war which sounds kind of pleasing they offered me good money and food but im not so sure what im going to do yet. Then there was people throwing thigs at me and yelling and calling me names…this isnt how i pictured america i sure hope things get better.
I am on a boat to america I have not been feeling good, there are alot of people that have been getting sick. Yesterday I little girl died. I have been comforting her mother. The conditions on the boat are very packed and we have littel food. It smells and we have to stay under the deck. I rarly see sunlight. It hard to tell how long we have been traveling and I wonder if we will ever make it.
I have given a lot of thought to going on this journey, I hope that I will be able to make a better life for myself and my family. I want to become a writer one day although I am sure that I will have to take what ever job a am able to till I can go to school.
I am a new immigrant from Italy. I hopped aboard and booked passage in the steerage. Oh how horrible the long journey was. I was looking forward to my new life in America. My reason for leaving is my hopes for a new home and a better job. I would love a higher standard of living. Once we saw the statue of liberty, we all cried different emotions. I was just happy to get off this horrid ship. When we got off, we had to wait in lines and be examined. I did not enjoy any minute of it. I am glad to say i got passed it because the life i live now is just incredible. I got a better job with higher pay and everything here is more convenient. Thank you America.
how dare these immigrants come to my country. they think its better here if it is it must have been worse than i can imagine and i doubt it was that bad. theres a good reason their countries didnt want them and gave them to us. you cant build a tower on a foundation of slime. theyre ruining our foundation and will be the downfall of us all. what used to be a country of honorable americans is turning into a crime infested wasteland rife with discord. the only good thing is they stay compartmentalized and reduce contact with normal people. theyre heathans and should be treated as such mostly these new immigrants from uncivilized countries in asia and far east europe. they are quite appalling to say the least
I have mixed feelings about immigration. America would definetly be different if immigrants were not aloud they do help us in the factories and do jobs that americans did not want to do which made us what we our. i want people to come here so they can live in a free county but i also think we need to be careful about getting over populated.
My name is Jessyka Lezbaron and i am a native to america, currently living in Virgina. Im all for immigration, i think that America is a great place to live, the land of the free home of the brave. When my fore fathers came to america they were immigrants looking for an oppertunity to live free and prosper in this great land. I am welcoming to immigrants coming here to America because i know they are looking for the same thing my fore fathers were. They are just trying to provide a better life for there kids, and themselves. Thats why im all for immigration!!!!!!
Everday I watch. I watch the boats come into the harbor and unload their numerous concourses of unwanted people into the already over-crowded buildings on Ellis Island. Doctors rush in and out, going this way and that way – trying to discover new diseases unknown to this continent. People cry out as see the new land. Have they not heard that the streets are not made of gold? Have they heard about the overcrowded tenement buildings and the underpaid labor unions working for the mouse-ridden factories? Haven’t they heard that in this continent you speak English? No longer can you go anywhere without confronting others needing directions who can’t even tell you “hello.”
Already, the streets are run over with mobs and gangs. night comes and you hear the cries of madness produced by members of the Irish and Russian mafias as they caress the pavement with their dying and blood-soaken hands. No longer can I handle this. Before these freedom-seeker parasites came, I was able to live my life in a simple peace.
When will true Americans realize that enough is enough? When will our chosen government control this situation.
The Patriot’s cry lays dust-bitten in the minds of the forgotten. It’s song lays down in the dust, unheard by all.
Above:
An entry in the diary of 60 year old George Brown, an American realist
I believe that immigration is good to a certain point. If people from other cultures come to America we can learn from them and they can learn from us. It gives them a chance to have a better life than were they immigrated from. But one thing that frustrates me is when a person comes here and there culture is illegal here and they still do it anyways. If they come here they need to obey our laws. America is the best place in the world to live but not everyone can live here.
As I have read the comments on this blog it has kinda made me laugh. I have read the ones where the people hate the immagrants and want to hurt them. I have read ones where they talk about how they want to come to this country to make a better life for themselves and there families. I am indifferent to either. I know that this country would not be what it is today without all the immagrants back in the day. But I cant see why those who were already here were angry. They had built this country and there fathers had fought and died for it just to see immagrants come and not even have to work for it. We seem to have the same problem today with immagration. The way I see it is if you came here legally and learn english and dont force upon us your culture and we dont force ours upon you, we’re good to go.
I think immigration is a good thing because look at all the great things that people have brought from around the world. They have lived differently so they come with new ideas of how things could be. There is plenty of delicious foods and cool things that make America more interesting. Sure the whole job situation is a little lame because they would work for less but coming here has made their lives better because finding work where they’re from was difficult. By coming here they have been able to start a new life, and be free. If you look into it, life is crazy in some other countries. I believe people should be able to come here without being hassled.
i think that immigration is something that is important to this country because it develops our culture and gives America more workers. however i think that if you’re going to immigrate into our country, you must apply for citizenship classes and learn basic english.
Dear friend,
I am looking forward to going to the united states. Life was not going well back in my country and i am glad that i am getting a fresh start. things were rough in ireland, the potato famine was hard to live through. Also jobs were low, my family had no money because the farms were not producing like they used to. My parents said that we would have stayed and tried to live through the tough times, but they want us kids to have better opportunities. It is going to be nice for our family to have land and work opportunities. Will people accept us and our culture? I wonder how well we will adapt to the new ways; will ours change? We will arrive to this place called Ellis island in a few days. I do not know what to expect; but i will let you know
I’m coming to America, to live my dream life. To get my happily ever after. And to come to the land which has “liberty and justice for all.” I don’t care that the “Americans” already there dislike us immigrants. After all, their family came as immigrants. And anyone that was already there has been forced into reservations. I’m coming to have my fair share of the American Dream, and no one is going to get in the way.
everyone started as immigrants. immigrants came here for a better life for themselves and their childern so they could have more opportunities, more freedom!. but its good to have some immigrants but not to many to be over populated
Immagration is something that we have all done to get here. Just because the Europeans got here first doesn’t make the rights less equal to everyone else who isnt European. We all came to America looking for more oppertunites. We came here to be free and let that be. America is created off of everyone’s individuality which gives America so many diverse cultures. Those who disagree with immagrants coming in to American now days just think that we should be more strict on how many visa’s we get and not letting all the immagrants live off of our taxes because thats not fair. But we all are coming to america for the same thing. FREEDOM
My family and I immigrated to the United States in search of a better opportunity to live a full, and happy life. We escaped poverty, corruption, and the highest crime rate, thus far. However, we have just as many things to offer America just like America offers us. We bring diversity and contribute to this great Melting Pot of ours. We want try to live out the “American Dream” too… What’s wrong with that?
I would have to choose to be an immigrant because I would like to do things on my own, not being told what to do and too have my own freedom. And immigrants pretty much have all that plus would like to work so that’s why they come to the Unites States so they can have a better life and free life from all trouble. So for all the immigrants that were called The American dream should live the life they would want but I also think that the Immigrants did not came to the Unites States to invade, but too escape from their old lives and came here to start anew.
I am a German immigrant coming to America. The war pressure was a big reason why I left. Luckily it was easy for me to leave. I was able to bring my savings and other things as well. Some of my family were forced to stay in our city and since they were skilled workers they were banned from leaving the country, some of them were to sick to leave for a long journey to the states also. I hope when I get to America I can get an education and get a good paying job. I’m going to save up to help my friends and family to come to America. Hopefully the Americans will be accepting and consider me one of them.
Coming off the boat after such a long journey my family and I feel relieved to be a part of the free country called America. In America we can find better oppurtunities and live a better life here. Though my family will start with very little we believe that we can find great fortune here in America.
The thing is that our land hasn’t even been occupied from us. We may have more room to grow ,but we havn’t even established a good support fund to even hold this uprise in poeple. There just isn’t room.
for more distractions to fix the war which was a big upset, yet a great victory. The advantages is that we can charge for cheap labor and that we could use their farmer skills, and soldiers in the army.
I am an imagrant coming from the country of Italy. On my journey to America, i hope to have the opportunity to make a better life for my family. I decided to come to America to escape poverty and have religious freedom. I know i can be a very big attribute to America, and live a great life here.
Coming to America was a dream come true for me and my family. There are so many opportunities and countless possibilities in the United States of America. I barely made it through the potatoe famine in Ireland, I am nothing without french fries. I tried going to France for some, but unfortunately they looked at me funny. But here in America, there is a McDonalds around every corner…haha jk :] Anyways, I am so thankful that I can live in a beautiful country where freedom rings. And I know that my children will grow up and have a better life, and more experiences to gain from. Though the journey was rough, I am glad I finally arrived to America.
I am an immigrant from Romania. I came here to live a beautiful life and finally get to experience freedom. I also came to work, so I can help my family back in Romania. Even though things are hard here, things are worse back home. Being here is such a great opportunity and I’m lucky to be here.
As an immigrant i come to America with high hopes to a new start and a better life. But when i arrived i didn’t have it better off at all. As i got off the boat i was bombarded with trash and other objects. Coming and living in tenement houses have no benefit to me at all. I lived better in my other country and the conditions there were not good at all. They weren’t high praised as the conditions in America were. I am completely for the idea of immigration. Coming to start a new life is great. Making some money. But i get paid almost just as bad as i did in my other country. Maybe one day i will rise to the top and not be looked down as the worthless immigrant who will never do any good in his life. I will rise to become a well respected man because this country allows me to do just that!
immigration may have been good a long time ago during the rapid growth of the united states but now it needs to stop.
we have over charged medical bills taxes and mot enough jobs to go around for the legal americans. if your going to come to america at least do it the right way and gain citicenship so you can be accountable for the future of america like everyone else.
I would be a “native”, looking at the immigrants we have right now in america that are taking our jobs away and sending it not just to mexico but China, Twain, Africa, and even countries such as Europe. Why should we have to share our wealth we immigrated here to make the wealth. I am not so much as opposed to a person bringing their family and moving here though the legal lines of conduct but more to that of obscuring the american dream by sending the money that they are making into an whole different country. The family that is here Illegally i oppose also.
In my opinion i think that almost everywhere is an immigrant to the u.s . I think the being an immigrant myself makes me feel good because of the freedom we have here. My parents came here looking for a better life and more opportunities. People just came here for a better life and freedom which is what they probaby had it bad at here country. When i think it was columbus came here..they weren’t forcing him out so why do immigrants nowdays have to leave.
I am very excited to learn about immigration this year in unighted states history mainly because if it did not happen then I would be here my family comes from all over Europe.Plus things have changed so much that if a person comes to america they have to pass all certian tests in order to stay.
I think immigration was a good thing because i wouldnt have been born. My dad came from Vietnam when he was just a kid and came to the U.S. by himself. He went to California to live with family. To him everything was different but it also brought him a better life here. Without immigration we would know so much about all the cultures that are here in the U.S. today. I mean there are negative things about immigrates moving to the U.S. like taking away jobs and cities are way more crouded. But a lot of kids came from people that were immigrated (like me) and they wouldn’t be here today.
I am excited to learn and discuss Immigration this year because i like to hear both sides of the story. I, myself, do not always understand both sides. Like why would you want to come to our country illegal and risk getting in trouble and you and your whole family get sent back to where you came from? That would be so sad. Why don’t people come here LEGAL and make a better life for their families and work just as hard as the rest of us? I am not rasist, i promise. I just worry about more and more people and families coming here in search for a better life, but they came here illegal and now they’re being sent back home. If your illegal, your illegal. Therefore you are breaking a law.
With immigration today is so pesstimisticall viewed. Only all the cons are shown and published to the public to manipulate their thouthts. If you haven’t noticed so far, generally, only the WEALTHIER or more POWERFUL people’s opionions are acknowledged. With that said the people, generally, are the ones who are being affected by the immigration. Generally, not trying to throw offense on anybody. But that is what I percieve it is, it seems the more spoiled people are throwing a fit because they’re losing they’re ‘allowance’ and/or having to pay more, if they run their own business. Now that’s only ONE of the factors that seem to be a high affect on such a pesstimistic hover over immigration. But without immigration we, the US, wouldn’t be labled as the ‘Land of the Free’. As well as none of us wouldn’t even be here, unless you’re a Native American. So if you’re not and you’re throwing a hissy fit over immigration I believe a stern deportation is in order for such behavior.