Bound for America!

Discovering the Trails of America’s Immigrants

"You, Whoever You Are" by Walt Whitman

You, whoever you are!...All you continentals of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, indifferent

of place!All you on the numberless islands of the archipelagoes of the

sea!All you of centuries hence when you listen to me!

All you each and everywhere whom I specify not, but include just the same!

Health to you! good will to you all, from me and America sent!Each of us is inevitable,

Each of us is limitless—each of us with his or her right upon the earth,

Each of us allow'd the eternal purports of the earth,Each of us here as divinely as any is here.

Who were these individuals America

welcomed?

Why did they come?

What were their experiences?

And where did they go once they arrived in America?

Today, we will trace the steps of immigrants from long ago.

To discover what it might have been like to be…

bound for America

What is an immigrant?

Immigrant: Settlers in a new country

Emigrant: Those who leave their home

Why did these people emigrate from their homes?

Reasons for Emigration

WarFamineNatural disasterDiscriminationSicknessJobsCheap landDesire to prosperPromise of freedom

Emigrating wasn’t easy, however

DeathForced military dutyLacked special permits Little moneyLittle foodLong travelsFamilies left behindNo promises they

could stay once they arrived

Why did these immigrants choose America?

It was the “Golden Land” of opportunities

How did immigrants travel to America?

Modes of Transportation

ShipsTrainsWagonsOn foot

Many immigrants used each mode of transportation to arrive

It might have taken at least 40 days to travel across the Atlantic

Sometimes it even took as long as 6 months!

Ways to travel on board a ship

First classSecond

classThird classSteerage

Steerage was a popular way to travel

What would it be like to travel in steerage?

Large rooms in the belly of the shipExtreme temperatures No fresh airNo lightCrowdedOne bathroom available No working sinksNo privacySickness

What could people do during their travels?

Go on deckPlayVisitHave church

servicesHelp with

choresPractice

English

What were some of the problems of these sea voyages?

ShipwrecksFiresDiseasesUnsanitary Overcrowd

ed

What did immigrants bring with them?

FoodsFeather

quiltsMattressesPillowsFancy

clothesMementoesPictures

What happened once they arrived?

Doctor inspectionsInspections at Ellis

Island or Angel Island

Answered questionsSome turned awayOthers free to make

America their home!

Where did immigrants move?

Many stayed near their ports of entry

Others settled the West

The Homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres of land to these new settlers

Immigrants found out about this “free” land from family and advertising flyers from the government

Many people today have ancestors who were once bound for America

What is your family’s story?