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Bad Conditions in Ireland
Bad conditions in Ireland made it hard for me to survive the winter. My younger brother, and two younger sisters, and I have farmed on the same farm for years, but lately it has been hard. Crops are not growing and disease is hitting our village. Many elders have died such as my grandma. I have decided to move to America, in search for a happier life. I have decided to send for my family after I am settled in and have land of my own to farm. -
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Ava Fitzcarl Timeline
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Boarding the Ship
Today I boarded the ship to America. There is no turning back now. I am in steerage, with horrible conditions and no personal space. I try to make the most of the ride by finding out information about the land I was about to inhabit. Some English immigrants on steerage like me have helped me with my English. With me I brought my farming clothes and some other necessities. I brought a warm, wool coat that my brother gave me, and silver neckace that my aunt gave me to sell in America. -
Arrival at Ellis Island
Finally! I push through the crowd on the ship to get my first glimpse at the Statue of Liberty and at Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty has a huge effect on all of the immigrants, rich and poor alike. It shows us the great fredooms and ideals that America, our new home, was founded upon. I leave the crowded ship and in a few long hours I go through the inspections at Ellis Island without a problem, -
Settled in a Neighborhood for Immigrants
I settled in a neighborhhod full of immigrants. It was a small home with four rooms. You paid the rent by room, so I only paid for one because that is all that I needed. I immediatly set out to find a good paying job, but was unsuccessful because no one wanted to employ an immigrant. I gathered the small amount of dollars that I had exchanged at Ellis Island and put them in a drawer, to save them up for the future. -
Leila
I started meeting a few of my neighbors that were immigrants like me. I made a good friendship with a Chinese immigrant name Leila. Leila was not her real name, but it was the name the Americans had given her when she moved here. As I keep getting rejected for a whole bunch of jobs for being an immigrant, I start to realize that America isn't as equal as I thought it would be. Leila and I are practicing our English together daily, and we are almost fluent. -
Shoe Making
I have finally found success with a job. Leila and I will be working at a shoe making company from now on. The pay for our job is very low, and we are getting paid less than men and native-born Americans. The conditions in the factory are pretty bad, and we have to work from 7 am thorugh 7 pm. Even though there are all of the downsides, I am overjoyed and relived to have found a job because I was almost broke. -
Winter
With winter approaching, Leila and I are worried if we are going to be able to survive through it. The houses we rent are really run-down, but it's all we can afford. We don't have enough money for blankets, and the warmest thing I have is the wool sweater my brother gave me in Ireland. We make a difficult decision. Leila is to move in with me, so we could use the money from her rent to buy blankets and other supplies to make it through the winter. -
Old Friend
Leila has received happy news from her good, wealthy friend in China. He has decided to move his family to America to start over. He was going to bring all of his money and valuables with him. He had told Leila that he was going to share some of the wealth with us, after hearing the horrible conditions that we have been through. Leila and I hope that the money he was going to give us was going to be enough to buy our own little home. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
My life took an ugly turn. I just received news that Leila's friend has been sent back to China. Now I will really run out of money. Also, Leila has taken from our home and deported. This is all because of some racist law passed by the United States' government. This law is called the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Leila's deportation has left me completely broke, hungry, and alone. I have decided to move West, to make money and get land. -
Heading West
I have been forced to sell my grandma's silver necklace for money; this was something I hoped to never have to do. I have bought a horse and a small wagon. I have also bought a few supplies, but mostly seeds and tools to use when I get my land. I joined a wagon train to head West. I have no money left because I spent it all on supplies, but there is no need for it. The land in the West is free and I will make my fortune farming. -
Washington
I have finally arrived to Washington State. Like I was promised, I received a nice, big piece of fertile land. I quickly start planting seeds to make sure I have food and things to sell. I started building a small house on the property with the supplies I brought with me. I have finally started farming, the thing I have been doing since my childhood. I have finally found my happiness in America. -
White Settlers
I farmed my land happily, up to today. Some white, American-born settler came today and demanded for my land, my crops, and my home. I was forced off my property by them. Now alone in the street, I headed to the postal office. I wrote Congress a letter, hoping they would care enough to understand my situation. -
Happy Ending
I have never been so happy in my life! I have received a letter back from Congress along with paperwork to get my land back. I quickly head over to my property and gladly kick the white settlers off. Now knowing that I will be happy for the rest of my life, I sent for my family back in Ireland to come and enjoy this life with me.