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Immigration and Westward Expansion
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Heading to America
I (Cara O'Domhnail) and my younger sister (Shannon O'Domhnail) have just ran away from Ireland because there were no good jobs in Ireland. When we get to America, we hope to find a well paying job, get free land to farm on, and be as moderen as moderen can be. -
At Ellis Island
My sister and I came to America through Ellis Island. We are Irish so we had to change our last name from O'Domhnaill to O'Donnell. -
No Jobs for the Irish
My sister has been staying in a small motel for the past few days while I hunt for a job. I have not been able to score a job quite yet because I am Irish and the Americans do not hire Irish very often for some reason. My sister and I have not been able to eat much lately. We ran out of money and are now living in the streets because we could not pay our rent. -
Job Offer Accepted!
After scavenging the streets in search of a job, I finally found a job for hire. I am now working in a chicken plucking factory along side with hundreds of other women and children. Lucky for me my sister is by my side. I think my mother would be proud of the work we are doing here in America. -
Accused of Murder
There was a murder where one of the women next to me in the factory got shot. I was suspected of the murder because I never really liked that woman because she was rude. I have now lost my job, I am in a jail cell, and my sister has been taken away. I most likely will never see my sister again. America is not turning out the way that I expected it to. -
Released From Jail
After several months of being stuck in a jail cell away from my family and any other human, I was relised from jail. The police had found a record in another woman's house, which included of murder in her past. She was taken in and found guilty. Now that I am out of jail, I have no where to go. I have no money, no family, no shelter, and no food. It is freezing outdide and the ground is covered in snow. I do not have that much hope anymore in America. -
Hope for Moving West
Yesterday I saw an ad in the newspaper about the homestead act and how it was passed to give free land away. Immideatly I ran to the nearest post office to see if anyone would help me. The lady in the office was very kind and lent me a bag.I don't know why I had never asked for help before. I assume it is just another one of my brainless ways. -
Moving West
The covered wagons left at noon today and I was among them, head high with my new hopes and expectations for America. We were heading west for free land. -
Into Oklahoma Territory
Today I arrived in Oklahoma Territory, it was a long and treterous journey. As soon as I arrived in town I bought a horse for money that I had stolen from man who was also traveling west. Tommorow I shall rase for land. -
Races for Land
Today I raced for land in the Oklahoma Territory. I was very strong at the beginning of the race, but something distracted my horse and made him fall over ontop of me! I am currently in a hospital bed with all of the limbs in my right arm compleatly demolished. I am very sad that I will not be able to race for land for atleast another week. -
Finding my Sister
Today I was aloud to get up and walk around and look at the other patients. There was a small girl in a bed who looked vagely familliar. In a few seconds I relized that it was my sister! She was in the bed eyes bloodshot and both of her legs were limp. I later found out that she had compeated in a horse race and also had fallen. The doctor told me she didn't have much longer to live. My miner injury was very lucky. -
Getting my Land
Today I stole a horse for racing. Nobody knew about it until I was already racing to my land. Nobody ever knew that I took it, just that it was gone. The race for land seemed much easier today and took less time, I guess I took a pretty great horse! I was racing to over my full ability and won! I won land! My life was almost compleate! The land I claimed had a river running around it and a lovely spot for farming. I still had no money, but I had land, and that was enough for me right then.
