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Failed Literacy Test
I could not pass the literacy test at the Ellis Island immigration station, so I got behind in the race for work in America. Since I came ffrom the Netherlands and only spoke Dutch, I could not understand English. I could not read the literacy test when it was in English, so I could not answer the questions. I could not answer the questions, so the people would not pass me and I would not be allowed into the country. Because of my delays, I lost valuable time in the race for new jobs. -
Period: to
The Gilded Age
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Factory Work Failures
Since so many immigrants were entering the country, I could not put food for myself on the table. Record setting amounts of immigrants were coming to America, so they all needed money. In order to get money, they all had to scramble to find jobs in the factories. Since people were racing for factory jobs, it made it harder to find a good one. Since finding a good job was so hard, I couldnt find one that I could work in well. Since I had no job, I had no money to feed myself. -
Wagon Train Hitchhiking
I finally found a really generous group of pioneers who allowed me to travel with them. All I had to do was hunt for food to put on teh table every night, which was fine with me. It would help me too, so I didn't need a second thought. This really could be my golden opportunity! When I get to the west, the hardest art of my journey will already be done. With teh Homestead Act, it allows even poor immigrants like me an opportunity to get good land to farm. -
No Money for Oklahoma
I finally reached the Oklahoma Territory, but since the deal was off now that our journey was done, I had nothing to come back to. The hardest part of my journey was already done, but I couldn't even get together enough money for a single horse. Now I cant even race for land! The Homestead Act cant help me if I cant afford a lousy horse. I would be really dissappointed if i got this far but couldnt go further. I'm so close! -
Selling My Personal Items
Since I had no food still and I desperately needed a horse for the land race, I decided to sell my extra set of clothes to a merchant in the Oklahoma Teritory. I figured I would rather get land to start making money and get some food than have the luxury of a change of clothing. This was teh west, you didnt need anything nice and fancy, just something that would keep you alive and well. I'll use the money for food first, but if I have any extra money I will use it for buying a horse. -
Gold Mining in the Rockies
When I abandoned my dreams of farming land from the Homestead Act, I got enough gold from mining and food to settle down. Because I could not obtain a horse, I could not participate in the race for land. Since I abandoned my dreams, I learned that another way to make money in the west was gold mining. When I learned about the rich industry of mining, I pursued that dream instead. When I hunted for gold in the west, I found enough gold so I could feed myself and settle down finally to rest.
