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Immigration Timeline
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My Dad Comes to America and I am Born
I, Riccardo Guardia, was born in Italy on June 7. My mom needed to stay back with me becuase I am so young. She wants me to experience Italy has a young child. My dad needed to get out of Italy though becuase Yellow Fever has been spreading around and has already killed thousands. My dad didn't want to get Yellow Fever, so he left. My mom thought me growing up in Italy was more important than her not getting Yellow Fever, so that's why my dad went to America by himself. -
My Dad Arrives at Ellis Island
It took my dad a year to get to Ellis Island becuase he was steerage which is not a very high up level on the boat. Lots of people were really sea sick and he was on the bottom bunk, so that was not a very fun boat ride. When he got to Ellis Island, it was the most amazing thing ever. The feeling of America was amazing. He had to pass a physical examination. It was really lucky my dad made it through becuase of yellow Fever. He was so happy once he finally made it to America! -
My Dad Moves West
When my dad first arrived in America, he stayed in New York. After a year or two of being there, he realized he didn't really like a busy city. When my dad decided to move west, he was hoping to work as eaither a farmer or miner. He had been working in a sweatshop and he just wanted to get out of that situation. He decided he would stay in California. When he got there he got a job as a miner. -
Califronia Gold Rush
My dad has been in California for a while now and some miners discovered lots of gold. My dad wasn't one of the miners that found it, but he still got a lot becuase he was a miner. I am now a teenager and I have a hope of coming to America eventually. I know my mom won't want me to leave though, so it may be a while for me. -
No More Farm Land
I have now been living on my own for a while and still haven't found any farmland. Lots of poeple have been searching for farmland, so I don't have a very good chance of finding any for sale. Durring this time, the government anounced that they want people to immigrate to America becuase there is no more farm land. I was so happy to hear this news becuase I have been wanting to get out of America for a long time now. -
The American Labor Movement
When I arrived in America, I stayed in New York just like my dad. I also had to work in a sweatshop. I am so sick of the work conditions, so when the American Labor Movement happened, I was happy to help protest. The goals were to get safer working conditions and better pay for employees. We also wanted our bosses to start treating us more fair. -
I Move West
The sweatshop conditions didn't improve that much, so I decided it was time for me to move in with my dad. I have been living on my own for a while, so this will be nice. Once I got to California, I found my dad, and I moved in with him. Since his boss likes him a lot, my dad helped get me a job as a miner. This wasn't a job i would choose becuase it is dangerous, but it is good to have a job becuase i need the money. -
My Dad Dies
My dad was getting old, so he was going to have to retire really soon anyways, but he died becuase of a mining accident. This was so sad for me. I knew I had to keep strong and hold onto my job becuase other wise I would not have had enough money to pay for the apartment my dad and I had been living in. I hated being a miner, but I had to keep my job in order to have a place to live. -
Guardia Family In America
This was the year when most Italians came to America. The first and second class immigrants got to have their paper done on the boat, so they didn't have to go through Eliis Island. My family was steerage just like me though, so they had to go through Ellis Island. My family spread out everywhere once they got to America. -
I Find True Love
In my last year of being a miner before I retire, I found true love. I know it has taken me a while to find my soul mate, but when I was relaxing in a bar after a long day at the mine, I saw the most beautiful woman inside. I went up to her and I found out her name is Fiorelli. We talked for a while and just like that it was true love. After we got married, she moved into my apartment with me. I had to keep my job longer than I was hoping, but it was worth it.
