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Immigration and Westward Expansion
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Leave Italy
Father has just sold mothers finest dress, the last of our belongings. It makes me sad that we have lost this part of her, but I know America will be better for us. It seems like just yesterday mother died giving birth to little Amato. What followed however, was no better. The cities overcrowded and the landlord raised the price of land to a price my family couldn't bear and father had enough. So we sold everything and are now leaving for America to work for Uncle Adomo in his Italian Bakery. -
Arrive in America
We have arrived in America today making for what would have been a momentous occasion. However father died today, he cuaght some sort of nasty pox on this ship and left me to care for my six sibilings. I have no clue where Uncle adamo bakery is, and our luggage was stolen. Leaving the ship was almost as bad since a very angy group of Irish men started beating my brothers Alassondro, Alberto, and Ambrogio. They battled hard but left 13 year old Allassondro bleeding on the rough ground. -
Start Working for Uncle
After asking the Americans we have found Uncle Adamo's bakery. It is a rather sturdy looking building in the New York, and smells of fresh Italian pastries which makes me miss home. We are making 10 cents a day which is very well for Americas standards. One day, a week after we got here, a group of Irish men came and vandalized the shop. Uncle Adamo does not know if he cacn afford the repairs, and this morning the owner of the shop shut the doors for good leaving my family with no job. -
Married
I met a wonderful boy named Aiden, but he is Irish. I didn't know it would lead anywhere going out to see him, but he asked for my hand in marriage today. I married my true love that very evening, but when I returned home to my uncle he disowned me. I have never seen him so angry. Aiden suggested we move west since they are giving away land due to the Homestead Act, and we could escape discrimination, and my family. I loved the idea of him running a farm and me, a bakery. So I agreed. -
Move West
We arrived in Oaklahoma Territory last month. We have claimed our land two miles from town. Aiden said it was perfect for farming so we have built our home and planted our crops here. I was able to build my own bakery in town. I miss my family but I thank the Homestead Act and Aiden for bringing me here. We have started to settle into the Western culture and have even met another Italian and Irish couple. I love life here but life is seeimg a little to easy, -
Sibilings Come
My sibilings came today! I was so excited to see them, but they did not come for good reasons. My uncle died in a town fire and they had no place to go. Aiden and I have agreed to let them build a home on our land and my second oldest sister Alessondra has left snd married a man named Ambrogio, like our brother. He is a fine and wealthy man, and he makes her happy. I am so glad that my family is here and I'm amazed to see how far we have come in two years. -
Have First Child
I have had my first child, a son named Jay. It is an American name so that he will not be discriminated against, and it's not from Aiden or I's past in Italy and in Ireland but from our present and future in America. I sold the bakery to my sibilings too so I could care for Jay more and help around the farm. It is unfortainate though that my brother Alberto died three days after Jay's birth in a wagon attack. The whole family is extremely sad, and have named the bakery Alberto's in his honor.
