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Immigration and Westward Expansion
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Immigration from China to America
On this very day my husband and I have reached America after traveling for months on a stinky overcrowded ship but it was worth it to get new opportunities such as all the new industrialization in America and to escape from the Taiping Rebellion. We have reached Angel Island in Sanfrancisco Bay. The only things we have brought are the clothes on our backs and some old heirlooms. My husband and I both passed the literacy test and are now being checked out for any dieses. -
Once in America
Once we arrived in America we had no where to go. Our expectations had been that we would have housing and a job within hours. We had little money to start out with. Today we have tried to sell our precious heirlooms and we have made over $50 but we both know this money will not last us. We have been waiting for hours behind a tavern for the food of the night to be thrown away so we can feast on what is left. -
Living in America
We have lived in America for three years now and we are struggling to thrive. Back in China the rumors of America were of all the urbinatzation and industrilization creating much more oppurtunites than we are expieriencing. I have gotten a job at a laundry mat making $0.25 for working a full day and my husband has not found a job yet and is still seraching. We have talked about moving West in search for a job and house. -
Moving West *
We have arrived in the West. It was a long journey, but we decided to come to the West because my husband would be able to work on the Transcontinental Railroad that was underway.He will be paid $27 a month which is less than the Irish and Caucasian due to the descrimination on us Chinese Immigrants but it will support us.My husband will live in a tent along the railroad and will be provided food where as I will live in an nearby town in an apartment. -
Casualty on the Railroad *
I have been informed that while trying to blow out rock to expand the railroad tracks, my husband was blown up along with seven other Chinese workers who were not informed of the explosive. I blame the Irish who felt threatened by all the new Chinese workers, thinking that they might take their jobs, yet the Irish were still paid $8 more dollars a month than the Chinese. I will dearly miss my husband and I am now a widow. I have no one to support me so I will need to get a job. -
Parents Immigrate Over *
Today I recieved a letter from my parents that said they have immigrated over to the United States due to drought on thier old farm and they have purchased a new farm in the West with the money they brought over from China. I have decided to travel to them, their farm is only a days trip away since I am already in the West. I plan to work there as a farmer and make a profit and to start a new life from the trajegic incident.
