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Homestead Act of 1862 is signed into law
Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act of 1862 which made new lands in the West open up for independent farmers because the Free Soil Party, a new Reupublican Party, demanded that lands be available for people other then just wealthy planters who would use their slaves to develop the land. With the law, anyone who had never taken up arms against the US (including freed slaves) and was at least 21 could file an application to claim a federal land grant. -
I decide to immigrate to America
There was very much poverty in Italy. Peasants would often starve, there was no job security, and we often had to do hard work in the long, frigid winters for low wages. Eventually I got fed up and did not want to spend the rest of my life barely making a living. I decided to take my wife Maria and my important family ring and immigrate to America with the hopes of a better life. -
Riding in steerage class
Not having very much money, I could not afford to travel in first or second class, so I had to settle for riding in steerage. Steerage was very crowded and very uncomfortable. Me and my wife had no privacy and we were often squished in between or very close to other strangers. -
Family heirloom gets stolen
As I was getting off of the boat, I noticed that my ring that I always kept either on my hand or in my front right pocket was missing. I looked all around the area next to me but I couldn't find anything. The ring was the only memory I had of home, and if I was really deperate for money I knew I could get a good amount of money for it. For the rest of the day I was fuming and extremely angry. -
Evaluation process
After the immigrants got off of the boat we all immediatly began to get evaluted medically and take literacy test. It broke my heart to see how many families got broken up because they weren't literate or they were sick. Both me and my wife were literate so I knew we would pass that test; and even though neither of us were sick I was still very relieved when we both passed. -
I decide to move west
While working at a construction job I got in New York City, I hear a lot about the benefits of moving west by the other Italian immigrants I was close to. Even though I am earning a decent wage, I am not completely satisfied with by job and start to seriously consider moving. After hearing about the Homestead Act of 1862 I decide to move to California and get a vineyard because many other Italians became successful wine makers in California. -
I get my own vineyard
After a long and hard journey to the west, I finally arrive in California and claim some land. With money I saved up from my construction job, I hire some people to help my start constructing my vineyard. So far a lot of Italians have had great success making and selling wine so I am very confident that my vineyard will make me a lot of money. -
My son is born
After lots of hard work building my vineyard without much time for anything else, I finally get a new reason to be joyful. My wife Maria successfully delivered our baby and we decided to name him Antonio after his great grandfather. Me and my wife now had a reason to work even harder on our vineyard to make sure we could provide a good life for our son Antonio. -
My vineyard is ready to operate
After exerting lots of time, energy, and money into constructing and planting in my vineyard, it is finally operational and ready to start making and distributing wine. California has favorable climate for growing plants so I am expecting my grapes to grow fast and grow ripe. I have high expectations for my vineyard and am ready to really start my new life in the west. -
Living the American dream
After a successful year of running my vineyard, I feel like I have finally found my place in America. I am making good money, providing well for my family, and enjoying the work I do. Ever since I made my first large amount of money from the vineyard, I have never once thought of going back to the old country. Here I am truly happy, and I am living the American Dream.
