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Period: to
Immigration Timespand
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Dawes Act of 1887
The Dawes Act of 1887 made Native American's or "Indians" were forced to move in and share land with the immigrants/settlers. This affected Ratterty because the county that he moved in when he moved west (Morrow County, Oregon) was a county populated with Native Americans who were very unhappy when they were forced to give up and/or share their land. -
Irish Famine
An "aftershock" of the Great Potato Famine that had struck Ireland and other nearby countries earlier. The disease reached Rafferty Calhoun's town and he was forced to move but first he needed to be prepared to go to the United States so he needed time tp prepare. My characters name is Rafferty Calhoun and he origionated from Ireland. -
Arrival in the States
After getting through Ellis Island, he got a job at a local Sweat Shop to gain some money.
Some of his reasons to come over to the United States were:
1. The Irish Famine was going on which was an "aftershock" of the Great Potato Famine which spread disease throughout Ireland.
2. Lots of competition in his old town for jobs
3. He heard of less competition for jobs in America and he thought it would be wise to make the trip. -
Tayloring Shop
Once he gained enough money from the sweat shop that he was working at, he bought a local store and made it into his own Tayloring shop. -
Moves West
After making enough money at his Tayloring shop, Rafferty Calhoun thought that it would be smart to move west on the Oregon Trail. So he sells his shop, and goes onto the trail, which would take about half of a year to complete and get onto the west. Rafferty's reasons to move west are:
1. To live in a mild temperature and healthful environment
2. There is good and rich farmland for a low cost
3. To escape slavery and discrimination
4. New job opertunities with less competition -
Gets land and shop.
Rafferty gets 10 acres of land and sets up his Tayloring shop in a nearby town. He shares his land with a friend of his that he met on the Oregon Trail. His name is Mark Smith, he has came from Britain and is looking for open land to farm. -
Sells land for Lumber Corp.
In the North-West, there is an abundant amount of trees and forrests. During this time period, many lumber corperations were started to cut down these trees to make paper, houses, wagons, and other items. Rafferty decided that it would be wiser to sell his shop and give all of his land to his partner Mark. Rafferty joined this prospering industry and it payed off. -
Meets wife, Jane
Rafferty met his wife, Jane Peterson, who was a worker in a local town. When shopping for food, he ran into her at the market and they bonded instantly. Later that year they got engaged and were married months after that. Jane also came over from Ireland, she was from a more northern part then he was from but they shared some memories of Ireland. The county that they live in made new homes (thanks to the Lumber Corperation) and they moved into a house to start a family.
