1. The United States is, and always has been, a nation of immigrants. The Story of one immigrant, Christian Pfister, is a true American story-- that begins in a foreign country.

2. During the late 19 th and early 20 th Century tens of millions of immigrants came to the United States utilizing the new technology of the ocean going steam ship which made large scale immigration possible for even those of modest means. The story of Christian Pfister is the story of one particular immigrant among the millions. Pfister’s story differs in the particulars, yet remains a part of the greater American narrative of the “melting pot” where the old came to be molded into something new—an American citizen.

3. People, including Christian Pfister, seldom leave their country of origin for light or transient reasons. Usually, when people decide to leave their “mother country”, it is the result of powerful pushes and persuasive pulls Pushes: reasons to leave country of origin War Political Unrest Poverty Religious Persecution Pulls: reasons to go to one country over another Political Freedom Religious Freedom Economic Opportunities

4. What follows is the story of one brave man who had the courage and vision to leave the country of his birth to seek a better life for himself and his family.