1. What is the American Dream?
“The American Dream is a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement…It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”
James Truslow Adam in The Epic of America (written 1931)

2. EQ: How possible was the American dream for arriving immigrants?

3. “Rags-to-riches” dream
Horatio Alger novels
Andrew Carnegie
J.D. Rockefeller

4. Statue of Liberty

6. “New” vs. “Old” European immigrants
“old immigrants” = N & W Europe
(~10 mil) Britain, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Holland
Peak
“new immigrants” = S & E Europe
(~20 mil) Italy, Greece, Austro-Hungary, Russia, Turkey
Peak – 1907
Largest group - Italian Catholics

7. Chinese immigration to U.S.
,520 vs ,000
8.6% CA’s total pop.

8. 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese laborers could not enter U.S. & declared Chinese already living in the U.S. ineligible for U.S. citizenship (10 yrs)
In effect until 1943

9. Why immigrating? Jobs Overpopulation – China, Mexico
Famine – Italy, Ireland
Govt policies against Jews

10. Ellis Island ( )

11. Angel Island

12. Processing at Ellis Island
Interview
Medical inspections
~2% deported

13. Medical Inspections Symbols: B – Back C - Conjunctivitis CT – Trachoma
E – Eyes
F – Face
FT – Feet
G – Goiter
H – Heart
K – Hernia
L – Lameness
N – Neck
P – Physical and Lungs
PG – Pregnancy
S – Senility
SC – Scalp
SI – Special Inquiry
X – Suspected Mental defect
X (circled) – Definite signs of Mental defect

14. Where did they go?
Cities
Northeast
Midwest
Ethnic neighborhoods
Why?

16. Read document & answer Qs in group:
What are the living conditions for this individual?
Does he/she seem to be excluded from American society? If yes, how?
How possible was the American dream for this person?

17. Regroup and discuss: Share stories
Similarities between immigrant stories?
Differences?
EQ: How possible was the Am. dream for arriving immigrants?
At a disadvantage?
How possible is the American dream today?