Coming to America

Coming to America

Coming for different reasons

• People immigrated to America for different reasons.

• Some people came from different countries in Europe where bad weather and diseases had damaged crops. People could not get enough to eat, so they came to America where they hoped to farm and have enough food to feed themselves.

• Other people came from countries in Europe where they had been treated unfairly because of their religious beliefs. They came to America hoping to be able to practice their religion. 

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Long Journey

In 1903 airplanes had just been invented, but many airline companies that we have now did not exist yet.

Travel by boat

People traveling to America from countries in Europe had to travel by boat. Before the advent of the steamship, a typical voyage by boat was difficult and took about six weeks; if the weather was bad, it took even longer.  

Multiple Choice

In the early 1900's how did people get to America?

• by airplane

• by steamboat

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty in the New York City harbor is a symbol of

welcome. The statue was placed

there in 1886, and from then on it was one of the first things many

immigrants saw as they sailed into the harbor. 

A Gift from France

The statue was a gift to the United States from the people of France. It was built by a French sculptor, broken up into pieces, and shipped to the United States. It was then put back together on an island in New York Harbor. 

A harbor is part of an ocean, lake, or sea that is next to land and is a safe, protected place for boats. 

Multiple Choice

How did the United States get the Statue of Liberty?

• They hired an Italian artist to create it.

• it was a gift from France.

Multiple Choice

Where is the Statue of Liberty located?

• In New York City

• In New York Harbor

Multiple Choice

What does liberty mean?

• freedom

• anger

• power

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty, as the statue is also called, holds a torch in her right hand that stands for freedom and liberty. She holds a stone tablet in her left hand. On that tablet is a very important date in American history: July 4, 1776. 

Multiple Choice

What happened on July 4, 1776?

• the Emancipation Proclamation was made

• the Declaration of Independence was signed

• the American Revolution ended

Ellis Island

Beginning in 1892, Ellis Island was the first place tha immigrants went to when they arrived in New York. 

Health Checks

When immigrants arrived on Ellis Island, doctors and health inspectors checked to see that they were healthy. 

If an immigrant had a serious disease, that person was sent back home. If they were healthy, they were allowed to enter the United States.

Multiple Choice

If you were an immigrant and you were very sick, could you come into America?

• yes

• no

12,000,000

About twelve million men, women, and children passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1924. 

After immigrants sailed into New York Harbor, they saw the Statue of Liberty. They first arrived at Ellis Island, where health inspectors made sure they were healthy in order to enter the United States. 

Open Ended

Why do you think that doctors checked immigrants' health?

I think doctors checked immigrants health because -----

Open Ended

Was it easy for immigrants to get to the United States?