American Immigration

“Imagine a ne born babe in possession of a fully developed intellect. Would it ever forget its entry into the world? Neither does the immigrant ever forget his entry into a country which is, to him, a new world ... in which he expects to pass the rest of his life" -Abraham Cahan. The new world for immigrants was America it had a large amount of things about it that were difficult. The majority of immigrants lived in overcrowded tenement houses, but still called it the land of the “golden door”. The journey to come to America was extensive and tough and some still got turned away. Although immigrants that traveled here didn’t always acquire a friendly welcome, but they were fortunate to have this new home because they had the opportunity to move up in status, obtain land, and religious freedom. First, they had the opportunity to move up in status. In nearly all countries, it is difficult or even impossible to change your status. For most people born in a social status you stay there for your entire life. However, in America, they could work hard and aim to change it. If you were an immigrant you started at the bottom and learn all about the American costumes and the English language. Nearly all the jobs they could acquire required the least amount of skill and were the most dangerous. Still the possibility was there and …show more content…
In the majority countries at the time land was hard to obtain. European immigrants were often small farmers or landless farm workers. As population in Europe grew the land became limited and farmers could barely support their families. Quite a few immigrants came to the United States and migrated west and took up farming on the land that was available. In 1862 the Homestead Act was signed and enacted. The Act granted 160 acres to adult male citizens who will live on and improve these acres. This allowed immigrants who farmed to provide better for their families than in their old