Grade level 4-5
Target language English
By Stephanie Apodaca
| alien | extanjero |
| illegal alien | extranjero illegal |
| ethnic group | sistema |
| native | nativo |
| permanent resident | residente permanente |
| citizen | citizen |
| assimilate | asimilar |
| immigrate | immigrante |
| emmigrate | emigrarse |
| deport | deportar |
The grouped material below suggests
a way to use resources to focus on major immigrant groups.
FROM ASIA
|
From Europe
|
From Latin America
|
Introduction
You will be learning about the massive immigration to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. You should be able to relate to the concept of immigration, because all of us can trace are origins back to somewhere else. From the first arrivals (Native American groups whose ancestors slowly immigrated across from Asia thousands of years ago), to the colonists who arrived in the 16th-18th centuries, the newest arrivals who came here from nations all over the world, we make up a nation of immigrants.
The Task
You and the members of your team are going to use the stories and materials on page two to help you see how your ancestors became partt of this nation and how immigration continues to shape the United States.
You will be using five pieces of information to do
all your interviews.
Classroom.
* Groups of students will then display a visual timeline of representing a
time in history when immigration took place and also write a on
3. What questions do you have about immigration that are not?
answered in the book?
4. After reading this book, what would you like to find out about?
Your own family’s immigrant background?
5. Who would you like to share this book with?
Math- your group will search out statistics
on the probable time of arrival of the first American Indian groups, and
the first Europeans.
Fieldtrip- Rancho de Los Golindrias
Spanish Game- Quien Soy Yo?
Has perdido tu memoria y no sabes quien eres.
Cada persona va a tener una nueva vida.
Uno de los estudiantes va a hacerle unas preguntas.
1912-1922 Immigration:
First Stop, Ellis Island!
By Michael Peros
Narrators (1-2)
Paulina Spigos: a Greek immigrant
Ivan Erdman: a Russian immigrant
Nicolai Erdman: Ivan’s son
Inspectors (1-4)
Commissioner Curran
Stefan Brodsky: a Polish ?American
Ida Brodsky: Stefan’s wife
Doctor
Act 1
Scene1: 1912, in New York harbor, on the deck of a barge approaching Ellis Island.
Narrator 1: Millions of people left Europe during the late 1800’s. They fled their homes because of hunger, religious persecution, harsh governments, or
The lack of jobs in their countries. Many had heard that the streets were paved with gold! From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island was the first stop in America for immigrants.
Narrator 2: Meet three new immigrants-Paulina Spigos and Ivan and Nicolai Erdman. They’ve already been checked for illnesses such as yellow fever, smallpox, and typhus. The ships they were on stopped in the lower part of the bay. Then doctors boarded the ships and checked the passengers. Now they’re being taken by barge to Ellis Island.
Paulina: The Statue of Liberty…she’s so beautiful Can you see the lady?
Ivan: Thank you, yes.
Nicolai: (to his father): America! Everything will be fine now. Nothing bad will ever happen to us here.
Scene 2: Later That Day. In The Great Hall On Ellis Island.
Narrator1: As the immigrants arrived, doctors studied the way they walled up the stairs to the Great Hall. (This was known as the "Six-second medical." Then the doctors would do a more thorough exam. After that, inspectors asked the immigrants a series of questions. Chances were if you were a man in good health, with no criminal record, and good prospects for employment- you’d be allowed to enter America within a few hours.
Narrator 2: The rule, however, were more strict for women who were traveling alone, like Paulina.
Inspector1: Your full name is Paulina Sprigos?
Paulina: Yes sir, Paulina Sprigos. I’m from Greece.
Inspector 1: The doctors tell me you’re in good health. You’re single?
Paulina: I’m engaged to be married, to Spiros Paniotis of Chicago.
Inspector 1: Uh-huh. And you know this Spiros Paniotis of Chicago?
Paulina: Of course I know him. I grew up with him. He came here two years ago with his parents. He says he is ready for me to join him. Here, it says so in his letter.
Inspector 1: Uh-huh. Since Chicago is too far away, how are you getting there?
Paulina: I have money for a train ticket.
Inspector 1: Uh-huh. Okay, Miss Spigos, only a few more questions- how much is five and five?
Pauline: Ten.
Inspector 1: How do you wash stairs/ From the top or from the bottom?
Paulina: With all respect sir, I did not come to America to wash stairs.
Inspector 1: I see. Your Spiros is rich, is he? You’ll have someone washing your stairs for you? Is this what your Spiros has told you? You see, Miss Spigos, this is exactly why we don’t like to let women in by themselves.
Paulina: I’ve known Spiros all my life. I know exactly what my life here in America will be like. Do you want to know what my life was like in Greece?
Do you care that I had no family there?
Inspector 1: Just calm down, Miss Spigos. We just don’t want you falling into the wrong hands. But you seem like a woman who can take care of herself. Just be careful. You can change your money here for American dollars. You can buy your train ticket here too. Next?
Paulina: Inspector? The Stairs? From the top to the bottom.
Scene 3: Same Day. An inspector’s office on Ellis Island.
Narrator 1: About twenty percent of all immigrants were held for further questioning. About two percent of these were sent back to their home countries. People could be denied entry into the United States for a number of reasons: If they had criminal records, medical problems, or if they might not be able to support themselves.
Narrator 2: Some times families traveled all the way to America, only to be separated.
Inspector 3: Mr. Erdman, why have you come to he United States?
Ivan: We had to. It was very hard for us in Russia.
Nicolai: Inspector, we are Jewish. Last year, our family was forced to move. My father found it hard to work.
Inspector 3: How much did you earn?
Ivan: About ten to twelve rubles.
Inspector 3: Hmmm…that’s about three dollars a week. Nocolai, what kind of work did you do?
Nicolai: I was a student- until the government said I couldn’t go to school anymore.
Inspector 3: Do you have a job waiting for you?
Ivan: No, Inspector. We now that it is against the law to have job waiting for us. But, well, my brother Leon is here. He is a tailor, also.
Inspector 3: What does he earn?
Ivan: About twelve rubles-I mean twelve dollars a week.
Inspector 3: Does he have a family?
Ivan: A wife, and four children. May I sit down? It’s been a very
Long day.
Inspector 3: The doc says your fingers are stiff and swollen. Probably arthritis.
Ivan: No, no, it’s nothing.
Inspector 3: Nocolai, what are your plans in America?
Nicolai: I am strong. There are many things I can do. My father will not have to work so hard here. I can take care of him.
Inspector 3: You have twenty-three dollars between you. Your father is a tailor, but look at his hands-he can’t work. And Nicolai, you have no job experience at all. Do you know how many young, strong men come into this country every day? I’m sorry.
(The inspector marks the letters "SI" on the shoulder of Ivan’s coat.)
Nicolai: "Sir What is this?
Inspector3: Special inquiry. It means your father will be deported, sent back to Russia.
Nicolai: But they will kill him! No! No! you cannot send him back!
Ivan: Nicolai, do not say anything.
Nicolai: Papa, Iam not like you. I cannot say yes to everything. (To the inspector) I will take care of him. I will earn enough money for both of us to live!
Inspector3: (shrugging) Maybe you can convince the Board of Special Inquiry?
Nicolai: What is that?
Inspector3: You can explain your situation to three inspectors. They’ll give you a translator if you want one. They’ll decide whether your father can stay. Next!
Ivan: Nicolai, we have been here a number of days. We have talked to soomany people. I’m tired….
Nicolai: Papa
Ivan: Look at my hands. They’re right. I can’t work the way I did.
Nicolai: You cannot go back to Russia!
Ivan: It’s my home, Nicolai. Just as America will be you home.
Nicolai: Please, Papa-
Ivan: No. My mind is made up. Now ?go to the inspector. Tell him I want to return to Russia. I want to go home.
Act2
Scene 1: 1922. In the Great Hall of Ellis Island.
Narrator 1: Between1901 and 1910. Over seven million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island. The numbers dropped during World War I. But after the war ended in 1918, the numbers started rising. As a result, the First Quota Law was passed in 1921. This put a monthly limit on the number of immigrants who could enter the United States from any given country.
Narrator 2: Stefan Brodsky, a Polish-American man who immigrated to he U.S. two years earlier, is pacing in the Great Hall. He stops long enough to stare at the faces of the new arrivals entering the Great Hall. Commissioner Curran, who is in charge Ellis Island, approaches Stefan.
Curran: Good afternoon. Are you waiting for someone?
Stefan: Yes, my wife Ida, Brdsky. She’s coming from Poland. Her ship’s a day late.
Curran: How long have you been in America?
Stefan: Oh, we’ve both been here for two years. Ida only ent back to visit her parents. Her mother’s sick. I only hope everything is all right.
Curran: No need to worry. I’m Commissioner Curran. And I can assure you that these little trips don’t count against he Quota Law.
Stefan: Thank you, Mr. Curran, but you don’t understand-
Curran: You see, if your wife has already been admitted to the United States and then she goed back to there homeland-well, ehen she returns to America, she’ll probably be allowed in. Even if Poland’s limit has already been reached
(Ida Brodsky, carrying a bundle, enters the Great Hall. She is accompanied by the ship’s doctor and an inspector. )
Stefan: I realize that, but you-
Ida: Stefan!
Stefan: Ida!
Curran: What’s that she’s carrying?
Stefan: I believe that’s ou baby. Excuse me, Commissioner (hurrying up to Ida.)
Ida: Stephen, look. He has your eyes.
Doctor: Mrs. Brodsky needs to stay here in the hospital tonight so I can check her out. The baby was born just last night.
Ida: Stefan, there’s a problem-
Stefan: What? What is it? Are you all right? The baby? What?
Ida: No, nothing like that.
Inspector 4: The Polish quota was reached yesterday. To put it bluntly- the mother can stay but he baby must leave.
Ida: My baby! They can’t send my baby away!
Stefan: Don’t worry, Ida. No one will take our baby.
Curran: Are you sure the quota has been reached?
Inspector 4: Yes, Sir.
Ida: Stefan, if our baby can’t come in, I will go back to Poland with him.
Stefan: Mr. Curran. Please, help us.
Curran: Don’t worry, Stefan, I’m sure we can work this out. (To the inspector) Where was the baby born?
Inspector 4: Aboard ship. On the Lapland, of the British Star Line.
Curran: There you are! The baby wasn’t born in Poland, but on a British ship. The deck of a British Ship, no matter where in the world it is, is the same as British soil. Include the baby in the British quota.
Inspector 4: Sir… the British quota was reached yesterday.
Ida: Our baby can’t come in?
Curran: Wait, wait. You said the baby was born on board the Lapland? That ship’s homeport is Belgium. There! The baby is Belgian!
Stefan: My baby is what?
Inspector 4: Uh…Sir? The Belgian quota ran out a week ago.
Curran: Inspector, whose side are you on?
Inspector 4: Sorry, sir, just doing my job.
Stefan: First my baby’s Polish, then he’s British, then he’s Belgian. Now what is he?
Curran: Look here, I’ve got it. You see, with children, it’s the way it is with wills. We follow the intention.
Stefan and Ida: What?
Inspector 4: What?
Curran: Here’s the thing. It’s clear enough that Ida was hurrying back so that the baby would be born in America. And the baby had the same intention- he wanted to be born in America. But the ship was day late, and that upset everything. So under the law this baby, by intention, was born in America. This baby is definitely an American.
Ida: Stefan. (Whispering to their husband) What’s you first name, Mr. Curran?
Stefan: We’d like to name our baby after you.
The End