Period 2 American Dream TTT
America is known as the melting pot, as there are people from all different countries who reside here. From the late 1800s, to the early 1900s people around the world immigrated to America, making it what it is today. About 2.5 million people made the long hard journey to live in the United States. From Sweden to Italy, to Korea, all different heritages participated in this. People wanted to escape poverty and war, and be free from religious discrimination. People heard money and gold was just lying on the streets in America. Many immigrants came to America hoping to accomplish the American Dream. The American Dream was a reality because there were lots of job opportunities, they were able to send their family over, and the immigrants could get jobs they felt passionate about.
The immigrants in America had a lot of job opportunities which is why the American Dream was a reality. The article Shutting Out the Sky written by Deborah Thompson states, “Marcus decided he didn’t want to be a peddler all his life. He found a regular job in a tailor shop” (page 7). This piece of textual evidence illustrates how Marcus found a job and had the opportunity to make money. Marcus did not come to America to be a peddler, so he worked hard to get a different job that he enjoyed. People just like Marcus did the same thing. The article Italian Immigrants written by Joseph Boccardo explains, “I opened up the place on my own the next week. The same shop I’m in now-just one chair- that was all there ever was. I did pretty well for myself” (page 1). This demonstrates how after just one short week, Joseph had the opportunity for a great job that made him successful. Joseph also kept this job and worked there for a lifetime. The article Rose Cohen: First Day in a Sweatshop the author Phillip Hoose wrote, “More than fifty thousand Jewish girls and women worked in the sewing trades….Girls were usually apprenticed to a seamstress at the age of thirteen. Mastering the sewing machine was hard, but it was worth it” (page 1). This piece of textual evidence illustrates that so many people were able to get a job and from just a young age and people were able to set themselves up for a good job just like Rose Cohen. Even though working in a sweatshop was not always the best job to have, these immigrants made the best of it and eventually were able to work at a better job. Job opportunities for immigrants were plentiful, proving that the American Dream was a reality.
Immigrants were able to make enough money to send their family over to America. The article What pushed immigrants from their homelands and pulled them to the United States? the author wrote, “You can write to your friends and send them money at any time, and we will be responsible for the safe delivery” (page 1). This piece of textual evidence illustrates how the immigrants could send money over for their family or friends and they could all live together. The mail was assured to arrive to them safely and the immigrants wouldn’t have to worry. The article Rose Cohen: First Day in a Sweatshop the author Phillip Hoose claims, “She kept working in shops and helped make enough money to send for the rest of her family” (page 4). This piece of textual evidence illustrates how a real life immigrant named Rose could reunite with her family in the United States and how she made enough money for her whole family. The article Chinese Immigrants the author described, “I worked for two years as a servant, getting at last $35 a month, I sent money home to my parents” (page 1). This piece of textual evidence illustrates that a average immigrant could be together with their family and parents and wouldn’t have to not see them for the rest of their lives. The immigrants made enough money for their friends or family to come to the United States which proves why the American Dream was a reality.
The immigrants were able to get jobs of what they felt passionate about. The article Relive a Boy’s Journey by Seymour Rechtzeit explained, “Many wonderful things happened to me in America. I kept singing as a young man and become a star of Yiddish theater. I appeared onstage and made many records” (page 3). This piece of textual evidence illustrates that Seymour became a great singer and a star. Not only that but he was able to follow his passion and accomplished his dreams. The article Rose Cohen: First Day in a Sweatshop the author Phillip Hoose states, “When her daughter Evelyn was born, Rose stopped working in sweatshops. She took writing classes and followed her passion, writing. She wrote five short articles and a book about her life. All were praised” (page 4). This piece of textual evidence shows how eventually with hard work, Rose Cohen had a job she loved and would be fun for her. Even though she originally worked in sweatshops, her hard work paid off and she was able to raise kids while working off a job she enjoyed to do. The article Shutting Out Sky written by Deborah Thompson the author claimed, “He graduated in 1909 and went on to study at the University of Illinois and Columbia University, becoming a journalist and freelance writer. Marcus Eli Ravage was the author of several books, including his 1917 autobiography, An American in the Making” (page 8) This piece of textual evidence illustrates that Marcus was a very determined person and graduated with something he was good at, which was writing. Even though it took a little bit of time to get to that point, Marcus was very ambitious and was able to live on his salary of becoming a author. The immigrants were able to get jobs that they felt passionate about.
To conclude, the American Dream was a belief that through hard work a better life was possible. The American Dream was a reality because many job opportunities were available, the immigrants could send their family over and reunite in America, and they could get jobs that made them happy or was passionate about and accomplished their dreams. Without the brave immigrants who left their whole life behind to come to the United States and risked everything, generations of people wouldn’t be here today, to make America what it is, filled with all different people with different heritages and backgrounds.