In this transparency we see a group of emigrants leaving Hamburg,
Germany, for America around the turn of the century. This was an oft-repeated
scene throughout the period of the great immigration to America.
• In the five decades after the Civil War, roughly 1865 to 1915, a flood of
immigrants came to America. From 1865 to 1900, some 13.5 million immigrants
arrived in America.
• Wars, famine, religious persecution, and overpopulation were four of the
major reasons why people left Europe and came to the United States.
Processing Assignment: On the right side of their notebooks, have
students
create an annotated map to describe the journey immigrants made from Europe and
Asia to settle in the United States. First, have students draw a simple map
with these features: China, Philippines, Japan, the Pacific Ocean, Europe, the
Atlantic Ocean, and the United States. Then, as you discuss each transparency,
have students annotate the appropriate portions of the map.
Act-It-Out: Select three to five volunteers to walk into the
transparency and create a
30-second act-it-out of the following scenario: a German family is sending
their son to America on this ship. Have one student act as the son and three
other students act as his family saying goodbye to him from the dock. Make sure
the act-it-out touches on some of the Europeans’ reasons for leaving and their
possible feelings about it. Assume the role of "on-scene reporter."
Ask the son leaving:
• Where are you going?
• Why are you leaving your homeland?
• What do you expect to find in America?
• How do you feel about leaving Germany?
Ask the son’s relatives who are staying behind:
• Why aren’t you leaving for America?
• How do you feel about your young relative leaving for America? Will you ever
see him again?
• What is the real reason he is leaving for America?
|
