immigration HW from the New Americans Museum

Part 1: From Haven to Home:

This exhibit focused mainly on the experience of Jews coming to make a new life in America. The exhibit showed the hardships many Jews faced upon arrival as well as on their journey here. The exhibit had many showcased artifacts such as pictures and poetry from the time period that gave you a better understanding of the things that went on during this time.

Walking through the exhibit, I learned many new things. From the fact that Jews were actually banned from entering the borders of some states, to that a Jewish mobster founded Las Vegas. In the beginning of the exhibit, I learned a lot about how the first Jews that came to America were persecuted just because of their religion. Jews were denied their right to public worship, as well as the right to own property and join the militia. These injustices were stopped by our first president, George Washington, who offered the Jews in America protection and freedom of persecution.

The most interesting thing I learned in the exhibit was definitely how America began turning away the Jews that came here fleeing religious persecution. During WWII, America wanted nothing to do with the Nazis, so they stopped letting Jews come to America to escape the persecution they were dealing with.

Part 2: The Children of Immigrants:

Quote: "Tolerance means being accepting and helpful to others. It's about having your opinions and listening to those of others. Tolerance is about justice. Tolerance is about being a good American in a free country.

- Tobi Abegunde From Between Cultures.

I chose this quote mainly because I agree so strongly with it. I think the deeper meaning of this quote is that this is how this particular immigrant wanted people to treat a new American, but instead treated him with disrespect. This person wants the world to tolerate each other and support each other.

Picture:

The picture I chose depicts a group of German Immigrants holding an Oktoberfest in Chicago, 1996. The people are dancing inside a large group of people, and are very happy. The reason I chose this picture is because I have experienced something very similar. When I went to Germany, I attended a local festival where we participated in the same activities. Seeing the same thing happen in America was a very interesting thing, as I could clearly tell that these people had taken a part of their culture to the new world.