Summary?

Meine Zusammenfassung:

The text is about the US and its immigration history. Thousands of years ago, only Native Americans lived there, but today it is called a nation of immigrants.. The famous railroad that we know today was built by immigrants from Japan and China who came in the middle of the 19th century. A lot of German people came to the US but some of them left because they were discriminated. When some of them stayed, however, they started a new life mainly in Pennsylvania but later they also start a new life in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Ellis Island is known as a museum in New York today but in the past it was called "The Isle of Tears" because when from 1892 millions of immigrants wanted to go through, they had to able to financially support themselves, had to prove their good health and they had to show that they were able to read and write. When they could neither or were not in good health, they were sent back home. From the millions of tears shed on Ellis Island the Museum received its popular name.

People who wanted to immigrate into the US have had a lot of problems since: in 1924, the US government passed "The Immigration Act“ and people from poorer countries weren‘t allowed to go to the US. Today, however, if people want to live in the US, they need a green card which allows them to live and work in the US. People are given 50000 green cards all around the world each year, so there‘s a chance for everyone to immigrate to the US

The United States, celebrated as a melting pot of diverse cultures, boasts a rich history of immigration stretching back millennia. Millennia ago, prior to European colonization, the land was inhabited solely by Indigenous peoples. However, a pivotal moment in the nation's immigration narrative emerged during the mid-19th century with the monumental undertaking of constructing the transcontinental railroad, a Herculean feat primarily driven by the labor of immigrant workers from Japan and China.

Among the waves of immigrants to the United States were German settlers, whose arrival was marked by various challenges and hardships. Many grappled with discrimination, prompting some to seek refuge elsewhere. Yet, those who persisted forged new paths, initially establishing communities in Pennsylvania before spreading across the expansive landscapes of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Ellis Island, now an iconic landmark in New York, once bore the poignant moniker "The Isle of Tears." Prospective immigrants underwent rigorous scrutiny, enduring meticulous health and literacy assessments. Those deemed unfit were denied entry, underscoring the formidable barriers faced by individuals in their quest for sanctuary and opportunity in the United States.

The landscape of immigration policy underwent profound transformations, notably with the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1924, which imposed strict quotas and restrictions, effectively limiting entry for individuals from economically disadvantaged nations. Today, the pathway to residency in the United States often revolves around obtaining a green card, conferring lawful permanent residence and employment rights. Annually, a quota of 50,000 green cards is allocated globally, providing individuals from diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to pursue the American dream through legitimate immigration avenues.