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Polish Immigration 

Diary of Serapina Kwiatkowski

by Mikaela Ditonto, Miranda Krolikowski, and Stacy Roberts

(MD)

Why did my family and i come over? 

     Where i lived, things were getting terrible.  Before the "wave" we left with, there was a even greater wave called the great emigration. (wielka emigracja)  People left because our territory was declared owned by other countries.  Russia and Germany decided that the polish language, education, and cultures should be banished.  Most of my extended family left, along with national leaders, heros, poets, ect.  They left to avoid punishment, which happened if you were caught practiceing the polish culture. You would be killed or sent to Siberia.  After the great emigration, the poles who were left lived in polish territories belonging to Austria, Russia, and Prussia. 

     The main reasom my close relatives and i left was because of the economical immigration. "for bread" (za chlebem)  We also wanted to leave was because of political and religous reasons.  Most of the people came from poor and overpopulated areas, so that could also be a reason.

     America had a lot of brilliant sounding ideas when we were in Poland.  It was a place to make a start, with cheap land.  It was known as "the land of opportunity" and a way to become rich.  It was an industrial nation and created a demand for unskilled workers like my family and I.  Plus the voyage there was not very expensive.

(MD)

Polish immigrants in line at the immigration office waiting to have

their passports checked and their luggage examined before leaving the country. (MD)

What was Ellis Island like?

Entering the country was a very scary part of the whole experience.  Since I didnt grow up in a very rich family,  we were 3rd class and went through ellis island before entering the country.  First we were taken by a ferry through the main building.  We left all of our things in that room and went on to climb the stairs to enter the great hall.  Docters examined you as you went up the stairs, to see whether you had difficulties or not.  Next we went though a full medical exam to cheak for spreadable diseases and such.  After the inspection, you waited for a long time depending on if you were waiting for someone else of your family.  My family got through everything completley fine, except my grandfather had a problem with his knee, and they had to hospitalize him for a few days.  But our family was very lucky. There were lots of other rooms and places people had to go through if they didnt pass some of the tests.  People even had to go back home sometimes because they wouldnt be allowed into the country.

(MD)

Ellis Island (MD)

What jobs did people in my family and other poles have?

Poles usually claimed jobs as unskilled, low paid workers. Jobs were often dangerous in a factory. For example: steel mill, packing house, railroad construction, etc.They founded many organizations, built different churches, published newspapers, and so on. All these activities had similar goals. This was to offer help to the new immigrants and make  them feel more at home.

(MD)

 Polish immigrants working on a farm in Michigan (MD)

(SR)

How did we adjust to a new life in America?

Most Polish immigrants were recruited to work in coal mines in Pennsylvania and heavy industries like steel mills, slaughterhouses, oil and refineries sugar, and iron foundries. They would work as much as they could but it still wasnt enough because they were still poor. At first it was hard to adjust to life in American because they weren't use to but but they managed.

(MK)

Polish immigrants coming off the boat into Ellis Island. (MK)

(SR) 

What was one immigration law that was passed by the United States government that affected the new immigrants?

One law that was passed was the law passed in 1882 which made immigrants pay a tax and also barred criminals from entering the country. Their also was a law passed in 1897 which passed a bill requiring immigrants to be able to read and write in some languages.

 (MK)

Polish immigrant family (MK)

Immigrant Family (SR)

What were the living conditions for new immigrants?

     The living conditions for new immigrants were not the best since most families coudn't afford a house themseves they would share the house with other families. This cuased the living conditions to be cramped, dirty, and a easy place for diseases to spread. The places where immigrants lived where known as tenements.

(SR)

What contributes to America did the Poles bring?

Every immigrant brought traditions from thier to america with them. Some contributions were a lot of different poles were in american wars.  Also Korczak Ziolkowski carved the Crazy Hourse staue in the Black Hill of South Dakota.  He also help carve Mt. Rushmore.  The polish brought with them the love for freedom, and independence.  Poles made flowers popular, and many polish woman wore flowers in their hair.  We also brought over the polka, mushroom soup, dumplings and the pickle in the christmas tree.

(SR and MD)

National Anthem Lyrics

(MD)