Faces of America

 In class we watched the documentary, "Faces of America." In this I learned a lot about famous people's pasts. Not only did I learn that but I discovered that we are built as a "nation of immigrants." I thought it was very interesting that you could be a different color but come from a background. For example, the narrator was African American but he came from Irish descent. Another interesting fact, was the work and discrimination the immigrants had to face. Their journeys were far from easy. They started a new life in America for many different reasons, most just looking for new opportunities. 

   To me being a "nation of immigrants" means that we have a diverse culture with interesting backgrounds. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for people to drop everything they had to move to America. These immigrants had to learn a whole new culture and become new people.  Their future generation wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for them. These traits have shaped America because we have brought not only different cultures but respect for other cultures and what they had to do to reach the United States. I feel close to my ancestors in different ways. Some family traditions revolve around the past. My family always has the best spaghetti because my great grandparents were Italian. I don't necessarily feel like they have shaped the way I am living today but I know that is the case for many. 

Andrew Carnegie

  Andrew Caregie had truly an amazing story. He grew up in a very poor family in Scotland. "I began to learn what poverty meant it was a burn into my heart that my father had to beg for work." Carnigie wrote. This was not how he wanted to live his life. His mother was scared of their poverty and borrowed 20 lbs so they could travel to America. When they first arrived Andrew was a bobbin boy but would take whatever job he could get. Eventually people started realizing how hard of a worker he was. Soon Carnigie worked on replacing a wood bridge into a steel bridge and earned more money than he could have imagined. After that his career really took off. He worked with Bessemer on converting iron to steel. In 1873 he invested in devolpment of the 1st steel mill in America. By 1900, Carnigie steel produced more metal than Great Britain.
  Andrew Carnigie's story was inspiring. After he lived such a hard life and watch his father struggle. He knew he could do something better. I thought it was amazing how hard he worked on what he did, not even dreaming he could get that much money. He didn't follow his fathers career but went on a path of his own. Most all sources say he went from "rags to riches", but I agree with this completley.


Andrew Carnigie

Sources PBS 1
New World Encyclopedia
PBS 2