Weize TanStory 7BApril 29, 2014American DreamThe American Dream was an ideology that believed that America was a country with freedom and opportunities for prosperity and success. Many Chinese immigrants believed this ideology and emigrated to the United States. The person who influenced my life the most was my great-grandfather. His experience moving to America influenced who I am today and where I live. In 1869, my great-grandfather decided to move to America because he heard about Gold Mountain from America. My great grandfather heard about a story that America is covered in gold, there is gold everywhere, everywhere you look, and all you can see is gold. With that story, my great-grandfather believed in the American dream and the Gold Mountain to lead his life and his family to a better future. In the 19th century, the Chinese came to Gold Mountain, as they called America, to join the gold rush that began in California. By 1851, news of the gold rush had reached southern China. More than twenty-five thousand Chinese immigrated to California to pursue this gold. This gave a lot of hope to the Chinese that they could make a fortune in money from gold. After hearing rumors about the Gold Mountains, my great-grandfather collected the savings of all family members so he could make the trip he needed to get to the United States. Most Chinese immigrants were poor male villagers who left wives and children with the idea of ​​making enough money to return to China. They were called sojourners. For example, my great grandfather left my great grandmother to take care of 5 children. When the lure of gold waned, Chinese immigrants simply came to work. Chinese could be found throughout the r...... middle of paper ......from communities within large cities to replicate mainland China, called Chinatown. San Francisco's Chinatown, where my great-grandfather lived, was for many years the most powerful network for Chinese people in America, and was home to many traditional businesses. For the rest of his life, my great-grandfather remained in San Francisco, continuing to support his family. My family didn't come to America until my aunt moved to America. My great grandfather influenced me to work hard in life to provide good care for the family. My great-grandfather left me with this quote: “To be successful, you must know your failures.” Work siteBrinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print “Chinses Exclusion Act (1882).” Open Collections Program: Immigration to the United States. Np, nd Web. 01 May 2014