Chapter 1 PEOPLE AND PLACES When Americans sing the National Anthem we hail our country as the land of the free and the home of the brave Brave people from all over the world have been coming to the United States seeking freedom and opportunity throughout the nation’s history Some places in the U S have become symbols of that bravery The First Americans Nearly every historic site in the United States sits on land first inhabited by Native Americans While U S History reaches back hundreds of years Native Americans were living there long before that 4
Like giant beacons New York’s Statue of Liberty and the massive presidential carvings at South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore celebrate the United States while also preserving its history They are two of the most recognized symbols of freedom 5
California’s Angel Island is a place where many people came from other countries seeking freedom and opportunity It sits near the mouth of California’s San Francisco Bay Angel Island Despite covering just 1 2 square miles 3 1 square kilometers Angel Islands location near the Pacific Ocean has made it a valuable piece of land since before California even became a state in 1850 6
Its role in the country’s history is unique Angel Island is where the hopes and dreams of thousands of people who came to America to find a better life were put on hold 7
