Cody Crouch: American Idol | Centuries Collide

February 22, 2025 | S2:E14

She’s over a hundred forty years old, stands three hundred five feet tall, and is covered entirely in copper plating. She’s Lady Liberty, the very first American Idol. This is the story of how America found her symbol of freedom and what she has meant to the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

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Centuries Collide | Cody Crouch: American Idol | Centuries Collide | February 22, 2025
  • >> cody crouch: i'm cody crouch.
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  • And this is the craziest crash course on american history
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  • You'll ever see.
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  • Buckle up.
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  • It's time for "centuries collide."
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  • [music]
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  • >> cody: today we're in new york city,
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  • The entry point for millions of immigrants
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  • At the turn of the century,
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  • And we're talkin' about one of the first american faces
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  • They ever saw.
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  • But before we get to that, new york is, has,
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  • And always will be under construction.
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  • Sorry about the mess, but this is a pretty good metaphor for
  • 00:00:29.152 --> 00:00:32.922
  • The reconstruction era.
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  • That was a time just after the civil war
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  • When the nation was done tearing itself apart and attempting to
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  • Put itself back together.
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  • America had put an end to slavery
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  • And given its black citizens
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  • The right to vote and own land,
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  • And as america formed this new national identity,
  • 00:00:51.074 --> 00:00:52.876
  • It needed a new symbol.
  • 00:00:52.876 --> 00:00:55.712
  • She's over 140 years old, stands 305 feet tall,
  • 00:00:55.712 --> 00:00:59.782
  • Including your pedestal,
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  • And is covered entirely of copper plating.
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  • She starred in movies like "spider-man,"
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  • "x-men,"
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  • "planet of the apes."
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  • Who can forget "ghostbusters ii"?
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  • [music]
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  • >> cody: actually, maybe everyone should forget
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  • "ghostbusters ii."
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  • But her biggest role is welcoming every immigrant
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  • Who has ever entered new york harbor.
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  • She is the statue of liberty.
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  • But how did she get here?
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  • And why?
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  • And what's up with the pointy hat?
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  • Let's find out.
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  • You know, liberty's not just comforting.
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  • She's a pretty tough lady,
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  • And you would be too if you had wolverine fighting mutants
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  • On your head or you were struck by lightning 600 times a year.
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  • That part is true.
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  • In fact, you could even say that there were lots of ladies
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  • Throughout history who auditioned to become the
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  • American idol.
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  • >> captain america: welcome to "idol search,"
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  • A fake game show to explain how we got the creation of
  • 00:01:55.605 --> 00:01:58.575
  • America's favorite symbol.
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  • >> captain america: today, we are looking for the ultimate
  • 00:02:04.113 --> 00:02:05.481
  • American idol.
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  • She's gotta stand tall with humility.
  • 00:02:07.217 --> 00:02:09.118
  • She's gotta be strong but soft.
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  • She's gotta be the ultimate symbol of freedom, inspiration,
  • 00:02:12.589 --> 00:02:16.359
  • And hope.
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  • >> male: i hate this.
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  • >> cody: for many,
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  • Lady liberty's
  • 00:02:21.464 --> 00:02:23.032
  • The first thing they think of when they think of america.
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  • Over four million people flock to liberty island
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  • To see the statue every year.
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  • She's regal, she's beautiful, and, well, she's green,
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  • But we'll get to that part later.
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  • Long before uncle sam first appeared in the 19th century,
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  • Artists struggled to depict america as a woman.
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  • Many nations took to a masculine image
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  • When it came to war or conquering,
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  • But when it came to symbolizing a homeland,
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  • They took to the woman.
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  • In this way, a nation takes the form of a mother figure,
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  • A place that nourishes and feeds.
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  • And the look of this american woman has changed wildly
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  • Over the years.
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  • >> cody: in the 16th century,
  • 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:06.009
  • European explorers told stories of an exotic new world
  • 00:03:06.009 --> 00:03:09.279
  • Filled with strange plants, animals, and peoples.
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  • To those at home, the new world might as well have been a
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  • Fantasyland of alien creatures.
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  • I mean, if you'd never seen an armadillo before,
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  • You'd probably freak out too.
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  • I mean, what even are they?
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  • Armored rat pigs?
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  • [plants chattering]
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  • >> cody: drawing upon these tales,
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  • European artists created a queen america to stand for the
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  • Entire western hemisphere.
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  • [singsong voice]
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  • >> queen america: i'm friends with queen africa, queen asia,
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  • And queen europa--
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  • You know, the four continents.
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  • >> male: there are seven continents.
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  • >> queen america: not all yet discovered.
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  • And like me, i'm ready to be discovered.
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  • [staccato vocalizing]
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  • >> captain america: when we return,
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  • We'll see america as a rebellious daughter.
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  • [music]
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  • No taxation without representation.
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  • [ding, ding]
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  • [music]
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  • >> cody: the rebellious daughter was created by satirists
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  • In the mid-1800s.
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  • The united states was no longer a monarch,
  • 00:04:19.349 --> 00:04:24.087
  • So a queen america didn't really work for the founding fathers.
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  • They needed an icon with some slug,
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  • So they came up with
  • 00:04:29.726 --> 00:04:31.461
  • Another icon,
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  • A rebellious daughter.
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  • >> rebellious daughter: i'm young, vigorous,
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  • And freedom-loving.
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  • And i won't drink your stupid tea--
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  • [grunt]
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  • >> female: what is happening?
  • 00:04:44.774 --> 00:04:47.276
  • >> rebellious daughter: whatever.
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  • I'm outta here.
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  • >> cody: well, that didn't work.
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  • >> captain america: up next on "idol search,"
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  • America has lady columbia.
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  • >> lady columbia: don't make me use my sword.
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  • >> cody: created in the mid-1800s,
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  • Her name was derived from the explorer christopher columbus.
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  • Illustrated as a greco-roman goddess with a flowing gown,
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  • She wore pristine white or the stars and stripes.
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  • Columbia displayed american virtues
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  • With her cap of liberty,
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  • Her sword of justice, the olive branch of peace,
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  • And the laurel wreath of victory.
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  • >> captain america: you've most likely seen
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  • Our next contestant before.
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  • She's lady columbia.
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  • >> lady columbia: i am military power.
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  • [judge snoring]
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  • I support the black vote, the women's vote,
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  • And women's place in the war.
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  • >> cody: in political cartoons,
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  • Columbia stood beside nurses in world war i
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  • And charged ahead for women's suffrage.
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  • Once the 19th amendment was approved in 1920,
  • 00:05:45.535 --> 00:05:49.205
  • Women finally had the right to vote,
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  • And columbia became somewhat obsolete.
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  • Once again, a new female figure had to take her place.
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  • [music]
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  • >> cody: the new idea was a goddess of liberty modeled after
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  • The roman goddess of freedom,
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  • An ancient look but with american twist,
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  • And what's more american than freedom?
  • 00:06:09.792 --> 00:06:11.093
  • After the passage of the 13th amendment,
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  • Which abolished slavery,
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  • The united states needed an icon that would stand up for liberty.
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  • She wasn't standing in the harbor until october 28, 1886,
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  • But the idea of her had been around for a long time
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  • Since the end of the civil war,
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  • Bouncing around the head of a french history professor.
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  • The creator of the statue was edouard de laboulaye,
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  • Born in paris to a wealthy family.
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  • He spent most of his career studying law, history,
  • 00:06:36.853 --> 00:06:40.790
  • And writing books, but when he began studying u.s. law,
  • 00:06:40.790 --> 00:06:42.725
  • He grew more and more outspoken against slavery.
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  • So as a gift for passing the 13th amendment
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  • That ended slavery,
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  • The french gave the united states the statue of liberty.
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  • She would walk us into the 20th century with those big,
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  • Beautiful sandals.
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  • The original design of the statue depicted liberty
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  • Holding chains and not a torch,
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  • With open shackles at her feet,
  • 00:07:05.581 --> 00:07:07.416
  • All symbolizing the end of slavery.
  • 00:07:07.416 --> 00:07:10.286
  • Unfortunately, jim crow laws kept the lingering stain of
  • 00:07:10.286 --> 00:07:13.756
  • Discrimination in our society.
  • 00:07:13.756 --> 00:07:15.157
  • There was still too much racial tension,
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  • And many black citizens felt that these symbols actually
  • 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:20.162
  • Trivialized their struggles.
  • 00:07:20.162 --> 00:07:22.565
  • This made laboulaye rethink the shackles.
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  • The design was reduced to just chains laying around her feet
  • 00:07:25.234 --> 00:07:29.805
  • As she would hold her famous tablet instead.
  • 00:07:29.805 --> 00:07:33.943
  • Her copper form would need an internal steel structure
  • 00:07:33.943 --> 00:07:36.045
  • To support it,
  • 00:07:36.045 --> 00:07:37.613
  • Created by none other than alexandre gustave eiffel,
  • 00:07:37.613 --> 00:07:40.416
  • As in, yeah, "that" eiffel.
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  • [music]
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  • >> cody: it took nine years to build the statue in france,
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  • Using a combination of new engineering techniques
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  • And old craftsmanship.
  • 00:07:52.695 --> 00:07:55.798
  • Craftsmen would assemble the large pieces one at a time.
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  • Then they shipped the torch to america to be displayed
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  • At an expo in philadelphia
  • 00:08:02.171 --> 00:08:04.106
  • While the head and shoulders were on exhibit in paris.
  • 00:08:04.106 --> 00:08:06.442
  • All the while, the base was being built in the u.s.
  • 00:08:06.442 --> 00:08:11.080
  • >> cody: the statue's skin was created
  • 00:08:11.080 --> 00:08:13.449
  • Using the repousse technique,
  • 00:08:13.449 --> 00:08:16.619
  • Which is just a fancy french word for
  • 00:08:16.619 --> 00:08:18.254
  • "hammering thin designs to create a reliefed design."
  • 00:08:18.254 --> 00:08:21.791
  • The statue was shipped
  • 00:08:21.791 --> 00:08:23.893
  • To the united states in pieces, like, one year at a time
  • 00:08:23.893 --> 00:08:26.662
  • And was reassembled with surprising speed.
  • 00:08:26.662 --> 00:08:28.998
  • And get this:
  • 00:08:28.998 --> 00:08:30.499
  • Many of the people who helped reassemble the statue
  • 00:08:30.499 --> 00:08:32.668
  • Were new immigrants.
  • 00:08:32.668 --> 00:08:34.737
  • [music]
  • 00:08:34.737 --> 00:08:36.439
  • >> cody: the statue's face was the final section completed
  • 00:08:36.439 --> 00:08:40.209
  • And was kept completely covered until its dedication.
  • 00:08:40.209 --> 00:08:43.179
  • Construction finally ended in 1886.
  • 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:46.849
  • This lady was not a cheap date.
  • 00:08:46.849 --> 00:08:49.652
  • Taking her out on the town cost $650,000,
  • 00:08:49.652 --> 00:08:53.055
  • Paid for by both countries:
  • 00:08:53.055 --> 00:08:55.858
  • France would pay for the statue,
  • 00:08:55.858 --> 00:08:58.160
  • And america would pay for the base.
  • 00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:01.998
  • >> cody: believe it or not,
  • 00:09:01.998 --> 00:09:04.400
  • The money wouldn't come from the u.s. government.
  • 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:05.701
  • Instead, it would be privately funded in one of the largest
  • 00:09:05.701 --> 00:09:08.537
  • Fundraising campaigns of all time.
  • 00:09:08.537 --> 00:09:11.040
  • In order to put her in the new york harbor,
  • 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:13.943
  • The money would be raised from everyday people like you and me.
  • 00:09:13.943 --> 00:09:17.713
  • There were prize fights, auctions, theatrical events,
  • 00:09:17.713 --> 00:09:21.150
  • Even famous newsy tycoon and nefarious newsy villain,
  • 00:09:21.150 --> 00:09:24.353
  • Joseph pulitzer,
  • 00:09:24.353 --> 00:09:25.755
  • Got in on the fundraising game.
  • 00:09:25.755 --> 00:09:27.857
  • If you donated enough money,
  • 00:09:27.857 --> 00:09:29.458
  • He'd print your name in the paper.
  • 00:09:29.458 --> 00:09:31.060
  • Finally, on october 28, 1886,
  • 00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:33.596
  • We had ourselves a new american idol.
  • 00:09:33.596 --> 00:09:36.265
  • [ding, ding]
  • 00:09:36.265 --> 00:09:38.467
  • [music]
  • 00:09:38.467 --> 00:09:39.007
  • [music]
  • 00:09:39.007 --> 00:09:43.874
  • >> captain america: the results are in.
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  • It only took a hundred years.
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  • Your next american idol will be announced after this message.
  • 00:09:47.744 --> 00:09:50.647
  • >> male: i will punch you in the throat.
  • 00:09:50.647 --> 00:09:52.282
  • >> female: yeah, me too.
  • 00:09:52.282 --> 00:09:53.216
  • [beep]
  • 00:09:53.216 --> 00:09:54.284
  • >> captain america: and the message is now,
  • 00:09:54.284 --> 00:09:55.552
  • Ladies and gentlemen, please meet your new american idol.
  • 00:09:55.552 --> 00:09:58.955
  • ["american idol" theme music]
  • 00:09:58.955 --> 00:10:01.958
  • [gasp]
  • 00:10:01.958 --> 00:10:02.959
  • >> female: you're a star.
  • 00:10:02.959 --> 00:10:04.928
  • >> male: even i think you're spectacular.
  • 00:10:04.928 --> 00:10:06.229
  • [cheers and applause]
  • 00:10:06.229 --> 00:10:07.564
  • >> cody: now, about that pointy hat,
  • 00:10:07.564 --> 00:10:09.232
  • Every part of the lady is symbolic.
  • 00:10:09.232 --> 00:10:10.567
  • >> male: every part of that getup looks like it's symbolic.
  • 00:10:10.567 --> 00:10:13.136
  • >> male: tell us everything.
  • 00:10:13.136 --> 00:10:14.905
  • >> captain america: the torch represents enlightenment,
  • 00:10:14.905 --> 00:10:16.773
  • Lighting the way to freedom.
  • 00:10:16.773 --> 00:10:18.775
  • The current torch is a copper flame made with 24-karat gold.
  • 00:10:18.775 --> 00:10:21.812
  • The crown represents a radiant halo
  • 00:10:21.812 --> 00:10:25.348
  • Or the rays of the bright morning sun.
  • 00:10:25.348 --> 00:10:28.351
  • The seven spikes represent the seven dwarfs.
  • 00:10:28.351 --> 00:10:30.153
  • >> lady liberty: yeah-- no.
  • 00:10:30.153 --> 00:10:33.924
  • They represent the seven continents
  • 00:10:33.924 --> 00:10:35.692
  • And the seven seas of the world,
  • 00:10:35.692 --> 00:10:37.694
  • But the tablet of law bears the day of american independence,
  • 00:10:37.694 --> 00:10:40.664
  • July 4, 1776, in roman numerals.
  • 00:10:40.664 --> 00:10:44.668
  • >> female: your skin is all, like, green, and i am obsessed.
  • 00:10:44.668 --> 00:10:47.804
  • [laughs]
  • 00:10:47.804 --> 00:10:50.440
  • >> lady liberty: it's actually made of copper
  • 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:52.676
  • And used to be a lovely shade of copper brown,
  • 00:10:52.676 --> 00:10:55.278
  • But oxidization caused by rain, wind, and sun
  • 00:10:55.278 --> 00:10:58.849
  • Gave me this distinctive green color known as verdigris.
  • 00:10:58.849 --> 00:11:03.487
  • >> captain america: maybe she's born with it.
  • 00:11:03.487 --> 00:11:05.188
  • [captain america singing]
  • 00:11:05.188 --> 00:11:06.289
  • Maybe it's verdigris.
  • 00:11:06.289 --> 00:11:08.024
  • >> captain america: verdigris for copper skin.
  • 00:11:08.024 --> 00:11:09.159
  • [music]
  • 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:10.560
  • >> cody: at the time, she was the tallest structure
  • 00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:12.729
  • In new york city, and as she drew crowds,
  • 00:11:12.729 --> 00:11:14.464
  • She made ellis island one of the most popular destinations
  • 00:11:14.464 --> 00:11:17.701
  • In the world.
  • 00:11:17.701 --> 00:11:20.137
  • >> cody: the island served as a navy munitions depot
  • 00:11:20.137 --> 00:11:22.539
  • Before it was turned into a federal immigration station.
  • 00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:25.575
  • At the same time the statue was going up,
  • 00:11:25.575 --> 00:11:28.378
  • Millions of immigrants started arriving into new york harbor,
  • 00:11:28.378 --> 00:11:31.715
  • And the association stuck,
  • 00:11:31.715 --> 00:11:34.918
  • Cementing old liberty as a welcome to all immigrants,
  • 00:11:34.918 --> 00:11:38.021
  • And it's a welcome that she still extends to this day.
  • 00:11:38.021 --> 00:11:41.658
  • >> cody: in order to learn more about the statue of liberty
  • 00:11:41.658 --> 00:11:43.894
  • And everything she represents,
  • 00:11:43.894 --> 00:11:46.730
  • I need to talk to national park ranger kathryn gibson
  • 00:11:46.730 --> 00:11:49.933
  • Here on liberty island.
  • 00:11:49.933 --> 00:11:51.568
  • >> cody: ranger kathryn, thanks for being with us on
  • 00:11:51.568 --> 00:11:53.303
  • "centuries collide."
  • 00:11:53.303 --> 00:11:54.604
  • Where exactly are we?
  • 00:11:54.604 --> 00:11:57.507
  • >> kathryn gibson: we are in the torch gallery of
  • 00:11:57.507 --> 00:11:58.809
  • The "new museum," as we like to call it,
  • 00:11:58.809 --> 00:12:00.043
  • Here at the statue of liberty,
  • 00:12:00.043 --> 00:12:01.111
  • On liberty island, in the new york harbor.
  • 00:12:01.111 --> 00:12:03.046
  • >> cody: so what kind of things are done to maintain the statue?
  • 00:12:03.046 --> 00:12:05.448
  • >> kathryn: she did have some major work
  • 00:12:05.448 --> 00:12:07.050
  • At her 100th birthday.
  • 00:12:07.050 --> 00:12:09.152
  • They had made some choices in the early years
  • 00:12:09.152 --> 00:12:12.522
  • To cut some holes in the original torch,
  • 00:12:12.522 --> 00:12:14.558
  • Trying to turn her into a lighthouse.
  • 00:12:14.558 --> 00:12:17.894
  • That didn't really ever turn out the way
  • 00:12:17.894 --> 00:12:19.196
  • That they kind of thought that it might turn out,
  • 00:12:19.196 --> 00:12:21.031
  • And that let in a ton of water
  • 00:12:21.031 --> 00:12:23.266
  • Into the statue over those first 100 years.
  • 00:12:23.266 --> 00:12:27.003
  • But overall, she's really an independent woman.
  • 00:12:27.003 --> 00:12:28.638
  • The green patina that turns her green really takes care of the
  • 00:12:28.638 --> 00:12:31.308
  • Inside of the statue; so she doesn't really need a lot of
  • 00:12:31.308 --> 00:12:33.977
  • Help from us.
  • 00:12:33.977 --> 00:12:35.312
  • >> cody: so this is the original torch, correct?
  • 00:12:35.312 --> 00:12:36.746
  • >> kathryn: yes.
  • 00:12:36.746 --> 00:12:38.415
  • So this stood on the statue for a hundred years.
  • 00:12:38.415 --> 00:12:40.817
  • I almost appreciate the fact that they made basically
  • 00:12:40.817 --> 00:12:42.686
  • Some mistakes on this torch
  • 00:12:42.686 --> 00:12:43.987
  • Because it means that now we get to get so up-close to it.
  • 00:12:43.987 --> 00:12:47.157
  • I mean, you would only be able to get this close
  • 00:12:47.157 --> 00:12:48.825
  • In a helicopter tour.
  • 00:12:48.825 --> 00:12:50.193
  • >> cody: yeah.
  • 00:12:50.193 --> 00:12:51.194
  • >> kathryn: and it's really interesting
  • 00:12:51.194 --> 00:12:52.629
  • Because the original purpose of the statue
  • 00:12:52.629 --> 00:12:56.032
  • Was not really to celebrate immigration
  • 00:12:56.032 --> 00:12:57.300
  • Or wasn't really a statement about immigration.
  • 00:12:57.300 --> 00:12:59.269
  • It was really just a gift from the people of france
  • 00:12:59.269 --> 00:13:01.071
  • To celebrate democracy,
  • 00:13:01.071 --> 00:13:03.406
  • To celebrate the 100 years since the signing of
  • 00:13:03.406 --> 00:13:07.444
  • The declaration of independence.
  • 00:13:07.444 --> 00:13:09.713
  • It wasn't originally an idea about immigration;
  • 00:13:09.713 --> 00:13:12.549
  • So deciding to put
  • 00:13:12.549 --> 00:13:15.118
  • "the new colossus" inside the pedestal
  • 00:13:15.118 --> 00:13:16.786
  • And memorialize a poem
  • 00:13:16.786 --> 00:13:18.855
  • That's so clearly about immigration is one of the
  • 00:13:18.855 --> 00:13:20.290
  • Many reasons why people hold the statue of liberty as a
  • 00:13:20.290 --> 00:13:21.892
  • Symbol of immigration.
  • 00:13:21.892 --> 00:13:23.793
  • You know, it's also very close in proximity to ellis island,
  • 00:13:23.793 --> 00:13:26.429
  • Which was the first federal immigration inspection station
  • 00:13:26.429 --> 00:13:29.032
  • In the united states.
  • 00:13:29.032 --> 00:13:30.300
  • So even though that wasn't the original intention
  • 00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:32.569
  • For the creators of the statue,
  • 00:13:32.569 --> 00:13:36.106
  • Emma lazarus and her legacy definitely helped to, kind of,
  • 00:13:36.106 --> 00:13:38.508
  • Link those two ideas together.
  • 00:13:38.508 --> 00:13:40.677
  • Because she's so neutral and universal,
  • 00:13:40.677 --> 00:13:43.847
  • You're really able to see whatever your own personal ideas
  • 00:13:43.847 --> 00:13:46.283
  • Of liberty and freedom are in the statue itself.
  • 00:13:46.283 --> 00:13:49.052
  • That's why she's endured as such a symbol of american pride
  • 00:13:49.052 --> 00:13:52.589
  • And freedom.
  • 00:13:52.589 --> 00:13:54.090
  • [music]
  • 00:13:54.090 --> 00:13:54.991
  • [ding, ding]
  • 00:13:54.991 --> 00:13:56.860
  • [music]
  • 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.006
  • [music]
  • 00:13:57.006 --> 00:14:01.332
  • >> cody: after being greeted by the statue of liberty
  • 00:13:58.429 --> 00:14:02.333
  • In the new york harbor,
  • 00:14:02.333 --> 00:14:03.801
  • Immigrants would travel to ellis island to be processed
  • 00:14:03.801 --> 00:14:06.070
  • Into the united states.
  • 00:14:06.070 --> 00:14:08.506
  • [irish accent]
  • 00:14:08.506 --> 00:14:09.240
  • >> annie moore: i'm annie moore,
  • 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.741
  • A teenager from county cork, ireland.
  • 00:14:10.741 --> 00:14:12.677
  • I was the first immigrant to set foot on ellis island,
  • 00:14:12.677 --> 00:14:15.246
  • New year's day, 1892.
  • 00:14:15.246 --> 00:14:18.182
  • >> cody: from 1892 to 1954, ellis island processed more than
  • 00:14:18.182 --> 00:14:22.920
  • 12 million immigrants in the united states.
  • 00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:24.855
  • Even today, tens of millions of americans
  • 00:14:24.855 --> 00:14:27.792
  • Can trace their family roots to this place.
  • 00:14:27.792 --> 00:14:33.831
  • [music]
  • 00:14:33.831 --> 00:14:35.199
  • >> cody: many immigrants came here to ellis island with their
  • 00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:37.401
  • Entire lives packed on their backs.
  • 00:14:37.401 --> 00:14:41.005
  • Hopefully, they didn't have a limit for checked bags.
  • 00:14:41.005 --> 00:14:43.741
  • [ba-dum-tss]
  • 00:14:43.741 --> 00:14:45.042
  • >> cody: many who came here were escaping religious, racial,
  • 00:14:45.042 --> 00:14:45.977
  • Or political persecution.
  • 00:14:45.977 --> 00:14:47.478
  • Some were just seeking better job opportunities,
  • 00:14:47.478 --> 00:14:49.747
  • Or in the case of famine,
  • 00:14:49.747 --> 00:14:51.649
  • Some just needed to go someplace where they could get
  • 00:14:51.649 --> 00:14:54.085
  • More to eat.
  • 00:14:54.085 --> 00:14:55.319
  • >> cody: many greek and italian laborers were lured here
  • 00:14:55.319 --> 00:14:59.156
  • By contract labor offered by these guys called "padrones."
  • 00:14:59.156 --> 00:15:02.326
  • But these jobs could be in hazardous conditions
  • 00:15:02.326 --> 00:15:05.029
  • With very low pay
  • 00:15:05.029 --> 00:15:06.397
  • Lowered even further once the padrones got their cut.
  • 00:15:06.397 --> 00:15:11.936
  • But for many immigrants, it was-- ["godfather" accent]
  • 00:15:11.936 --> 00:15:13.437
  • -- it was an offer they couldn't refuse.
  • 00:15:13.437 --> 00:15:15.439
  • [italian accent]
  • 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:16.474
  • >> male: they asked me if i was a communist.
  • 00:15:16.474 --> 00:15:20.044
  • I said, "no, i'm not a communist."
  • 00:15:20.044 --> 00:15:22.279
  • I'm italian."
  • 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.781
  • [ding, kiss]
  • 00:15:23.781 --> 00:15:25.182
  • >> cody: soon it was clear that certain industries
  • 00:15:25.182 --> 00:15:27.018
  • Attracted certain nationalities.
  • 00:15:27.018 --> 00:15:28.719
  • Hungarians, poles, slovaks, bohemians, and italians
  • 00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:32.223
  • Flocked to the coal mines or the steel mills.
  • 00:15:32.223 --> 00:15:36.060
  • The greeks preferred the textile mills.
  • 00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:38.529
  • Russian and polish jews worked the needle trades
  • 00:15:38.529 --> 00:15:40.398
  • Or pushcart markets of new york.
  • 00:15:40.398 --> 00:15:42.366
  • Railroad companies advertised free or cheap farmland,
  • 00:15:42.366 --> 00:15:45.569
  • Sending pamphlets overseas to lure farmworkers,
  • 00:15:45.569 --> 00:15:49.573
  • But the vast majority of immigrants
  • 00:15:49.573 --> 00:15:51.142
  • Crowded into the cities,
  • 00:15:51.142 --> 00:15:52.476
  • Which held the biggest promise of a shiny new life.
  • 00:15:52.476 --> 00:15:55.346
  • [yiddish accent]
  • 00:15:55.346 --> 00:15:56.447
  • >> male: america wasn't exactly what i expected.
  • 00:15:56.447 --> 00:15:58.616
  • I heard the streets were paved with gold, but when i got here,
  • 00:15:58.616 --> 00:16:04.088
  • I found out three things:
  • 00:16:04.088 --> 00:16:05.656
  • First, the streets weren't paved with gold.
  • 00:16:05.656 --> 00:16:09.326
  • Second, the streets weren't paved at all.
  • 00:16:09.326 --> 00:16:13.097
  • And, third, i was expected to pave them.
  • 00:16:13.097 --> 00:16:17.334
  • What kind of schlemiel-- what?
  • 00:16:17.334 --> 00:16:19.203
  • To have an old latke
  • 00:16:19.203 --> 00:16:20.538
  • Like me paving the street?
  • 00:16:20.538 --> 00:16:21.439
  • I ask you, who's the mashugana now?
  • 00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:26.777
  • [music]
  • 00:16:26.777 --> 00:16:28.012
  • >> cody: if these bags could talk, huh?
  • 00:16:28.012 --> 00:16:29.580
  • They'd probably say somethin' like,
  • 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:31.082
  • "hey, cody, why does it take so long to immigrate
  • 00:16:31.082 --> 00:16:33.851
  • To the united states?"
  • 00:16:33.851 --> 00:16:35.853
  • And i'd probably say something like,
  • 00:16:35.853 --> 00:16:36.954
  • "well, it's because, if you're more than a bag,
  • 00:16:36.954 --> 00:16:39.223
  • It's 'cause there was, like, a ton of steps."
  • 00:16:39.223 --> 00:16:42.793
  • >> cody: after a long and rocky voyage at sea,
  • 00:16:42.793 --> 00:16:45.096
  • Immigrants arrived at ellis island to be herded through a
  • 00:16:45.096 --> 00:16:47.865
  • Barnlike structure into long lines.
  • 00:16:47.865 --> 00:16:51.435
  • Then they were tagged.
  • 00:16:51.435 --> 00:16:53.370
  • These tags had travel information,
  • 00:16:53.370 --> 00:16:55.606
  • Entries from ships' logs, their netflix password, you know,
  • 00:16:55.606 --> 00:16:57.975
  • The usual stuff.
  • 00:16:57.975 --> 00:17:01.479
  • Then they got in a new line where a government
  • 00:17:01.479 --> 00:17:04.181
  • Inspector asked them a list of 29 probing questions such as
  • 00:17:04.181 --> 00:17:05.683
  • "have you any money, relatives, or a job in the united states?
  • 00:17:05.683 --> 00:17:09.887
  • Are you a polygamist?
  • 00:17:09.887 --> 00:17:11.288
  • An anarchist?
  • 00:17:11.288 --> 00:17:13.524
  • Do you prefer crunchy or smooth peanut butter?"
  • 00:17:13.524 --> 00:17:16.193
  • You know, important stuff.
  • 00:17:16.193 --> 00:17:17.995
  • >> cody: and then they waited in another long line
  • 00:17:17.995 --> 00:17:19.763
  • For a medical inspection.
  • 00:17:19.763 --> 00:17:21.565
  • Here, doctors and nurses would poke and prod you,
  • 00:17:21.565 --> 00:17:23.968
  • Looking for any signs of disease or handicap
  • 00:17:23.968 --> 00:17:25.703
  • To determine if you were fit for entry into the united states.
  • 00:17:25.703 --> 00:17:29.106
  • >> male: wiggle your toes.
  • 00:17:29.106 --> 00:17:30.641
  • Say, "ahhh."
  • 00:17:30.641 --> 00:17:31.809
  • >> male: ahhh.
  • 00:17:31.809 --> 00:17:33.110
  • >> male: sorry, this stethoscope will probably be pretty cold.
  • 00:17:33.110 --> 00:17:35.012
  • [shrieks]
  • 00:17:35.012 --> 00:17:36.313
  • >> cody: good news is only 2% of people were turned away.
  • 00:17:36.313 --> 00:17:38.382
  • An average of 1,900 people passed through this process,
  • 00:17:38.382 --> 00:17:45.456
  • Checked in at these desks, and gave their names every day.
  • 00:17:45.456 --> 00:17:48.592
  • If they did not receive a stamp of approval,
  • 00:17:48.592 --> 00:17:50.394
  • Perhaps because they were criminals, anarchists,
  • 00:17:50.394 --> 00:17:53.030
  • Or disease-carriers,
  • 00:17:53.030 --> 00:17:54.732
  • Then they were sent back to their place of origin.
  • 00:17:54.732 --> 00:17:56.467
  • Most of the time, this all only took a few hours,
  • 00:17:56.467 --> 00:18:01.539
  • But some people could be detained for days or weeks.
  • 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:03.974
  • >> male: i'm dying.
  • 00:18:03.974 --> 00:18:05.009
  • I've been waiting for over 300 days.
  • 00:18:05.009 --> 00:18:08.812
  • >> cody: when they finally made it through,
  • 00:18:08.812 --> 00:18:10.314
  • It was off to make their way in new york city,
  • 00:18:10.314 --> 00:18:11.715
  • Or they could hop on a train or a barge in new jersey.
  • 00:18:11.715 --> 00:18:15.219
  • They could find themselves all the way across the country.
  • 00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:18.889
  • [music]
  • 00:18:18.889 --> 00:18:22.660
  • >> cody: the greatest surge of immigration took place in the
  • 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:25.062
  • Progressive era, from 1896 to 1916.
  • 00:18:25.062 --> 00:18:28.933
  • With millions of new immigrants suddenly arriving,
  • 00:18:28.933 --> 00:18:31.302
  • Resources to help out were in short supply.
  • 00:18:31.302 --> 00:18:34.605
  • Many of these people were starting their lives over
  • 00:18:34.605 --> 00:18:36.974
  • From scratch.
  • 00:18:36.974 --> 00:18:38.542
  • They needed jobs, places to live.
  • 00:18:38.542 --> 00:18:40.945
  • Some needed to learn entirely new languages.
  • 00:18:40.945 --> 00:18:43.814
  • [music]
  • 00:18:43.814 --> 00:18:45.216
  • [ding, ding]
  • 00:18:45.216 --> 00:18:47.006
  • [ding, ding]
  • 00:18:47.006 --> 00:18:48.386
  • [music]
  • 00:18:48.386 --> 00:18:51.323
  • >> cody: for newcomers arriving without family,
  • 00:18:51.323 --> 00:18:53.258
  • They found comfort in neighborhoods mostly populated
  • 00:18:53.258 --> 00:18:56.361
  • By their fellow countrymen.
  • 00:18:56.361 --> 00:18:58.196
  • Here, they could talk in their native tongue,
  • 00:18:58.196 --> 00:19:00.398
  • Practice their religion,
  • 00:19:00.398 --> 00:19:02.200
  • And enjoy cultural celebrations that reminded them of home.
  • 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:06.504
  • But a new life in a new country wasn't easy.
  • 00:19:06.504 --> 00:19:08.840
  • So who could help them get started?
  • 00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:10.275
  • Believe it or not,
  • 00:19:10.275 --> 00:19:11.743
  • The best resource for the immigrant was the church.
  • 00:19:11.743 --> 00:19:16.681
  • Every christian denomination came together to care for these
  • 00:19:16.681 --> 00:19:19.517
  • Immigrant families.
  • 00:19:19.517 --> 00:19:21.253
  • If you needed a job, the church was a great place to start.
  • 00:19:21.253 --> 00:19:24.589
  • They were the established hubs of their communities.
  • 00:19:24.589 --> 00:19:27.959
  • In any barrio or neighborhood, those who ministered to the
  • 00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:31.696
  • Needs of its people gained their trust and confidence.
  • 00:19:31.696 --> 00:19:36.001
  • In fact, most local churches and pastors were on first-name basis
  • 00:19:36.001 --> 00:19:39.904
  • With the nearby shop owners.
  • 00:19:39.904 --> 00:19:41.573
  • [music]
  • 00:19:41.573 --> 00:19:43.708
  • >> cody: getting a job recommendation
  • 00:19:43.708 --> 00:19:45.310
  • From a place of worship
  • 00:19:45.310 --> 00:19:46.878
  • Was way safer and more reliable for the immigrant
  • 00:19:46.878 --> 00:19:48.213
  • And the employer alike.
  • 00:19:48.213 --> 00:19:50.382
  • If someone needed a place to live,
  • 00:19:50.382 --> 00:19:52.050
  • The church already knew someone in their own congregation
  • 00:19:52.050 --> 00:19:54.352
  • That could provide a bed and room for rent.
  • 00:19:54.352 --> 00:19:57.956
  • If you needed supplies or food, the church food banks were
  • 00:19:57.956 --> 00:20:00.725
  • Already established.
  • 00:20:00.725 --> 00:20:03.461
  • They could provide a number of needs, no questions asked.
  • 00:20:03.461 --> 00:20:05.897
  • No matter the denomination,
  • 00:20:05.897 --> 00:20:09.301
  • The church showed a united front as a landing pad
  • 00:20:09.301 --> 00:20:12.637
  • For the immigrants that found themselves at square one.
  • 00:20:12.637 --> 00:20:16.641
  • [music]
  • 00:20:16.641 --> 00:20:18.476
  • So many of our great minds immigrated here:
  • 00:20:18.476 --> 00:20:21.012
  • Albert einstein, irving berlin, bob hope, chef boyardee.
  • 00:20:21.012 --> 00:20:24.783
  • Can you imagine life without spaghettios?
  • 00:20:24.783 --> 00:20:27.218
  • Because i can't.
  • 00:20:27.218 --> 00:20:28.320
  • And when they got here, lady liberty was waitin'
  • 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:31.756
  • For 'em.
  • 00:20:31.756 --> 00:20:34.059
  • It seems america had found her american idol.
  • 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:35.927
  • From queen america to the rebellious daughter,
  • 00:20:35.927 --> 00:20:38.830
  • Lady columbia, and ultimately lady liberty,
  • 00:20:38.830 --> 00:20:42.400
  • Millions around the world now look to the statue of liberty
  • 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:46.538
  • As a representation of freedom, hope, and opportunity.
  • 00:20:46.538 --> 00:20:51.810
  • Even as immigration has become a hot-button issue today,
  • 00:20:51.810 --> 00:20:54.346
  • The u.s. still takes in over half of the world's immigrants.
  • 00:20:54.346 --> 00:20:59.217
  • Why?
  • 00:20:59.217 --> 00:21:01.152
  • What makes us different than other nations?
  • 00:21:01.152 --> 00:21:02.787
  • It's because we still believe in our chief export:
  • 00:21:02.787 --> 00:21:06.591
  • The american dream.
  • 00:21:06.591 --> 00:21:09.694
  • After the discovery of the new world, we came to these shores,
  • 00:21:09.694 --> 00:21:12.597
  • Hoping to find gold, but by the turn of the century,
  • 00:21:12.597 --> 00:21:15.600
  • Immigrants came in search of a new kind of gold: opportunity,
  • 00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:20.271
  • Freedom, the chance to build from nothing.
  • 00:21:20.271 --> 00:21:23.141
  • >> male: well, i was still hopin' for some real gold.
  • 00:21:23.141 --> 00:21:26.911
  • >> male: gum it, jebediah, ain't no real gold.
  • 00:21:26.911 --> 00:21:28.880
  • Ain't real.
  • 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.248
  • None of it's real.
  • 00:21:30.248 --> 00:21:30.982
  • Look-- my beard's not real.
  • 00:21:30.982 --> 00:21:32.517
  • This stream, it's not real.
  • 00:21:32.517 --> 00:21:33.985
  • You're just holdin' it.
  • 00:21:33.985 --> 00:21:34.753
  • All right?
  • 00:21:34.753 --> 00:21:35.954
  • This is all just a metaphor for the "american dream."
  • 00:21:35.954 --> 00:21:39.524
  • >> cody: that dream still spurs on in millions of second, third,
  • 00:21:39.524 --> 00:21:43.128
  • And fourth generation immigrants,
  • 00:21:43.128 --> 00:21:45.597
  • But some in our younger generation may describe america
  • 00:21:45.597 --> 00:21:48.733
  • As hateful, divided, even racist,
  • 00:21:48.733 --> 00:21:52.003
  • Yet more people around the world would rather be here than
  • 00:21:52.003 --> 00:21:55.740
  • Anywhere else.
  • 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:58.943
  • How do we welcome them in safely, legally,
  • 00:21:58.943 --> 00:22:00.912
  • Keeping freedoms intact?
  • 00:22:00.912 --> 00:22:03.381
  • Some say a bridge, some say a wall,
  • 00:22:03.381 --> 00:22:06.317
  • Some say it will take massive reform,
  • 00:22:06.317 --> 00:22:09.587
  • But there's one thing we should all agree on:
  • 00:22:09.587 --> 00:22:14.159
  • Lady liberty should always stand in the harbor,
  • 00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:16.327
  • Always welcome the outsider,
  • 00:22:16.327 --> 00:22:18.062
  • Always take in the huddled masses
  • 00:22:18.062 --> 00:22:19.130
  • Yearning for something more.
  • 00:22:19.130 --> 00:22:21.900
  • We'll see ya next time.
  • 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:24.002
  • [music]
  • 00:22:24.002 --> 00:22:24.002