Via the steamer Belgic, Rizal arrived in San Francisco, USA on April 28, 1888.

2 agencies that certified Belgic is free from cholera epedemic: The America consul of Japan The British government of Hongkong

Cholera – raging epidemic in the Far East according to the Americans All passengers are quarantined for

safety Rizal was surprised because there is no

outbreak of the disease in the Far East, thus he joined other passengers in protest.

• 643 Chinese coolies boarded the ship– the coolies from China were displacing white

laborers in railroad construction camp.• But Rizal was questioning how come 700 bolts

of silk were unloaded without fumigation.• After a week Rizal together with other first class

passengers were permitted to land. But the Japanese and the Chinese and passengers belonging to the second and thirds class remained aboard.

Rizal stayed in Palace Hotel (then a first class hotel) in San Francisco

He stayed there for two days Grover Cleveland was the president

when Rizal visited the United States Leland Stanford – the founder and

benefactor of the Stanford University was then a senator representing California.

• George Washington – one of the great men of new York whom visited his memorial. The 1st president of the US.

• Oakland – first stop via ferryboat• Via train

– Sacramento – where he ate his supper 75cents and slept at his couch.

– Reno, Nevada – where he had his breakfast– Utah – where he saw Mormons, thickly populated– Colorado – a lot of snow and pine trees

New York – which he considers a big city Where he stayed for three days He left the United States for Liverpool, London on

board the City of Rome, the second largest ship in the world.

Great Eastern – largest ship in the world during his time.

–Nebraska – Omaha City, as big as San Francisco–Missouri River – twice as big as Pasig River–Chicago – a lot of Indians in cigar stores–Albany – where he saw the Hudson River

Material progress of the country as shown in its cities, farms, and industries

The drive and energy of the Americans The natural beauty of the land The high standard of living The opportunities for better life offered

to poor immigrants.

Non-existence of true civil liberty, as Negro cannot marry an American and vice versa.

The existence of racial prejudice as shown in their hatred of the Chinese, Japanese and Negroes.

The valuing of money over human life Lack of racial equality

The land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites.

Rizal said this to Jose Alejandrino, an engineering student form Belgium