Rizals Visit to the United States (1888)

Rizal first saw America on April 28, 1888.

His arrival in this great country was marred by racial prejudice. He saw the discriminatory
treatment of the Chinese and the Negros by the white Americans.
ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
Saturday, April 28, 1888- The steamer Belgic docked at San Francisco. American health
authorities did not let the passengers to land for one week because of the rumored cholera
epidemic.
Rizal knew there was no cholera epidemic that time and he protest with other passengers the
unjustifiable actions of American authorities. Hesoon discovered that it was motivated by
politics and the ship was carrying 643 Chinese coolies.
RIZAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
May 4, 1888 The day he was permitted to go ashore and registered at the Palace Hotel
which was then considered a first- class hotel in the city. May 4 to 6, 1888 Rizal stayed in
San Francisco.
ACROSS THE AMERICAN CONTINENT
May 6, 1888 it was Sunday, 4:30 P.M., Rizal left San Francisco for Oakland, nine miles
across San Francisco Bay, by ferry boat. May 7, 1888 it was morning, Rizal awoke and
had a good breakfast at Reno, Nevada, now glamorized by American high-pressure
propaganda as The Biggest Little City in the World.
From May 7 to May 13, Rizal wrote in his diary the beautiful memories from Nevada,
Chicago until he reached Albany.
TRAVELS ON AMERICAN CONTINENT
Oakland Sacramento RenoOmaha Denver Ogden Chicago Boston AlbanyCrossed Hudson
River
RIZAL IN NEW YORK
May 13, 1888 it was Sunday morning when Rizal reached New York. He stayed three days
in this city, which he called the big town. May 16, 1888 Rizal left New York for
Liverpool on board the City of Rome. Rizal saw the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island.


RIZALS IMPRESSION OF AMERICA
The good impressions were:
1) The material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing
industries, and busy factories;
2) The drive and the energy of the American people;
3) The natural beauty of the land;
4) The high standard of living;
5) The opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants The bad impression Rizal had
of America was the lack of racial equality.
1890 two years after Rizals visit to the United States, Jose Alejandro, who was then
studying engineering in Belgium, roomed with him. Rizals impression of America is the
land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites.