Ellis Island Research Paper

Ellis Island by Joseph Bruchac and Europe and America by David Ignatow possess similar components regarding the American Dream. For example, both works include dreams, experiences, and disappointments of earlier generations. The poems differ within their similarities though through how the narrator feels towards their ancestors doings. To begin, Ellis Island discusses the dreams of two Slovak children who became the narrator’s grandparents. Lines nine through eleven state, “...tall woman, green / as dreams of forests and meadows / waiting...” The tall woman referred to represents the Statue of Liberty which stood proudly and greeted boats as they sailed to Ellis Island. At first sight, the monument became the “...answerer / of dreams” (16-17), for

Citizens from around the world have been migrating to the United States for centuries. During the 1880s all the way up to the 1920's, more than twenty-five million foreigners voyaged to America. After World War I ended on November 11, 1918, there had been a massive increase of immigrants. The result of numerous people migrating to the U.S. greatly impacted culture and society. The majority of immigrants were traveling from Eastern and Southern Europe. As immigration increased after World War I, some questions in need of answering are what were the significant reasons as to why European immigrants started coming to the U.S. during the 1920's through the 1930's after World War I? How were they able maintain their cultural identity? Immigrants decided to resettle in the United States in search of new beginnings, riches, and the

No hope, no break, very little food, inhuman treatment, this is what slaves went through everyday. Slaves desired a place where they could find freedom. The underground railroad gave slaves the most hope for freedom. The path to freedom was very hard and dangerous for most slaves. But some slaves endured the hardships and became famous abolitionist. It would have been nearly impossible for slaves to escape. If it wasn't for the help of the underground railroad and all the conductors who helped make it possible.

When- This immigration station was not functioning until January 1, 1892. In the year of 1907 Ellis Island reached its peak of most immigrants with over 1.25 million immigrants coming into the U.S. through Ellis Island. This gateway lasted from 1880 to 1924.

The Ellis Island known today was founded by the New York State government in 1855 and it was the first immigrant processing station established in the United States. This maverick immigrant processing station was originally based on an island off the southwest tip of Manhattan, Castle Garden. The NY State Government placed this Immigrant processing station off shore for two main reasons. The first of those reasons being, for the protection of the immigrants who were often robbed or tricked out of their already meager funds by city swindlers. Also, to further prevent the spread of any infectious diseases that potential immigrants may have been carrying. Prior to the establishment of the Castle Garden processing station, Immigrants were allowed to simply walk freely into Manhattan harbor after departing from their ships. In April of 1890, due to legal issues, the castle garden project was ended and the US government purchased a swampy and small island to the to the southeast of Manhattan, where they would construct a new immigrant processing center and

According to History.com, “it is estimated that close to 40% percent of all U.S citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors of Ellis Island.” This information is important because it shows you how big of a role Ellis Island played in U.S immigration. Ellis Island was important to many immigrants because it meant freedom, new possibilities, and a new life.

One hundred and sixty seven years ago, the Underground Railroad led thousands of slaves to their newfound freedom and helped unite millions of people against the annihilation of slavery within their new nation. Even though the new nation was committed to equality and liberty, it denied the freedom of millions of its residents. The ultimate goal of the Underground Railroad was to accomplish the safe arrival of runaway slaves to the North and Canada where the long arm of the law could no longer reach them. The Underground Railroad was neither a road nor underground; it was any house, cave, hidden room, or empty barn that acted as a place a runaway could hide safely (Buckmaster, 42). This whole operation appears to have started at the end of 18th

New York City is the largest and one of the oldest cities in the United States, having been 'rediscovered' by Henry Hudson in 1609 while working for the Dutch East Indies Company. New Amsterdam, as it was then known, was settled in 1614 by Dutch fur traders and became the most important port in America. (Reed, 2011) The two rivers flowing on each side of Manhattan grant easy access to the ocean, and Henry Hudson remarked that the harbor was the best natural harbor he had ever seen in the world. For hundreds of years the city has been at the epicenter of world trade, and immigration to the new world. Millions of immigrants have filled the streets of New York, from Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and elsewhere.

Hundreds of years have past since many people immigrated here, to “The New World.” Life was difficult and many people died on the way here. If traveling by boat, it took about 2-3 weeks at sea. About one half of the immigrants docked in New York City and in Pennsylvania. Some immigrants went to Ellis Island before getting to America starting from 1892 until 1954. On Ellis Island, everyone got inspected for diseases and/or disabilities, in order, to make sure that these people coming in could support the United States economy. The inspections were one of the most dreaded parts about the trip, because if someone was not accepted, they would be sent back. ”The New World’s” population grew rapidly from the 1700s to the 1900s because people were trying to get away from crop failure, raising taxes, famine, religious restrictions, executions and/or to have a chance at a better life.

From the years 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island most famously used as a station to inspect and process almost twelve million immigrants that were coming in from all around the world. It’s located in the Upper New York Bay on an island that takes up almost twenty-eight acres of land; making it take up part of New Jersey. Even though that it was famous for being the first Federal immigration station, it has an important history long before this title.

Almost everyone who lives in America today is a descendant of an immigrant to the U.S. If an immigrant arrived between the years of 1892 and 1924, they went through the long and tedious task of being accepted through the large brick building at the notorious place of Ellis Island. There were many troubles involved with being accepted to and into America, but it was all worth it to them. Some of these problems were long and cramped boat rides, unbelievable wait time to get to the desk of the people who register the immigrants, getting started in the country was somewhat difficult if you arrived without much money.

1630 – 1770 A mound of sand in the Hudson River Michael Paauw obtains the Island Known as Gibbet Island 1775 – 1865 The Island is purchased by Samuel Ellis New York State buys the Island from his family Used as a military fortification 1865 – 1892 The island is vacant after the Civil War Government starts to construct an immigration station on the Island Total cost of construction on the Island was $75,000 1892 First immigration station on Ellis Island opens January 1, 1892

While the journey hear was rough, we have arrived in one piece. However, the voyage to New America wasn't nearly as harsh as our settlement in this newfound land. Many of us have fallen ill, with little to no resources left, we are unable to properly treat the sickness. The afflictions that have overcome the group are most viscous, leaving many of their victims dead. These diseases are merciless and threaten the entirety of our small civilization. While, the few that have been left untouched by these cruel illnesses are few and far between, they may be our only hope for survival. Within a short couple of months, nearly half of us have been wiped out by these invisible monstrosities. Worst of all, there are times where two or three will die

Ellis Island, New York, reopened for business in 1990, but now the customers are tourists, not immigrants. This spot, which lies in New York Harbor, was the first American soil seen or touched by many of the nation’s immigrants. Though other places also served as ports of entry for foreigners, none has the symbolic power of Ellis Island. Between its opening in 1892 and its closing in 1954, over 20 million people, about two-thirds of all immigrants, were detained there before taking up their new lives in the United States. Ellis Island processed over 2000 newcomers a day when immigration was at its peak between 1900 and 1920.

The Underground Railroad was not a railroad or underground. The Underground Railroad was a path for slaves to escape. More than 100,000 slaves escaped through the Underground Railroad. (History.com, history.com staff, paragraphs one and two) The slaves can thank people like Harriet Tubman because she was one of the people that helped the slaves leave and be free. There were other people, like William Still, Levi Coffin, and John Fairfield. One of the paths that went through the Underground Railroad was in Cincinnati, Ohio. Different paths extended through fourteen states and including Canada. The Underground Railroad was formed during the 1700-1790s. The Underground Railroad ended in 1861 when the Civil War started. (history.net, in between paragraphs one and two)