Ellis Island : The Aspects Of Immigrants In The 19th Century

Immigration has always been a major part of America. In fact, without immigration the creation of America would not have been possible. The majority of immigrants came to America for religious freedom and economic opportunities. However, for the most part before the 1870’s most immigrants were Protestants from northern and western Europe. These immigrants often migrated to the United States as families and usually lived on farms with family or friends who had already migrated beforehand. A lot of immigrants came to America with a plan or goal in mind. They often had saved up money for the long immigration overseas, were skilled in a certain trade, or had already been educated at a high level. Sadly, this would not last. Immigration

Many people from all over the world saw America as a place to create a better life for them and their family. America was a place full of many job opportunities, ones that were not available anywhere else in the world. It was in America that people from different nations saw the chance to escape the place they originally lived because of unfair government or as a chance to have money to send back to their family in their homeland. The period after the civil war was an era of tremendous migration from southern and eastern Europe as well as from China, because of all the opportunities that were available here that were not available anywhere else. Migration was also prominent within America when African Americans

In the late 1800s , America became the land of new opportunities and new beginnings and New York City became the first landmark for immigrants. New York City was home to Ellis Island, the area in which migrants were to be handed for freedom to enter the nation. Living in New York City gave work and availability to ports. In time the city gave the chance to outsider's to construct groups with individuals from their nation , they were classified as new and old settlers. Old outsiders included Germans, Irish and, English. The new outsiders incorporated those from Italy, Russia, Poland and Austria-Hungary. In 1875, the New York City populace was a little 1 million individuals contrasted with the 3,5 million it held when the new century

The 1840s and 50s experienced a massive escalation in the number of immigrants from Europe especially from Ireland, and Germany, arriving on U.S shores in densely populated urban areas (Arenson, 2011). Most of them afterward became vigorous in domestic politics, much to the aggravation of old-stock, authentic Americans. The consequence was a renaissance in the formation of “nativistic” societies (small, indistinct, anti-foreign and anti-catholic organizations), some which banded together in the early 1850s to form the American Party (Arenson, 2011). Commonly referred to as the “Know-Nothing,” the party rode a wave of racial intolerance as well as racism into the mid-1850s.

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

Ellis Island is a small island located in the Upper New York Bay. Angel Island is the largest island in the San Francisco Bay in the state of California. Ellis Island served as a national immigration station from 1892-1924. Angel Island was an immigration station from 1910-1940. Both Islands helped America grow by opening their doors to the world. Immigrants who came to America now had a chance to achieve their own dreams and to start new lives. The country was new, the government was rising up and it gave immigrants an opportunity to succeed. Life was still going to be hard but people now had a chance to accomplish their dreams. Some immigrants came to America because other governments were failing or because they saw potential in

At Ellis Island there were many workers and those workers mainly had 6 jobs: inspectors, clerks, interpreters, aid workers, nurses, and doctors. An inspector’s jobs were to quickly inspect the immigrants for diseases and ask the immigrants simple questions like what their name was and where they’re from. A Clerk’s main job was to file away any paperwork that the immigrant had such as the immigrant’s manifests and completed deportation cards. An interpreter’s main job was to translate for the inspector because most of the immigrants could not speak English. Aid Workers helped with many things such as, a port worker and a social worker. Aids also helped with things like information, transportation, food, clothing etc. A Nurse’s main job was to help doctors in the hospital with diseases or other things. Lastly, the doctor’s main jobs were to quickly and carefully examine each immigrant one by one looking for any signs of disease. At Ellis Island, the people that worked there helped everyday and made sure every immigrant was valid and healthy before they went into the U.S.

Today, New York City is the most populated city in the United States. New York City, NYC, is made up of five boroughs including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Ellis Island, the first immigration station, and the statue of liberty are both located in New York. Immigrants went for more freedom in the 1800s and for economic and other opportunities back then and even now. Since NYC is such a large city, there are more job opportunities which draws people to the city. Also, there are an abundance of attractions and much more cultural diversity. All of these factors contribute to the reason the population is a whopping 8.538 million people!

Millions of newly arrived immigrants passed through the station during that time. Immigrants would be checked physically for any diseases to see if they would be approved to enter the United States. In the beginning of 1925 to its closing in 1954, “only 2.3 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island–which was still more than half of all those entering the United States”(Ellis Island). Other immigrants staying at Ellis Island lived in really bad conditions to the point where many immigrants couldn’t survive. Not to mention, Ellis Island wasn't even big therefore many people were cramped towards each other which made the odds of being ill a lot higher. Furthermore at Ellis Island “In June 15, 1897 a fire destroyed the buildings and killed many immigrants” (Immigration). This fire nearly killed everyone and unfortunately, only two hundred seventy people were able to survive (Immigration). Lastly, immigrants who passed Ellis Island still had to go through 1 more test to get to America. Immigrants were then lead to a “great hall where they were asked 29 questions” (Ellis Island). These questions consisted mainly of personal information like what's your name, how old are you and some history questions like what is the 4th of July (Questions Asked of Immigrants at Ellis

Ellis Island is part of New York state and New Jersey. it is a portal for migrates who comes to United States.

A joint inspection system with the US was established in 1895 and so when a passenger stated his intention to proceed to the US they were enumerated on US immigration lists. Look at Montreal and Quebec City, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia, or Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia for these records. For those that went on to the US they were issued inspection cards that were shown to officials on board trains as they crossed the border.

My favorite theatrical experience was when I was part of the audience watching “The stop at Ellis Island.” This play was chosen by our third grade teacher when the topic of immigration came up in our Social studies curriculum. I was already bored by reading about immigration processing, and my last experience in theatre was boring to the extent that I slept through the whole play. This caused me to reject the idea of going to this one. I hid the permission slip from my parents, but was exposed when my teacher asked my parents at a gathering, so I had to go (basically it was like a punishment for me since I hd something from my parents.) The play takes place in a room on Ellis Island in 1906, where seven newly-arrived immigrants have been singled

People from all over the world view America as the land of opportunity. They saw new beginnings and a better life for themselves and their families. The process of coming to the United States was never easy, because immigrants had to go through long and hard processes at the Immigration Center, known as Ellis Island. Ellis Island is located on the Hudson River off the New York City Harbor and in between Governor’s Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Regulating the Melting Pot of AmericaInspired by a simple misuse of the English language, The Ghosts of Ellis Island, writtenby Mary Gordon, stated, “I could feel all that [Ellis Island] stood for: insecurity, obedience,anxiety, dehumanization, [and] the terrified and careful deference of the displaced” (Gordon 39). Ellis Island is a monument to a time in American history when immigrants were required to beinspected like luggage, and pass inspection, prior to entry into the United States of America.However, Ellis Island is only a small fraction of the history behind immigration in America. Prior to Ellis Island, anyone could enter the United States, and after Ellis Island, immigrants were required to obtain visas prior to traveling to America. The following paragraphs will discuss the three systems of immigration in the United States- no screening required, the screenings at Ellis Island, and the requirement of travel visas prior to travel to America. The essay will conclude with a brief argument for the most-appropriate method for entry into the United States.The United States was essentially founded upon immigration, and initially, no laws governed immigration into America. People simply arrived and established colonies, towns,communities, and territories. Many of the first immigrants to America included religious groupsseeking refuge from strict laws governing religion in their home countries. Some were criminals and scoundrels looking to avoid jail sentences. Still

“Remember, remember always, that all of us... are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” says President Franklin D. Roosevelt about immigration. America is a country of immigrants, made up of people from all around the world. When our great, great grandparents traveled over to America, there were no big, fast planes to carry them overseas; they had to travel by dirty, slow boats that were only prepared to carry products and carriages. We know that there are many different people in America from different nations, but what was it like for those people to voyage all the way here, and what was it like to experience The Island of Immigrants, Ellis Island?