Ellis Island

1
Ellis Island

• Why do you think steerage passengers were
  required to go through immigration at Ellis
  Island?

2
I. Ellis Island

• Opened in 1892
• By U.S. government
• In New York Harbor
• Open for 62 years
• 112 million immigrants passed through

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II. Inspections

• Immigrants had to pass inspection before being
  allowed to enter the United States
• 1st and 2nd class passengers were inspected
  aboard the ship.
• Health
• Review papers
• Steerage
• Inspection process took up to 5 hours
• Waited nervously and fearful they would be sent
  back home.
• Doctors would scan each passenger for signs of
  serious disease and disability
• Mental
• Physical
• Immigrants who did not pass were sent back
• Some penniless
• Without families

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III. Peak years

1. As many as 20 of immigrants were held for weeks
   or longer
2. Sick passengers stayed at hospital until they
   recovered.
3. Thos whose papers did not pass review were held
   for a hearing.
4. About 5 out of every 6 passengers who were
   detained were eventually cleared to enter.

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IV. Post-inspection

• Immigrants were free to enter the U.S.
• Some headed off on their own
• Others met family members already in the U.S.
• One Russian immigrants memory of meeting her
  father for the first time, in 1910.
• I saw a man coming forward and he was so
  beautiful I didnt know he was my father Later
  on I realized why he looked so familiar to me. He
  looked exactly like I did But thats when I met
  him for the first time. And I fell in love with
  him and he with me.
• Katherine Beychok, Ellis Island History

6
Review Questions

1. Who were the new immigrants?
2. Why did the United States seem to offer
   immigrants a promising future?
3. Of all the differences between new and old
   immigrants which ones do you think would pose the
   most tensions between the two groups? Explain
   your reasoning.
4. Where is Ellis Island located?
5. Record the steps taken by most immigrants in
   their journey to the United States. Begin with
   the decision to leave their homeland and end with
   their approval to enter the United States.
6. Why did so many immigrants travel in steerage?
7. What did immigration authorities want to know
   about each immigrant?
8. Why do you think steerage passengers were
   required to go through immigration at Ellis
   Island?