Perhaps the single greatest change to American life in the 19th century, besides the ending of slavery, was the growth of business. We used to be a largely agrarian (farming) society, but that slowly began to change.
When factories and machines began to produce steel and mine coal at record speeds, cities became more modern and jobs became more plentiful.
With more jobs came a need to fill those jobs. Where would the workers come from?
Well...often these jobs were filled with immigrants from Europe. Most of those immigrants entered America through a processing station in New York harbor called Ellis Island.
This week, take some time to explore this fun website. There is a lot of great info and old pictures from this immigration age. Click "start the tour" to begin and follow it all the way to the end.
For the comments....
1) Create a list of the 10 most interesting things you learned from this "Ellis Island Tour".
2) Write a paragraph detailing what you think was the most difficult part of being an immigrant at Ellis Island.
Each part should be at least 100 words.
1. Most of the immigrants that came to America through Ellis Island were from eastern and southern Europe.
ReplyDelete2. Doctors would come on board to check for diseases, first they would check the first and second class, and then the third class would have to wait for hours or even days to be checked and then sent on to Ellis Island
3. The Registry room was called the Great Hall because it was so big. It was 200 feet long and 102 feet wide.
4. From 1903 to 1914, immigrants were checked for trachoma, a contagious eye disease. Doctors would use a buttonhook to lift the person's eyelid to look for the disease. The buttonhook was a well known procedure that the immigrants knew of and was feared very deeply.
5. The immigrants had to go through a “6 second physical”. If someone was considered a risk they were marked by chalk on their clothing. A X meant “insanity” and a P meant “lung disease”.
6. There were 29 questions asked to each immigrant.
7. For most people Ellis Island was known as the “Isle of Hope” but for those who didn’t make it, it was known as the “Isle of tears”
8. 355 babies were born on Ellis Island
9. They had a place we’re the immigrants could exchange their money for US dollars
10. An area on the first floor was known as the “kissing post” because it’s where they waited for there family and friends and would finally see them again after months or years apart.
(259)
One of the most difficult parts about Ellis Island would have to be wondering if you would actually make it or not, and how long it would take you. Back then, being sick or having some type of illness was much more common that it is now and many people didn’t even realize they had such illness. When they arrived at Ellis Island they were searched and asked and watched many times to make sure they were capable for America and weren’t bringing in things or diseases to the US. As in immigrant it would have been hard because you don’t really know if you’re going to make it or not until you truly made it to America and all the way through Ellis Island. There were so many different lines and things they had to go through it must have been always questionable if they would actually make it or not. If you have family or friends with you it would have been even harder not knowing if you would get to stay with them or not. Ellis Island was a great thing the US did but it’s hard to imagine what the people went through.
(197)
1. Most of the immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island were from eastern and Southern Europe.
ReplyDelete2. A 15 year old girl was the first passengers on Ellis Island.
3. As boats docked at Ellis Island officers in uniform greeted them and gave them numbers.
4. The immigration process started on the winding stairs that lead to the registry room where doctors would look for symptoms of disease.
5. Registry room was nicknamed the Great Hall and was 200 foot by 102 feet.
6. From 1903-1914 immigrants were checked for trachoma what was a disease in the eye.
7. Doctors at Ellis Island invented the 6 second physical where they wrote down what they saw was wrong with people physically. Those that they found ill were marked with chalk and further examined.
8. They had lists of all the immigrants names on a piece of paper and they called all one by one where they would be asked 29 questions to see if they are who they say they are.
9. Most immigrants called Ellis Island the Isle of Hope but those who failed inspections called it Isle of Tears.
10. One of the areas on the first floor of the building was nicknamed the kissing post it was called this because at that spot is where immigrants would reunite with their families after months, some even years. (229)
I believe that one of the most difficult parts of being an immigrant on Ellis Island was having to go through such a long and grueling process. I believe it was also hard for those who could not see their families for a really long time and not knowing if they would ever see them again. But I believe that these were the most difficult parts because you are lonely without your family and do not quite know what is going to happen to you. Like are you going to make it in America or will you be held and never make it. (103)
1 The immigrants traveled over in a boat the trip lasted about one to two weeks.
ReplyDelete2 They were divided up on the boat into classes like first, second, and third class.
3 The first and second class people would stay in cabins and bedrooms. But the third class people had to stay in a room at the bottom of the ship.
4 When they arrived they had doctors come on to the boat and inspect people for health issues and disease because the boat was dirty.
5 If the people passed inspection then they could go ahead and get of the boat.
6 A lot of people went through Ellis island to get to America.
7 If the people had health problems They would have to go through a 6 second physical if they passed they moved on if they did not they would be tested.
8 There were three set of stair cases when they got of the boat they had to walk up one.t part for them
9 There were metal poles that directed the traffic into the building.
10 On the third staircase there were three parts people going north went down the right side.(100)
I felt like the hardest part was that when the immigrants had to go through all of the checks and physicals was being tired. They could not rest because they had to go through all of these things. They would be standing up for hours sometimes days before they got through. And that is a long time to not see your family and also thinking did they make it through are they okay. I think that this was the hardest part for them. (173)
1. Most immigrants who were from eastern and Southern European came to American through Ellis Island and they came to America to get away from religious bigotry and the hardship their country’s have.
ReplyDelete2. It took the immigrants around one to two tiring weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean with as many as three thousand passengers on each ship. The ship was divided into three groups that was categorised by the wealth of the passengers.
3. The ships were extremely crowded and musty and because of the conditions of the ships most of the immigrants were sapped of all their energy when they arrived to the harbor.
4. The Statue of Liberty was built in 1886 and was the first thing the immigrants saw when the arrived in America.
5. As soon as the ships arrived in America the American government it mandatory for health officers to come on the boat and check for passengers with diseases that the immigrants could have caught during the journey. They were also checked for trachoma and contagious eye disease. If they had trachoma they were usually sent back to where they came from.
6. If an immigrant was tagged as a “risk to the public health.” They would mark the immigrants cloths with chalk and an identification letter. An “X” meant “denoted insanity” and a “P” meant “ denoted pulmonary (lung) problems.” If you were an immigrant that got marked you were taken out of the processing line and they kept you for for examination.
7. The ships gave the American government officials a list that was called “ The manifest” which was essentially a list of names of all the immigrants and a description of each immigrants.
8. They had a ton of interpreters on the ships and on land for the immigrants.
9. When the immigrants got to talk to the American officials they were asked 99 question or more which was primarily made up of questions like where they were born, if they were married, their occupations, crimes they were convicted of, how much money they had, why they came, their family’s, and where they were going.
10. Their were two famous names for Ellis Island one of them was “ Isle of Hope” which resembled new changes and a new life for them and their families if they had one. The other one was “Isle of Tears” which was made by immigrants who were sadly sent back to their home country by the government because they failed their health inspections or their legal inspections.
(422)
I believe the most difficult part of being an immigrant on Ellis Island would be, the process they had to go through when they arrived in America. The immigrants had to go through mental and physical testing before they even had the opportunity to look around and breath fresh air. Most of them also did not even speak English. As they got off the ship they had to go straight to health testing. When for the most part all the immigrants were drained from the disgusting and and tiring conditions of the ship. After they got done with health testing if they passed they passed they would go strait to to mental testing to make sure they would pay taxes and obey all the American laws. (126)
Which in total is 548 words ….. Lauren get wrecked
1. Over 40 percent of Americans can trace their their family tree to Ellis Island.
ReplyDelete2 The passengers were divided within the steamboat based upon wealth and social class.
3 Health Officers would be stationed at the harbor and board the ship once it reached the dock and check for indications of diseases
4 First and second class passengers would be tended to by doctors and could leave once they landed at New York Coty while the third class passengers had to wait for a ferry boat to pick them up and take them to Ellis Island for immigration processing
5 75 percent of passengers would end up in Ellis island
6 the registry room was 200 feet long
7 their was a system entitled the “The 6 second physical” created In order to determine if an immigrant was healthy
8 if an immigrant was considered a health risk they would have a letter put on their clothes
9 An “X” on a persons clothes indicated they were insane and a “P” indicated lung problems
10 for 30 years Ellis island was solely a detention center
(176)
Through my perspective the hardest part of being an immigrant at Ellis Osland would be the uncertainty at hand. That being the worst part as such easily manifests into fear. Since failing a medical exam or failing to recover citizenship would render they’re entire journey useless. Along with the fear of their new home treating them worse then before consequently also making their journey in vain. Uncertainty isn’t only brought upon by fear though as it also can stem from anxiety from not understanding what’s going or what one is supposed to do next which was a common occurrence for immigrants who couldn’t speak English. Therefor, creating further fear and uncertainty when an immigrants family memebers would be process or be taken to medical and legal examinations.
127
1.More than 12 million immigrants made their first stop in America at Ellis island between 1892 and 1954
ReplyDelete2.More than 40 percent of Americans can trace their family history to Ellis island
3.Most immigrants were escaping poverty and religious intolerance
4.The trip to America was crowded and dirty
5.There were doctors who watched for passengers showing signs of heath issues
6.Children could be sent back home to the country they came from
7.120,000 with diseases were sent back
8.For 30 years, Ellis island was a detention center
9.Those who were turned away travelled home for free
10.More than 30 languages were spoken
(103)
There are many difficult parts I think in terms of being an immigrant and escaping poverty in your hometown and coming to America for a better life. One of the main problems was probably the fact that you could get turned down by officials and sent back to the country you came from, granted it was free but still going back to a place you were trying to escape is not fun. More than 100,000 immigrants were turned down and sent back. They even had to from weeks to months to have they’re number called to be sent back.
(101)
ReplyDeleteCreate a list of the 10 most interesting things you learned from this “Ellis Island Tour”.
1. An “emigrant” is someone who leaves their home country to settle in another country. An “immigrant” is someone who has come from another country to settle in a new place.
2. Lawrence Meinwald told the story how he at the age of 6 and his family came to America from Poland in 1920. About three-quarters of a ship’s passengers were taken to Ellis Island for processing.
3. There were thirty languages spoken at Ellis Island and because of this the Immigration Officers could only point and motion to communicate to the arriving people.
4. The number of immigrants served at the Ellis Island facility was way more than was planned for in the beginning. A typical first medical review lasted only six seconds.
5. One 5 year old child by the name of Lucy Attarian from Armenia was almost not allowed to get into the United States because she had a light complexion and her parents were dark complexed.
6. As a part of medical review some immigrants were give a mark such as X for a mental problem or P for lung or breathing problems. These immigrants would be sent to the hospital for further review. On woman was walking in high heeled shoes for the first time and was almost rejected because of foot problems.
7. After 1924, Ellis Island was not used for medical and security processing but as a detention center. Most screening was performed in their home country before coming to the United States.
8. It was the responsibility of the steamship companies to take back for free those individuals who were not allowed to enter the United States for medical and legal reasons.
9. After medical and legal inspections, immigrants took a staircase with three aisles of the Ellis Island facility. Center aisle was for detention for some reason. Those traveling wet or south walked down the right side. Those going to New York City or to the north walked down the left side.
10. Released immigrants would join relatives and friends who were already living in the United States a the “kissing post” to leave Ellis Island and join them in their new home. (384)
Write a paragraph detailing what you think was the most difficult part of being an immigrant at Ellis Island.
Language is the most difficult part of being an immigrant at Ellis Island. Sure you can talk to those with you and those from your country to a degree. However, at Ellis Island you are faced with strange officials and medical persons who may not speak your language. They are asking questions and the answers will decide if they think you are crazy or stupid or on drugs. The answers will also decide if you get into the United States or have to return to your home country. (108)
1. Many people who came over were from eastern or souther Europe
ReplyDelete2. The trip to America lasted for two weeks
3. As many as 3,000 people loaded on to the boats trying to get to America
4. The trip was very rough and dirty
5. There were people helping with disease and sickness on the boats
6. Third class citizens had to wait for hours or days for a boat.
7. 120,000 people with diseases were sent back
8. Ellis Island was a detention center for 30 years
9. More than 30 languages were spoken at Ellis Island
10. The ones sent away traveled home for free
(102)
I think the hardest part of being an immigrant was attempting to cross the Atlantic or trying to find a way to cross the Atlantic, a lot of people have tried to cross
the Atlantic and had to deal with sick or disease attempting to cross, many diseases came from the wind and shaking of the boats. The people also had to deal with weat while they were on their way over, and they had to deal with anything that was going on in the oceans at the time. The immigrants had a lot to deal with while they were on the way over to America.
(106)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1.Many immigrants were from Europe and Asia trying to poverty and religious intolerance in countries such as Italy, Poland, and Russia. They traveled hundreds of miles to a seaport to board a steamship where they were separated by class and wealth.
ReplyDelete2.The ship was dirty and crowded so when the tired passengers would spot the Statue of Liberty, many would cheer or even cry of joy. When they arrived a health officer would check for disease, but 3rd class citizens would often wait days before being taken to Ellis Island.
3.When the immigrants get there, they are handed out numbered tags, put their luggage in the baggage room, and then went upstairs to the registry room to be medically and legally checked.
4.Doctors stood at the top of the stairs watching to see if anybody had difficulty walking or breathing.
5.The registry room was nicknamed by immigrants the “Great Hall” because it was the largest indoor area most of them had ever seen
6.If immigrants were identified with a form of insanity they’re clothes would be marked with an “X” with chalk, and a “P” if they had lung issues.
7.Inspectors were given a list of the passengers onboard with their last names and a description of each passenger, and then asked each passengers a total of 29 questions.
8.Those who failed the legal process would live on the third floor for days or months until their case would be reviewed in the hearing room. Those who failed medically could be held in quarantine.
9.After passing both, they walk down two flights of stairs(depending on which state they were going to) where they add the ability to change their money into US dollars.
10.The first floor gained the name “the kissing post” because it was where people waited on their families or loved ones to be done with the process.
The toughest part of being an immigrant in America is the The conditions in which they have to deal with. They are leaving their countries because they were in poverty, but in order to do so they had to travel a very long distance to board a ship that is overcrowded and dirty, and they had a high chance of getting sick. Once you arrived in America if you were not wealthy it would take days to be taken Ellis Island. And if you didn’t have legal health issues that took months to get passed or sent back then you would be a citizen but with the same amount of money, so you would often be taken advantage of by companies with awful work environments knowing that you need a job.
1.) As many as 3,000 immigrants all from different countries, crowded onto ships for the journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
ReplyDelete2.) The immigrants would cheer when they saw the Statue of Liberty because it represented America.
3.) Trachoma was was a contagious eye disease that if found during immigration processes from 1903-1914 resulted in the immigrant being sent back to their country.
4.) 120,000 immigrants with diseases or disabilities were sent back.
5.) 355 babies were born on Ellis Island.
6.) The Steamship companies were considered responsible for taking back immigrants free of charge, all emigrants who were turned away for medical and legal reasons. If someone under the age of 16 was turned away, a family member could also accompany that person home on behalf of the Steamship companies.
7.) Until World War I, passports and visas weren't required.
8.) A 15-year-old girl was the first Ellis Island immigrant.
9.) Immigrants only brought what they could carry when they came to America.
10.) The process was relatively short and took about three hours.
I believe the most difficult thing to do as an immigrant would be to leave your family behind. Many times they would never see their family again, or they would have to wait long periods of time. Immigrants were pushed to leave their country and left with hopes of a better life in America. The kissing post is an area on the first floor of the building, and it is a great example of how Immigrants were so grateful to see their family members after such a long time. It also shows how grateful they were to be in America. (100)