FOR MANY OF OUR ANCESTORS, ELLIS ISLAND WAS THE FIRST PLACE
THEY LANDED WHEN THEY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY. Image courtesy of
ellisisland.org
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GET MORE INFO OFF THE NET
http://www.historychannel.com/ellisisland/main.html
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During that time, over 12 million immigrants entered the United
States through Ellis Island. http://www.ellisisland.org/ LOOK IN
ELLIS ISLAND PORT OF NEW YORK RECORDS SEE IF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
WERE PASSENGERS With permission from Scholastic.com
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ELLIS ISLAND WAS AN IMMIGRANT PROCESSING CENTER, LOCATED IN NEW
YORK CITY. IT WAS OPEN FROM 1892 UNTIL 1952.
http://www.historychannel.com/ellisisland/main.htmlCLICK TO VIEW
VIDEO
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DID YOU KNOW? DURING A SPAN OF 6 DECADES. THAT IS 60 YEARS,
ELLIS ISLAND WELCOMED 71% OF ALL IMMIGRANTS. NEARLY 25% OF ALL
AMERICANS CAN TRACE THEIR ANCESTRY BY WAY OF ELLIS ISLAND.
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WITH ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS IN BASKETS AND SACKS, FAMILIES
CAME TO THE U.S. SEEKING A NEW LIFE, FREEDOM, AND FORTUNE. WHAT WAS
IT LIKE? MEET AN IMMIGRANT FROM POLAND! ILL MEET A YOUNG BOY WHO
CAME TO AMERICA FROM POLAND WITH HIS FATHER. YOUR TASK IS TO FIND
OUT WHY SEYMOUR WAS NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE ELLIS ISLAND WITH HIS
FATHER.
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LADY LIBERTY WOULD FACE THE OCEAN WITH A GREETING AND A
PROMISE. THE SEVEN SPIKES IN THE STATUE'S CROWN STAND FOR SEVEN
LIBERTIES: CIVIL, MORAL, NATIONAL, NATURAL, PERSONAL, POLITICAL,
AND RELIGIOUS. SEE A "LIVE" PICTURE OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
(http://www.libertystatepark.com/LIVE%20CAM%20STATUE%20OF%20LIBERTY.htm
)http://www.libertystatepark.com/LIVE%20CAM%20STATUE%20OF%20LIBERTY.htm
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
(http://www.nyctourist.com/liberty3.htm)http://www.nyctourist.com/liberty3.htm
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LADY LIBERTY "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your
teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest- tossed to me. I
lift my lamp beside the golden door."
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ELLIS ISLAND WAS A SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR MANY WHO FACED WAR,
EXTREME POVERTY, RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, OR LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES AT
HOME.
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IMMIGRANTS SHOWED THEIR PASSPORTS AND CHECKED IN AS A FAMILY.
RANDOMLY, BAGS WERE CHECKED
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"I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS TELLING ME HOW HE KNEW HE
COULD BE RICH IN AMERICA BECAUSE HE SAW RICHES IN THE ARCHITECTURE
OF ELLIS ISLAND. HE FELT THAT IF THEY LET THE POOR IN SUCH A
GORGEOUS HALL THEN LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE WONDERFUL."
Courtesy: Keystone-Mast Collection, UCR/CMP
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WITH IMAGINATION AND ACTIVE ROLE PLAYING,MR. OLEARYS U.S.
HISTORY CLASSES CAN TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT WAS
LIKE TO IMMIGRATE TO A STRANGE LAND.
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THE YEAR IS 1907. ALL ABOARD TO AMERICA WHERE THE STREETS ARE
PAVED WITH GOLD!
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IT'S VERY CROWDED ABOARD SHIP!
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MOST IMMIGRANTS BOARDED A SHIP AT A EUROPEAN PORT AND WERE THEN
DIRECTED TO THE SHIP'S STEERAGE. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE COULD NOT
AFFORD FIRST CLASS OR CABIN PASSAGE.
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IN 1910 A STEERAGE TICKET COST BETWEEN $10.00 TO $35.00.
STEERAGE WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT, VERY CRAMPED, OFFERING
LITTLE LIGHT, VENTILATION OR PRIVACY. AT WORSE, IT CONDEMNED
INDIVIDUALS TO 10-15 DAYS OF TOTAL MISERY. Courtesy: Keystone-Mast
Collection, UCR/CMP
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NAME TAGS AND PASSPORTS NEED TO BE CHECKED IMMIGRANTS WAITED IN
THE GREAT HALL CALLED THE HOLDING AREA. THIS IS WHERE IMMIGRANTS
WAITED BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE NEXT STATION. MANY NEVER MADE IT
PAST THIS STATION AND WERE DEPORTED.
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THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS CRAMMED INTO A SMALL AREA.
THEY SLEPT IN NARROW BUNKS OFTEN THREE HIGH, AND ALL SHARED ONE
BATH. THE SINK FAUCETS OFTEN DID NOT WORK (SO NO RUNNING
WATER).
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YOU HAD TO HAVE A MEDICAL EXAM BEFORE ENTERING THE COUNTRY THIS
MEDICAL STAFF MEANT BUSINESS. IF THERE WAS THE SLIGHTEST CHANCE
THAT AN IMMIGRANT'S HEALTH MIGHT THREATEN ANY AMERICAN'S HEALTH,
THAT PERSON WAS REJECTED!
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MEDICAL INSPECTION If a doctor found any indication of disease,
he marked the shoulder or lapel of an immigrant's clothing with
chalk: "L" for lameness, "E" for eyes, for example.
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CHILDREN WOULD OCCUPY THEMSELVES WITH MARBLES OR DOMINOS. MANY
GOT SICK, MANY DIED ON THE SHIPS. TYPHUS AND CHOLERA SEEMED TO BE
OF THE MORE COMMON ILLNESSES.
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THE MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS WHO SAILED TO AMERICA WERE GREETED
BY THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. THE STATUE WAS A GIFT FROM FRANCE IN
1884. FREDERIC BARTHOLDI DESIGNED AND SCULPTED THE STATUE. HE
DECIDED TO MAKE THE STATUE A SYMBOL OF LIBERTY.
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Landing on Ellis Island
http://www.internationalchannel.com/education/ellis/audiowav/galeta.wav
IMMIGRANTS TELL INSPECTORS THEIR SKILLS SUCH AS TEXTILE WORKER,
FARMER, WELDER, CARPENTER, HOUSEKEEPER, SEAMSTRESS, OR TAILOR.
INSPECTORS ACCEPT OR REJECT THE IMMIGRANTS BASED ON THEIR
ABILITIES. Inside Ellis Island
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Detention During the peak years of immigration, detention on
Ellis Island ran as high as 20% for all immigrants inspected A
detainee's stay could last days or even weeks.
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WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? THE IMMIGRANTS DESTINATION
IMMIGRANTS CHOOSE THEIR FAMILY'S DESTINATION FROM A LARGE CHART.
TRAIN TICKETS ARE PURCHASED. MANY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO
WHERE THEY WANTED TO OR WHERE THEY HAD RELATIVES.
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Deportation An immigrant's nightmare! IMMIGRANTS THAT DID NOT
PASS SKILLS OR MEDICAL EXAMS WERE ESCORTED TO THE DEPORTATION
STATION. ONE INAPPROPRIATE ACTION, GESTURE, OR COMMENT COULD
PREJUDICE A CLEARANCE OFFICIAL AGAINST YOU. ONE WISECRACK JUST
MIGHT GET YOU DEPORTED FROM THE COUNTRY IN WHICH YOU HAVE DREAMED
OF LIVING!
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WHY DID IMMIGRANTS SETTLE IN CITIES? MANY IMMIGRANTS CAME TO
AMERICA WITH LITTLE MONEY TO BUY FARMS OR EXPENSIVE FARMING
EQUIPMENT. OTHERS SETTLED IN CITIES BECAUSE AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
WAS FAR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MOST HAD BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO IN EUROPE.
SOME, CAME TO AMERICA TOO LATE TO ACQUIRE FREE OR CHEAP LAND.
OTHERS MOVED TO CITIES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. MANY IRISH OPTED FOR
AN URBAN LIFE BECAUSE THEY ASSOCIATED FARMING WITH THE ENGLISH
LANDLORDS WHO HAD PERSECUTED IRISH TENANT FARMERS. IMMIGRANTS,
PARTICULARLY JEWS, SETTLED IN URBAN AREAS BECAUSE THEIR FOREBEARS
HAD ALREADY ESTABLISHED VIBRANT CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, AND
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT MANY OF THE NATION'S LARGEST
CITIES.
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ALTHOUGH MANY IMMIGRANTS DID MIGRATE TO RURAL AMERICA AND
WORKED ON FARMS, MORE OF THE MAJORITY SETTLED IN CITIES. IMMIGRANT
POPULATIONS, IN FACT, WERE HIGHEST IN FOUR OF THE LARGEST CITIES AT
THE TIME (NEW YORK, BOSTON, PITTSBURGH, AND CHICAGO). FURTHERMORE,
FIVE OUT OF EVERY SIX IRISH AND RUSSIAN TRAVELERS, THREE OUT OF
FOUR ITALIAN AND HUNGARIAN IMMIGRANTS AND SEVEN OF TEN ARRIVALS
FROM ENGLAND, EVENTUALLY SETTLED IN THE NATION'S GREAT CITIES.
