American Immigration

#9: Where Did Immigrants Arrive in America?

Immigrants had two main ports of entry into the U.S. Ellis Island- a port to process European immigrants in New York

City

Angel Island- a port to process Asian immigrants in San Francisco, California

To enter the ports immigrants had to be healthy and show they had money, a skill, and/or a family member in the US to provide for them.

Immigrants had to go through a series of health tests and evaluations and could possibly be sent back to their homeland if they did not meet proper guidelines.

Ellis Islandwas built in 1892 as the

1st

“Immigration Center”

Later, closed in the 1940s

Today it is a museum.

•The goal was to “screen” immigrants coming from Europe.

•Immigrants took physical examinations and were held at Ellis Island before they

were released to the US mainland.

#10: Facts About Ellis Island

Most European immigrants came through here!

1st and 2nd class passengers (the rich) were inspected on the ships first, and then released so they did not have to stand in line with the poor.

3rd class (the poor, in steerage) had to go into the island to be inspected.

A series of medical and legal inspections would take place before you were allowed to take a ferry from the island and into the New York City.

#10: Facts About Ellis Island

List common things that you see in the following photographs of Ellis Island:

What did the immigrants look like? Describe their ages and what they wore.

How many people were in Ellis Island on a given day? Did they have room to move around?

Why different types of room do you see in the photos?

Do you think it was a pleasant experience to be processed in Ellis Island? Why or why not?

Attention:

START HERE ON FRIDAY!

#11: Describe Angel Island

Angel Island was an immigration processing center for Asian immigrants, particularly the Chinese, as well as some other immigrants from Russia and South America.

The island opened in 1910 in San Francisco harbor in California and stayed open until 1940.

Thousands of immigrants were processed through Angel island, but not many were not treated well.

#11: Describe Angel Island

Customs agents at Angel Island made it very hard for Chinese immigrants to come into the U.S.

Most immigrants had to prove they were related to American citizens to be let in.

Immigrants were sometimes kept for days or weeks in horrible conditions.

Many poems were carved into the walls by Chinese immigrants, to describe how they felt about being trapped there.

#12: Poems from Angel Island

On the following slide will be two poems from the walls of Angel Island.

Choose one poem that stands out to you, and both summarize it, and write about WHY you chose it.

Poem #1: Poem #2:

America has power, but not justice.In prison, we were victimized as if we were guilty.Given no opportunity to explain, it was really brutal.I bow my head in reflection but there isnothing I can do.

There are tens of thousands of poems on these walls,They are all cries of suffering and sadness,The day I am rid of this prison and become successful,I must remember that this chapter once existed,I must be frugal in my daily needs,Needless extravagance usually leads to ruin,All my compatriots should remember China,Once you have made some small gains,you should return home early.

#13: Ellis Island vs. Angel Island

Create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Ellis and Angel Island.

Differences go on the outside, similarities go on the inside!

Come up with as many as possible by yourself, then with a partner, then with a group – and then we will share out as a class!