Ellis Island Immigrants

Ellis island was an immigration station that processed over 12 million immigrants from 1892-1954. Of the 12 million people that immigrated, about 2% were turned away because they were considered “unfit” to enter the country. In some peak years, 10 to 15 percent of those processed were forced to return home. Immigrants were rejected if they were weak in the mind, mentally or physically unstable, had a criminal record or had a disease. About half the current American population can trace their ancestry back through Ellis Island. Immigrants that came to the United States through Ellis Island where often European. These ethnic groups included European Jews, Italians, British, Irish, Slavic, Russians, and Germans. Ellis island became less important …show more content…
The great potato famine was one of these events that pushed people to move. The potato famine impacted so many people because half of the population in Ireland depended on potatoes for nourishment. 1 million people died from the potato famine or famine-related illnesses and over 2 million Irish citizens immigrated to the United States. Another major push factor was religious persecution. Jews in Russia were forbidden to own land, forced to live in restricted areas, and were constantly targeted and mistreated. Russian soldiers destroyed Jewish homes and murdered Jewish men, women, and children. 2 million eastern European Jews immigrated to the United States between 1880 and World War I and were part of the 13 million immigrants that arrived in the United States during the gilded age. Although most Jews had dreams of owning property in America, most immigrants ended up living in crowded suburban areas. Poverty, war, and political oppression also were factors that encouraged Europeans to immigrate to …show more content…
For the poorest passengers, the 3,500 mile journey was spent in the steerage among many other immigrants. The steerage was extremely crowded, dirty, and smelly. Many times people got ill and passed the disease around to other immigrants. Before the voyage, the steamship companies took care to make sure that all of their passengers were in good health because they were responsible for shipping the unfit immigrants back to their home country. Also, if a child under 12 years of age was turned away then at least one parent would have to back with them. Even after the long sea voyage the immigrant's journey was still not complete, for they had to be examined by the inspectors on Ellis Island. Doctors looked at the immigrants for signs of tuberculosis or they used button hooks to check their eyes for trachoma. Those with suspected diseases had their clothes chalked with letters: E for eye problems, L for lameness (lameness in this case is having physical problems walking or moving), and G for goiter. The ones diagnosed with a disease were treated in a hospital, quarantined until they were cured or sent back to Europe. Another way to be sent back to Europe was to incorrectly answer the questions the officials asked. Immigrants were asked up to 29 questions to determine their politics, means of financial support, criminal records, and mental