The IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE to America and through ELLIS ISLAND

The Steamship Length of time Where in ship? Conditions of ship

The View from the Ship

Onto American Soil

ELLIS ISLAND Average of 6 ships /day Average of 6 ships /day 3,000–5,000 people /day 3,000–5,000 people /day All tagged by ethnicity and number All tagged by ethnicity and number

The Entrance

Baggage Check

The Stairs of Separation “The Six-Second Exam”

Waiting for Medical Exams

Medical Examinations

The Dormitories Usually kept for 1-2 days Usually kept for 1-2 days Sometimes for up to several weeks Sometimes for up to several weeks 2% of people were deported and couldn’t reapply for admission for 12 months 2% of people were deported and couldn’t reapply for admission for 12 months

The Cafeteria

The Great Hall The Great Hall “The Registry Room” Name? – changed? Age?Money?Record?

The Stairs of Separation (again) … Marked the parting of ways for those who were going in different destinations

The Kissing Post … where family and friends stood waiting for the new immigrants … many kisses and joyful reunions

"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."

Information and pictures from: historychannel.com/ellisisland/gateway/index.html ellisisland.com/history.html The Americans History textbook

Culture Shock - sudden awareness of new things Ethnic Islands - national districts in a section of town where people of the same ethnicity lived Generation Gap - children acculturated more quickly than parents - children taught parents about “American culture”