america was an attractive destination for european immigrants for several reasons. there were...
TRANSCRIPT
• America was an attractive destination for European immigrants for several reasons.
• There were economic opportunities (jobs in factories, cheap land in the west).
• Democracy provided a way to escape from authoritarian governments.
• Freedom of religion or and escape from persecution in Europe.
• Passage to America was not cheap. Passengers would crown onto the decks of merchant ships just to get here.
• The voyage was usually 10 days or 2 weeks in duration.
• The passengers would be relieved to see the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
• All immigrants coming to the United States had to go through an immigration station to legally enter the country.
• In New York City that meant all immigrants went through the facility on Ellis Island.
• First, immigrants were subjected to a physical exam.
• Doctors looked for any symptoms of contagious diseases like tuberculosis (consumption), conjunctivitis and influenza.
• Immigrants were also evaluated for other health “defects” such as heart problems or physical disabilities.
• After the physical exam immigrants had to be interviewed and then their entry into the United States was documented.
• Lines were usually very long for this process and it could often take several hours or even days depending on how many ships were arriving in New York.
• Immigrants arriving from Asia usually entered the United States in San Francisco.
• They were processed at the facility located on Angel Island.
• The procedures on Angel Island were much like those on Ellis Island with the exception that the Chinese were often treated like criminals instead of immigrants.
• These immigrants were often housed in cells for days or weeks at a time while they were waiting to be allowed to officially enter the United States.
• The physical examinations were conducted in open exam rooms. Notice the differences in these images and those from Ellis Island.
• Increasing pressure was placed on the U.S. government to limit immigration. Especially immigration from China.
• In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This law banned all immigration from China to the United States.
• The Chinese Exclusion Act was not repealed until 1943.
• Many Americans also called for Congress to act on immigrants coming from eastern and southern Europe.
• Congress began implementing a series of quotas that would accomplish this goal.
• The quotas were based on immigration numbers from the early 1800’s when very few eastern and southern Europeans were coming to America.