United States Immigration: A Pictorial History Use the following images to complete

Leaving the Motherland Leaving your country forever for the great unknown could be a difficult decision. Oppressive governments (governments that did not allow much personal freedom) and lack of religious freedom pushed some people from their countries to the United States while other immigrants were pulled by the possibility of better opportunities and adventure.

Title: From the Old World to the New World Summary: The print shows German immigrants boarding a ship in Hamburg, Germany bound for America in the late 19th century. Published in #1

Welcome to the United States: Ellis Island When we travel to a new country we need a passport and a ticket. Immigrants were often required to present documents from their sponsor in the new country (usually a family member who had become a citizen) Immigrants had to pass rigorous physical/medical exams as well as an interview. If one member of a family was turned back, the whole family had to decide whether or not to return to the home country together or let their loved one return alone. Families were split up, not knowing when, or if, they would meet again.

Ellis Island Immigration Station, New York Immigrants from Europe were processed in the port cities. Before 1892 the largest east coast processing point was Castle Garden, run by the state of New York. On January 1, 1892 the federal government opened Ellis Island. Over 12 million immigrants would be processed here over the following 62 years. #2

Title: Imperator- Immigrants and Luggage Summary: Photo shows the S.S. Imperator, an ocean liner. The Imperator arrived in New York City on June 19, Published in 1913 #3

Title: Doctor's Examination Summary: Immigration officer examining emigrant at Ellis Island. Emigrant suspected of defective eyesight. He will be detained for further examination, to determine if this defect would prevent him from earning a living Created / Published in #4

Title: Emigrant Pen Summary: This picture shows a group of 30 emigrants who have been checked in at Ellis Island and are waiting to be inspected by medical doctors. Published in 1902 #5

Summary: Ellis Island, circa Italian men from the steerage section of the ship Conte Rosso rushing to be included in the restricted immigration quota. There were laws that limited the number of people from one country/nationalit y who could enter the United States. Created/Publish ed: c. 1923#6

Welcome to the United States: Angel Island On the west coast, between 1910 and 1940, most immigrants were met by the wooden buildings of Angel Island. These immigrants were Australians and New Zealanders, Canadians, Mexicans, Central and South Americans, Russians, and in particular, Asians. There, during this period of the great migrations, they would meet with a reception quite unlike that given to European immigrants on the East Coast.

On the West Coast, Asian immigrants were processed at Angel Island, often called the “Ellis Island of the West.” Angel Island, which lies off the coast of San Francisco, opened in Although the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 restricted immigration, 175,000 Chinese came through Angel Island over a period of three decades. They were overwhelmingly the main group processed here. In fact, 97% of the immigrants who passed through Angel Island were from China. Created/Published: 1913 (Image on next slide)

Summary: Immigration officials examine Japanese immigrants aboard the ship Shimyo Maru near Angel Island, California, #7

Around the middle of the 19th century, on the far western frontier of the continental United States, immigrants from Guangdong Province in southern China began arriving, fleeing from a land stricken by both natural and man-made disasters and a collapsing rural economy. Though initially welcomed, when the local economy took a downturn in the 1870s, economic problems were laid at the feet of this highly visible minority by organized labor, newspapers, and in short order, politicians. #8

On arrival at San Francisco, passengers would be separated by nationality. Europeans or travelers holding first or second class tickets would have their papers processed on board the ship and allowed to disembark. Asians and other immigrants, including Russians, Mexicans, and others, as well as those who needed to be quarantined for health reasons, would be ferried to Angel Island for processing. #9

A New Home The streets were not paved with gold as many immigrants felt they had been promised. Living conditions for most were bleak.

Summary: An Italian immigrant family in the kitchen of their East Side apartment, date unknown, photographed by Jessie Tarbox Beals. The apartments were not required, at this time, to provide ventilation (a window) for good air flow. Created / Published: unknown #10

Summary: A picture, taken in 1908, of a New York tenement housing a family of seven. During the Industrial Revolution, between 1900 and 1914, over 13 million immigrants flooded into Ellis Island in search of a better life. Created/Publish ed: 1908 #11

Summary: Two officials of the New York City Tenement House Department inspect a cluttered home located in the basement of a building. Created/Publishe d: 1900 #12

Hester Street New York #13

More than one immigrant would ask themselves “Was it worth it?” What do you think? Was American citizenship worth the price for the immigrants? Would you have the courage to move to a new country? What about your parents?