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.

Chinese immigrants await their physicals/interviews.

Interviews were more like interrogations on Angel 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 The Chinese Exclusion Act was not repealed until 1943.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.