The immigrants that came over to America did not get the welcome that they thought that they thought they would. When they got through Ellis Island,or Angel Island. When they finally got onto American soil they faced: hard laws, discrimination, and forced change. As rough as the condition were they still made it to get full citizenship, and start families, and live the “American Dream”. Depending on from where the immigrants were immigrating from they went to one of two places. If they were coming to the east coast they they would go through Ellis Island, and if they went to the west coast then they would have passed through Angel Island. Theses two ports were very different though. Ellis Island was know to look like a castle and have …show more content…
On the East Coast the fear was that with all the Catholic or Orthodox immigrating into the U.S. the fear was that they would try to convert America into a catholic nation like the ones that they had come from. On the west side it was even worse for the asian immigrants. One reason being that they were not white. That play a large role in as to why they were treated so badly. It was because of the time and the ideology at that time was that the white population was better than all other ethnicities, and so it is this reason that the immigrants to Angel Island were treated with not the splendor that their east coast counterparts saw, but the harsh, bordering on cruel acts of the workers. Some of the conditions that the asian’s had to face were long detainment periods. Also there was lots of long interrogation sessions to try and figure out if the immigrants were being …show more content…
This meant dropping their old way and adopting the American ways of life. This included the way they dressed, spoke, acted in public, and then in extreme cases their religion. The old immigrants wanted the new to drop the old way completely. This was seen severely in California with the Asian population. When they entered the U.S. they were looked down upon because of they way the dresses, acted, and they way the practice their religion.ea wanted the Asian immigrants to adopted their customs. This forced change was harder for the older generation then it was for the younger and middle generations. The results these people clinging to their identity caused ethnical communities within the big cities, for example Chinatown, Little Italy,and Little Germany in New York City. These fractions within the city have caused America to become more of a salad bowl in the modern times the the melting pot of the old
America is a land filled with immigrants coming from different corners of the worlds, all in hopes of finding a better life in the country. However, No one had an easy transition from his or her home country to this foreign land. Not every race thrived the same way—some were luckier than others, while some have faced enormous obstacles in settling down and being part of the American society. Many people have suffered
... many immigrants faced discrimination, thus leaving them no choice but to live in the slums of some areas and try fight their way up to success.
Immigrants came to American in search of freedom and opportunity. They mostly came by steamship. Examinations and vaccinations of the immigrants needed to be done. Both immigrants and their baggage had to be disinfected before they could leave Ellis Island.
Ellis island brought millions of immigrants to America between the years 1892 and 1954. It is said that 40% of our population today can trace their ancestors to Ellis Island. Many people of many nationalities came to The United States get a chance at having the “American Dream”. Whilst pursuing their dreams, they left their marks on American culture. No one has influenced us so much as the Italians and their way of life.
In the years from 1860 through 1890, the prospect of a better life attracted nearly ten million immigrants who settled in cities around the United States. The growing number of industries produced demands for thousands of new workers and immigrants were seeking more economic opportunities. Most immigrants settled near each other’s own nationality and/or original village when in America.
Immigrants were held for long periods of time before they could get into America. People who had to send here were Steerages, a lower class, they had been “named” by the medical exams “E” for eye trouble, “K” for hernia, “L” for lameness, “X for mental defects, “H” for heart disease, Mary Gordon, 1987. In the other hand, Angel Island and Ellis Island had many differences between them. Ellis Island was in the East coast, Upper New York Bay. In additional, Ellis Island was a castle garden, and it was used for immigrants from Europe. “Immigrants could pass through Ellis Island in mere hours, though for some the process took days”, May Gordon, 1987. The immigrants who passed Ellis Island had been treated by terrible things such as “stolen their names and chalked their weaknesses in public on their clothing” Marry Gordon, 1987. Immigrants who had to go to the Angel Island was treated worse. They would be separated men from women and children at the moment they had arrived. Then they had to do the medical exams which required undressing in front of strangers. If they fail the test for various diseases they would be deported immediately. After all of the examinations, the immigrants did not pass through yet, they would wait in a detention dormitory and a bunk until the interrogation process, and this process took a few days to months. In conclusion, I rather to live in Ellis Island and
Located in the upper New York Bay was the border or gateway for immigrants to come to the United States, in total over 12 million immigrants used Ellis island to get to the United States.
After reading The Book of the Unknown Americans, I realized how difficult immigrating to the United States can be. I am an immigrant also, so just reading the story makes me relate to many problems immigrants experience relocating to a different country. Immigrants often face many issues and difficulties, but for some it is all worth it, but for others there comes a point in time where they have to go back to their hometown. Alma and Arturo Rivera came to the United States to better their life, but also so that Maribel could attend a special education school. While Arturo had a job things had gone well for the family, but once Arturo lost the job and passed away the two of them had to go back because they felt that that was the best option for them. Reading this book made me realize how strong an individual has to be to leave their own country and relocate somewhere else not knowing if this will better your life or cause one to suffer.
The immigrants faced several afflictions such as: racism and religious oppression. The examination of immigration expressed an important shift in American society after WWI.
Chinese Immigrants hung on Angel island confronted cruel separation and hardships while on the island, they were subjected to numerous cross examinations and awkward living quarters. Many were held for a while and Faced bid after bid with the courts, and mishandle of energy by the Immigration benefit. Chinese felt alone and powerless all through their repression, and many considered suicide. The enthusiastic weariness, separation and tragic conditions is the thing that made numerous Chinese make a request to be sent back to their countries, as opposed to endure the court procedures. Chinese Americans confronted brutal segregation and some seclusion too after coming back to United States, and 75% was sent through the Angel Island Immigration
Immigrants came to the United States for different reasons, but Laskin stated the three main reasons were “land, freedom, and hope.” (9) If they immigrated to the United States, they could experience what other immigrants sent letters home about. Most immigrants traveled to the new world with expectations
Lee, Erika, and Judy Yung. Angel Island Immigrant Gateway to America. New York : Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
When my family and I got in the plane that would take us to the U.S., I was very excited. It was as if I had butterflies in my stomach. I was also nervous because I had heard of people that were turned away when they got to America because the government was not letting as many immigrants into the U.S as they had in the past. Therefore, my whole family was a little anxious. Two things could happen when we arrived at the Washington, D.C., airport. We could either come to the United States to chase after “the American dream”, or we could be turned away which meant that we would have to return to our country of origin.
Most of the immigrants coming on the steamboats came from southern and eastern Europe. The start of World War I in 1914 caused 15 million immigrants to come to the United States, they were coming from new places; 80% of them from Italy, Greece, Russia, the Empire of Austria-Hungary, Romania, and Turkey. The other immigrants came from Japan, China, Korea, Mexico and other parts of Latin America. A lot of these immigrants came for many reasons, the economy was very low, there was no jobs and no way to support their family, there were government-directed attacks against Jewish citizens, property, and villages. In China the federal legislation suspended Chinese immigration, limited the civil rights of the Chinese residents and forbade their naturalization, their own home wasn’t treating them well. However it started to become so much that the National Origins Act in restricted the amount of immigrants who attempt or try to enter the United States and also assigned slots according to quotas based on national origins. This stated that all potential immigrants from Asia are unworthy to enter the Unites States of
...immigrants made sacrifices. Not only were the parents affected but children were also affected. By looking at situations from a Immigrants point of view and how they express things the way they do, you will be able to see that they are more than grateful for the opportunities given to them.