Ellis Island was opened in 1892, It served as a federal immigration station. It was opened for more than 60 years, in 1954 it was closed. Millions of immigrants passed through to get to a better life. 40% of the U.S. population can trace at least one ancestor back to Ellis Island. Ellis Island is Located north of Liberty Island.
Immigration from Germany, Ireland, Britian, and the Scandinavia slowed, Immigrants from southern and eastern Europe started to come. Jews came to escape political and economic oppressions in Russia and eastern Europe. Italians came to escape poverity in Italy. Also there were poles, hungarians, Czechs, Serbs, Slovaks, and greeks. Along with them were countries not in southern and eastern Europe like Syria, Turkey, and Armenia.
The reasons they came were war, drought, famine, and religous persecution. Everybody came to find a better life in American. Immigrants were tagged with information then went through medical and legal inspections. 80% of the people passed through within a couple of hours. Others could be there for days or maybe even weeks.
Passage of the immigrant quota Act of 1921 and National Orgins Act of 1924 were passed. This limited the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S. This ended mass immigration to New York. Only 2.3 million passed through Ellis Island between 1925 to 1954 which is still more than half of all immigrants entering America.
To me Ellis Island represents an escape to a better life. People from every country came to escape past lives and struggled to start a new life in America leaving family and friends behind.
Waiting to be allowed into the U.S.
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