- TWO FIFTHS OF THE ENTIRE AMERICAN POPULATION CAN TRACE THEIR HISTORY BACK TO ELLIS. ISLAND - BETWEEN 1892 AND 1954 MORE THAN TWELVE MILLION IMMIGRANTS FIRST CAME TO AMERCA THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND
PEOPLE GOT TO THE SHIPS BY GOING ON FOOT, RIDING A HORSE TO GET TO THE SEAPORT , OR TAKING A TRAIN TO GET TO THE SEAPORT. THEN, AFTER ARRIVING AT THE SEAPORT, THE SOON TO BE IMMIGRANTS WOULD BOARD A STEAMSHIP. I WAS CRAMMED TOGETHER AT A THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP WITH TERRIBLE CONDITIONS. AND FOOD,SO MANY UNKNOWN PEOPLE, AND THE CREW SAYING "STEERAGE".
I AM STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEAPORT SURROUNDED BY RICH AND POOR PEOPLE SPEAKING IN GIBBERISH I CAN'T UNDERSTAND. WHEN I FIRST STEP OFF THE SHIP, A STRANGE MAN SLAMS AN UNKNOWN TAG ON ME, WHILE I TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE NOISES I HEAR FROM HIM.
I WOULD DESCRIBE THE MEDICAL EXAM AS AN EXCUSE TO LIMIT IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE DOCTORS CHECKED IF ANY OF THE IMMIGRANTS ACTED OR SEEMED ABNORMAL. CAN THE IMMIGRANTS REALLY HELP BEING THE WAY THEY ARE? THEY WERE. RAISED IN FOREIGN COUNTRY'S AND SAT IN CRAMPED SPACES FOR WEEKS.
THE ISLE OF TEAR REFERRED TO ELLIS ISLAND WHEN SOMEONE OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS. SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT IMMIGRANTS FACED ON THIS ISLE ARE BEING SEPARATED FROM FAMILY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND AFTER A SICK PERSONS CASE WAS REVIEWED, THE SICK PERSON COULD BE SENT BACK TO THAT PERSONS HOME COUNTRY.