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Immigration to USA
From 1800s people in many parts of the world decided to leave their homes and immigrate to the United States. Fleeing crop failure, land and job shortages, rising taxes, and famine. Later many came to the U. S. came seeking personal freedom or relief from war, political and religious persecution. -
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Immigration
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Know Nothing Party
Know-Nothing party, also known as an American Party, was an American political party. The party manifested in late 1840’s as some members started developing strong anti-immigrant and especially anti-Roman Catholic sentiments. They party gained favor and growth in early 1850s.
Prominent leaders like Abraham Lincoln and many US citizens opposed this party and finally the party fell off in 1856. -
Homestead Act
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862.
A homesteader had only to be the head of a household or at least 21 years of age to claim a 160 acre parcel of land. Settlers from all walks of life including newly arrived immigrants,single women and former slaves had a right to claim. For a small fee they had to live on the land, build a home, make improvements and farm for 5 years . -
Steamship replaces Sailing ships
By 1870, more than 90 percent of immigrants to America arrived by steamship. As vessels grew safer, larger, sturdier, and faster, ocean crossings became less of an ordeal.
The Steerage and Third Class was the area designated for many immigrants with low incomes.. The conditions varied by steamship line and sometimes were very harsh. Early steerage often housed hundreds of immigrants in one large room. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese Exclusion Act was the first major law restricting immigration to the United States . This act was signed into law on May 6, 1882, by President Chester A. Arthur.
It halted Chinese immigration for ten years and prohibited Chinese from becoming US citizens.
It was enacted in response to economic fears of declining wages and jobs for the citizens. -
Ellis Island Immigration Center
Ellis Island opened in 1892 as a federal immigration station designated by President Benjamin Harrison . -
Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital
The island's Immigrant Hospital was the United States’ first public health hospital. Every immigrant had to go through a thirty-second health inspection upon arrival. If the immigrant was sick then that person was sent on to the Immigrant Hospital to be detained until they recovered or were sent home if they were deemed too be sick to enter the country. The hospital originally consisted of 120 beds and was eventually expanded to three times that size. -
Wooden benches in the Great hall
The Registry Room was also know as the 'Great Hall',because of its dimensions. The large rectangular room was 200 feet long and 102 feet wide.
The waiting area in the Great Hall had long metal rails that helped maintain an orderly line as people went through the medical and legal inspections. Wooden benches were added in 1903, to make the process comfortable for the thousands of immigrants entering the country. -
1917 Immigration Act
The U.S. Congress enacted the first widely restrictive immigration law. This Act implemented a literacy test that required immigrants over 16 years old to demonstrate basic reading comprehension in any language. It also increased the tax paid by new immigrants upon arrival and allowed immigration officials to exercise more discretion in making decisions . It also excluded from entry anyone born in a geographically defined “Asiatic Barred Zone” except for Japanese and Fillipino. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
This act of 1952 was meant to exclude certain immigrants from immigrating to America, post World War II and early Cold War. Immigrants were denied entry based on unlawful, immoral, diseased,politically radical mainly Communists. The main objective of this was to block any spread of communism.This act was labeled the best way to preserve national security and intrests.President Truman originally vetoed the law, deeming it discriminatory; however there was enough support in the Congress. -
Ellis Island Closes
The gateway to America, closed its doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892.
During World War I, immigration declined and Ellis Island was used as a detention center for suspected enemies
In 1924 Ellis Island was converted to a detention and deportation center for illegal immigrants, a hospital for wounded soldiers during World War II and a Coast Guard training center.
Finally in 1954 Ellis island was closed and declared excess Federal property. -
Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Beginning in 1984, Ellis Island underwent a $160 million renovation, the largest historic restoration project in U.S. history.
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum opened to the public in September 1990 and today is visited by almost 2 million people each year.
Also unveiled was The American Immigrant Wall of Honor, the largest wall of names in the world, where individuals can have the name of an immigrant ancestor inscribed for posterity.
