Ellis-MB

Ellis Island

Ellis Island, aka "the isle of tears", looked like a product of the Industrial Revolution, a factory used to process immigrants into the New World. Many European immigrants sold all they owned, or even went into debt to pay for passage. The consequences of deportation for those denied entry could be devastating. In addition to the disgrace and ruin of deportation, families could be separated forever. The decision whether to stay or return with a loved one was no doubt the most traumatic experience of some emigrant's lives. The harbor, crowded with ships, was where the Americanization process began. Newcomers could wait three or four days in the harbor for entry, just to be tagged once on the docks. Inspectors observed the immigrants for signs of sickness, infirmity, or mental illness. If one displayed signs of illness, a letter was chalked on his or her back, the most dreaded of which was a circle with a cross in the middle, which guaranteed deportation. Most people - about four out of five - survived this scrutiny and proceeded to receive their landing card. Afterwards, they would go to a currency booth and exchange any foreign money they might have on them into U.S. dollars. Finally, they were handed over to travel agents, aid societies, or railroad men to go and seek homes and citizenship. Officially, an immigrant changed from a foreigner into a citizen after filling out nationalization forms, memorizing basic American government, taking a verbal exam, and taking an oath before a judge. However, it was a far more complicated process for many, since it involved learning an entirely new language and culture. The total population of the U.S. almost doubled from 70 million to 106 million by the year 1920. Many started westward, where mining, timber, and ranching jobs were available, while others crowded into tenements, having exhausted their means of travel. Some felt that, at best, they had traded a hard time in the homeland for a brutal time in city slums. These people sought help from aid societies, which proliferated for the needy.