• America was an attractive destination for European immigrants for several reasons.

• There were economic opportunities (jobs in factories, cheap land in the west).

• Democracy provided a way to escape from authoritarian governments.

• Freedom of religion or and escape from persecution in Europe.

• Passage to America was not cheap. Passengers would crown onto the decks of merchant ships just to get here.

• The voyage was usually 10 days or 2 weeks in duration.

• The passengers would be relieved to see the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

• All immigrants coming to the United States had to go through an immigration station to legally enter the country.

• In New York City that meant all immigrants went through the facility on Ellis Island.

• First, immigrants were subjected to a physical exam.

• Doctors looked for any symptoms of contagious diseases like tuberculosis (consumption), conjunctivitis and influenza.

• Immigrants were also evaluated for other health “defects” such as heart problems or physical disabilities.

• After the physical exam immigrants had to be interviewed and then their entry into the United States was documented.

• Lines were usually very long for this process and it could often take several hours or even days depending on how many ships were arriving in New York.

• Immigrants arriving from Asia usually entered the United States in San Francisco.

• They were processed at the facility located on Angel Island.

• The procedures on Angel Island were much like those on Ellis Island with the exception that the Chinese were often treated like criminals instead of immigrants.

• These immigrants were often housed in cells for days or weeks at a time while they were waiting to be allowed to officially enter the United States.

• The physical examinations were conducted in open exam rooms. Notice the differences in these images and those from Ellis Island.

• Chinese immigrants await their physicals/interviews.

• Interviews were more like interrogations on Angel Island.

• Increasing pressure was placed on the U.S. government to limit immigration. Especially immigration from China.

• In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This law banned all immigration from China to the United States.

• The Chinese Exclusion Act was not repealed until 1943.

• Many Americans also called for Congress to act on immigrants coming from eastern and southern Europe.

• Congress began implementing a series of quotas that would accomplish this goal.

• The quotas were based on immigration numbers from the early 1800’s when very few eastern and southern Europeans were coming to America.