Immigration Experience
Immigration ExperienceThe Immigration Experience-
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The Immigration Experience-
They are our grandparents, our relatives, our friends. They
are the immigrants. They came from all over the world for many
reasons, such as, religious persecution and racial tension, but the
largest reason for coming to America was for freedom. The freedom to
live where we want, to own property, to take part in the government
and most importantly, the freedom to be treated like a human being.
Coming over was extremely difficult. For some, there were
good, seaworthy boats, but most boats were overcrowded, dirty, and
disgusting. For Jews, the passage was extremely difficult because of
the non-kosher ship food. People were pushed together like cattle.
Most people became seasick. From one account came descriptions of
unsanitary bathrooms. This, surely, must have been torture, but,
hopefully, most immigrants found the dreadful trip to be worth the
freedom at the other end.
Ellis Island, also, was far from sanitary. The people would
break down into lines, and walk by a doctor, trying to hide any
physical problems. Children over two had to be able to walk by
themselves. If the doctor noticed anything wrong he would use a piece
of chalk to show the person required further inspection. If, this was
indeed the case, the person would be set aside in a cage.
Another test was that of sanity. An interpreter would ask each
person a few questions just to find a sensible answer to test mental
stability. The last and most feared doctor checked for disease by
lifting the eyelid. He scared children, and probably spread more
disease than the people he checked. From an eyewitness account, his
gloves were not sterile, and he did not change or even wash them
between examinations. I, myself, found this disgusting, and dangerous.
Then, immigrants filed into lines by nationality to be
questioned. The questions scared many people. Should they tell the
truth or lie. Which answer would make sure that they could stay in
America.
Later, for Jews, help came. A group called the "Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society," (HIAS) told them to tell the truth, and helped
them through the period between leaving the boat and getting settled
in the west. Some officials were corrupt, and allowed bribes. This
makes me wonder, if this was the land of freedom and justice as it had
been claimed. Through the ordeal, one thing is certain. All of the
immigrants passing through Ellis Island were scared and confused. It
was one feeling that most of these people would probably be exposed to
for the next few months.
There were many restrictions. People with certain diseases
would be sent back. Laws,...
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