Ellis Island: Immigration's Shining CenterMore than 17 million immigrants came here-to the front door of America-from 1890 to 1915 in what has been called the largest mass migration in human history. In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island is one of the nation's most important historical sites and is one of our most heavily visited national monuments. Its story is the story of our people and their struggles for freedom and dreams of a better life. |
Contents
Preface | 6 |
Immigrants | 11 |
A Nation Built on Immigrant Backs | 21 |
The Castle of Dreams | 30 |
Give Me Your Tired Your Poor | 41 |
Invitations to the Land of Gold | 48 |
It was Not a Desirable Place | 56 |
Island of Thieves | 99 |
The Worlds Most Awesome Island | 117 |
Committing a Gross Injustice | 128 |
The Tough Road to Americanization | 133 |
Closing the Golden Door | 141 |
Resurrecting a National Shrine | 147 |
Immigrants of Consequence | 153 |
Bibliography | 156 |
157 | |
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Common terms and phrases
aliens arrived ashore Atlantic Barge Office Bartholdi Battery became Bedloe's Island began berth Castle Garden century colony commissioner deportation detained diseases docks doctors Dutch Ellis Island emigrants entered the United Europe examination facility factories feet ferry foreigners German homeland Hudson River huge hundreds immigrants immigration center Immigration officials inspector Irish Island of Hope Island of Tears Italian Jersey Jersey City Kalmar Nyckel labor land large numbers later Library of Congress lives main building million Miss Liberty moved museum National Park Service native nearly newcomers North numbers numbers of immigrants ocean passed percent persons port President railroad tickets returned Robert Watchorn sent shore southern and eastern Statue of Liberty steamship steamship companies steerage steerage passengers streets thousands trachoma trains vessel villages voyage women workers World wretched wrote yearning to breathe York City York Harbor