They bought tickets to Manhattan and New Jersey, then took a long voyage to Ellis Island. While people crossed both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans to immigrate, more people crossed …show more content…
When they were finally in America after a long voyage, people did not make them feel very welcome. The immigrants had to pass many inspections. Walking up the stairs was a test, and they didn’t even know it. If someone showed signs of weakness, trouble breathing, or tiredness, they were sent home. They passed many more inspections along the way, seeing if they could read and write in their native language. If they had any signs of illness like trachoma, pregnancy, mental illness, etc. they were sent back to Europe. The inspectors asked many questions of every immigrant, and if they couldn’t answer them they were sent back. Around 250,000 immigrants were sent back to Europe. 1.35 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island as of …show more content…
It was normal for the father or eldest brother to go to America first, but then raise enough money to go back to Europe and get the rest of his family to go back to America. They had to share tiny apartments, which were crowded and messy. Most children had to work to support their family for a very small amount of earnings. Many immigrants got a job at a sewing company or as builders, where they worked 10-13 hours a day. These jobs are very difficult and tiring. The Great Famine also happened which was when all the potatoes got a disease so no one could eat them which led to starvation and