History of
Ellis Island
Social Studies
Grade 6
Ellis Island
Located in the New York Harbor.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island
 27.5
Acre site off the tip of Manhattan
Island, New York.
 Estimated that half of all Americans can
trace their family heritage to a family
member who came through the Port of
New York at Ellis Island.
 Between 1880 and 1930


Over 27 Million came to the United States.
Estimated that approximately 20 million came
through Ellis Island.
Ellis Island
 After



1892
Almost all immigrants came through Ellis Island.
Originally equipped to handle 5,000 immigrants
each day.
Later expanded to handle 16,000 immigrants
each day.
Ellis Island
 Families:


Men typically came alone and saved their
money to send for their families or to return
home after they made and saved money.
All who arrived were subject to a health
inspection.
• Passed: allowed to stay
• Failed: sent back home

Travel to America became more affordable
because of the Steam Engine Vessels.
Voyages were safer, faster, and cheaper.
Ellis Island
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
 Restricted
immigration to America from
China.

Men who were already here could not bring over
their families.
 1907


Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan
Extended hostility toward Asian workers/families.
Beginning of Angel Island Immigration Station in
San Francisco Bay.
• As close as they would get.
Ellis Island
 Decline

of Immigration
1914 (Start of World War I)
• American attitudes changed about immigration.
• A sense of nationalism and suspicion of foreigners
began to rise and loyalties were questioned.

1920’s
• Immigration laws passed that limited the flow of
immigrants into America.
Ellis Island-History
 Known
as Oyster Island during the Dutch &
English colonial periods.
 Samuel Ellis was the island’s private
owner in the 1770’s.
 Had many names: Kioshk, Oyster, Dyre,
Bucking, and Anderson’s Island.

Developed from a sandy area into a hanging
sight for pirates, harbor fort, ammunition and
ordinance depot for Fort Gibson, and finally,
immigration station.
Ellis Island-History
 1794-1890


Important military role for the United States.
Purchased from New York state by the federal
government in 1808.
Ellis Island-History
3
 1892-1954

Over 12 million using Ellis Island
 Originally
built on 3.3 acres of land and
later expanded to 27.5 acres using landfill
from ship ballast and excess earth from
the construction of the New York City
Subway system.
 Designated first Federal immigration
station by President Benjamin Harrison in
1890.
Ellis Island-History
3
 Prior
to 1890, immigration was regulated
by individual states vs. the federal
government.
 Original Immigration Site in New York?



Castle Garden (1855-1890)
Immigrants came from: England, Ireland,
Germany, and the Scandinavian countries.
Castle Garden was not equipped to handle
the growing number of immigrants coming to
America due to deplorable conditions in
Europe.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island-History

Ellis Island opened
January 1, 1892
 First Person:
 Annie Morre, age 15
from Ireland
• Came from
Queenstown,
Ireland
• Departed:
December 20, 1891
4
Ellis Island-History
 DISASTER

4
STRIKES ELLIS ISLAND
JUNE 14, 1897 a fire burns Ellis Island to the
ground.
• All immigration records lost
 Rebirth:
Ellis Island was rebuilt, now
fireproof, and reopened its doors
December 17, 1900.

2,251 Immigrants cam through Ellis Island
that day...
Ellis Island
Treatment by Class…

"Immigrants sailed to America in hopes of
carving out new destinies for themselves. Most
were fleeing religious persecution, political
oppression and economic hardships. Thousands
of people arrived daily in New York Harbor on
steamships from mostly Eastern and Southern
Europe. The first and second class passengers
were allowed to pass inspection aboard ship and
go directly ashore. Only steerage passengers
had to take the ferry to Ellis Island for
inspection." …unknown
Ellis Island-History
Treatment by Class…
 First



and Second Class:
Cursory inspection (passing inspection)
Theory: if they could afford the more
expensive ticket, they were less likely to
become a burden to the American society
(medical or legal).
Passengers who failed the inspection, went
through to Ellis Island for further inspection.
Ellis Island-History
Treatment by Class…
 Third


Class… (Steerage passengers)
Traveled with few amenities.
Upon arrival, they were transported by ferry or
barge to Ellis Island where they underwent
medical and legal inspection.
 Inspection:
3 to 5 hours in length if they
were in reasonably good
health.

Ellis Island
Examination Room
Ellis Island-History
Treatment by Class…

Medical Inspection:
Doctors inspected all third class
people for any ailments.
 Took place in the Registry
Room (Great Hall)
 Typically passed their
inspection as long as the
doctors could find no
contagious diseases.


Legal Inspection:
Prior to leaving: Noted name
and questionnaire.

6
EXAMPLE OF IMMIGRANT RECORDS….
Ellis Island-History
Departments
 Departments
responsible for inspections
were …


United States Public Health Service
Bureau of Immigration (Immigration and
Naturalization Service {a.k.a. INS} )
Ellis Island
 Only

2 % were turned away.
Reasons:
• Doctors diagnosed a contagious disease.
• Legal ramifications: if they thought the person
would become a public charge or an illegal laborer.
 1907:
Many thought immigration had
slowed down. 1907 had the largest
number of immigrants pass through Ellis
Island.

1.25 million immigrants were processed.
Ellis Island
Closes
 November

1954
Last Immigrant: Arne Peterssen.
 1965




President Lyndon Johnson declared Ellis Island
part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
Opened to the public: 1976-1984
1984: Restoration of Ellis Island ($160 Million)
Re-opened: September 10, 1990
• Average of 2 million visitors per year.
Works Consulted
 http://ellisisland.org/genealogy/ellis_island
_history.asp
 http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/anni
e_moore.asp
 http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/ellis_
island_famous_arrivals.asp