Ellis Island :: essays research papers

ELLIS ISLAND                                   Ellis Island has a long history, was needed, and was the "Gateway to America" from1892 until it closed in 1954, when it began its slow decay.The island was c all tolded all-day sucker Island by the Indians and Oyster Island by the Dutch. Laterthe English erected a gallows tree or gallows on the island for hanging criminals and so theisland became known as gallous Island. The Indians sell it to the Dutch East IndiaCompany for trinkets. The company later sold it to Mynheer Paauw who also boughtland along the newborn Jersey coastline. Samuel Ellis, a colonial merchant bought theisland and it became at last Ellis Island. after(prenominal) the Revolution, the island was sold toNew York distinguish and in 1811, Fort Gibson was built on it in preparation for the war of1812. No fighting took place at Fort Gibson it was mainly a munitions storage fort.When immigrants began, pouring into New York City, New York State processed themat an old fort known as Castle Clinton on the outpouring at the tip of Manhattan. Whenthat facility became too small for the large progeny of immigrants arriving in the country,they chose Ellis Island as the hot immigration center. After erecting new woodenbuildings, it opened in 1892 but those buildings burned in 1897. New buildings wereerected in 1900 and it reopened. Eventually the control of immigration was turned overto the national government.Ellis Island was the principal federal immigration station the Gateway to America inthe United States from 1892 to 1954. More than 12 million immigrants were processedhere. Over time, the immigration station spread over 3 connected islands withnumerous structures including a hospital and contagious disease wards. It is estimatedthat over 40 percent of all citizens can trace their ancestry to thos e who came throughEllis Island. In its early years, when the great number of immigrants entered thecountry, Ellis Island mirrored the nations generous attitude and open door policy. Afterpassage of immigration laws in the 1920s, it was used more for "assembly, detainment,and deporting aliens," and symbolized a remnant door. Immigrants were required topass a series of medical and legal inspections in the beginning they could enter America.