Stops 1-3
How many classes were on the steamships? Explain how you know.
There were 3 classes on the steamships. We know this because in 1st stop: The Passage is says, "First- and second-class passengers stayed in staterooms and cabins. But most people were in third class, called "steerage."
The Registry Room was nicknamed the Great Hall because it was so big.
After the medical exam, what was the next processing the immigrants had to pass?
The immigrants had to then pass a legal inspection.
Why did the author use quotations when stating Christopher Columbus "discovered" America?
The author used quotation marks because Christopher Columbus did not really discover America. The Native America were the first ones to find America and were already living there when he came.
What is an immigrant?
The immigrant is someone who moves from a country to live in another county.
Using evidence from 1st Stop: The Passage, explain how America became a diverse nation.
America became diverse because the ships were crowded with immigrants from different countries, who spoke different languages, and belonged to different religions.
Using evidence from Stop 5, explain one reason an immigrant might be sent back to their native country.
One reason why an immigrant might have been sent back was they showed sign of an eye disease. I know this because the text says, "People with trachoma were often sent back to their home countries."
Explain what the manifest was and what the officers used it for.
The manifest was a list of the names and descriptions of each passenger. The officers used this list to ensure the immigrants answered questions that matched what was written on the manifest.
Why did European immigrants come to America?
European Immigrants came to America because they wanted to escape poverty and religious intolerance in their native countries. They wanted freedom.
What does diversity mean?
Diversity means including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds.
What was one of the first things the immigrants would see and how did they react when they saw it?
One of the first things the immigrants saw was the Statue of Liberty and they would cheer or weep with joy.
Explain why the Registry Room was on the second floor.
The Registry Room was on the second floor because the doctors would watch from above and look for signs of health issues while the immigrants walked up the winding stairs.
How many questions were asked during the legal inspection? Explain why someone wouldn't pass the inspection.
Twenty-nine questions were asked during the Legal Inspection. An immigrant wouldn't pass if their answers differed from what was on the manifest.
Explain why immigration laws and Ellis Island were eventually created.
Explain what the "steerage" was.
Steerage was the third flood on the steamships where the third-class passengers stayed.
What did the health officers check for when they boarded the ship?
The health officers would check for signs of diseases.
Using evidence from the 6th stop, explain the purpose of "six-second physical".
The "six-second physical" was created to look for any signs of illness or contagious diseases. I know this because the text says, "The doctor noted whether the immigrants limped or were short of breath, if their eyes were red, if they acted disturbed or seemed otherwise abnormal."
Explain the Stairs of Separation.
The Stairs of Separation has 3 aisles. The right side was for people going west, the left was for people going to New York, and the center were the people who had to be detained.
Why are some immigrants treated poorly?
What is a buttonhook?
The buttonhook was the tool used to lift the eyelids of the passengers to check for trachoma.
Explain how wealth and poverty affected the experiences of the immigrants on the ship and when they first arrived at America.
Wealth affected the immigrants because they were able to stay in nice staterooms and cabins. They were also able to leave the ship right away.
Poverty affected the immigrants because they have to stay in the crowded third floor. They also have to wait hours or days until they could take a ferry to Ellis Island for more processing.
Explain what might have happened if they did not conduct these medical exams.
Answers will vary but should include an explanation about bringing diseases into America.
Using evidence, explain why Ellis Island was an "Isle of Hope" for some while it was an "Isle of Tears" for others.
Ellis Island was an "Isle of Hope" for the immigrants who passed the inspections. It was an "Isle of Tears" for the immigrants who did not pass. I know this because in the 8th stop the text states, "But for the unfortunate few who failed the health or legal inspections, it was the "Isle of Tears."
Explain why America is called the great “Melting Pot”.
America is called the great "Melting Pot" because it is a nation where many cultures have blended together.
What does detainee mean?
A detainee was someone who had to stay on the island for further processing because they did not pass the inspections.