Ellis Island Basics
Where is Ellis Island located?
Near New York City
Where is Angel Island located?
California
Bonus points: San Francisco Bay
What type of transportation did immigrants use to get to the immigration stations?
boat or ship
How might people feeling coming to a new country?
Bonus: words other than happy, sad or mad :)
Excited, nervous, or scared (or similar feeling words)
What is at least one similarity between Ellis Island and Angel Island?
Bonus for more!
They were both immigration stations
People traveled by boat/ ship to get to both places
People on both islands had to go through interviews and health checks
What country were most Ellis Island immigrants coming IN to?
United States
Where were people mainly traveling from to get to Angel Island?
Mostly Asian countries
Bonus if you named: China, Japan, India, the Philippines
AND Russia, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia
What was the trip like for people immigrating to both of these stations?
Long and crowded
Why might people who immigrate to different countries feel scared?
They do not know what could happen
Which island was on the East Coast?
Ellis Island
What was the purpose of Ellis Island?
To process immigrants entering the U.S.
What were buildings on Angel Island called where immigrants stayed?
Barracks or detention centers
What is at least one reason why people may leave their country to immigrate to a new one?
- To have more opportunities (like a job)
- To reunite with family
- War in their home country
- Natural disasters in their home country
- Climate change
- Famine or hunger
Why might families feel sad?
They may need to leave family members behind or go without them
Which island had longer stays?
Angel Island
How long did immigrants stay at Ellis Island?
Anywhere from a few hours to a few days
Why were immigrants kept longer at Angel Island?
Strict questioning and laws
What was at least one challenge immigrants faced while traveling to their destination?
Sickness, lack of space, or long travel time
Why is learning about immigration and the process of immigrating important?
- helps us understand someone else's point of view
- it teaches us about the strength of people who immigrate
- it helps us be kinder to those who are new to a country
Which island processed more European immigrants?
Ellis Island
What did doctors check at Ellis Island?
People's health
What was the law called that unfairly banned certain people from coming into the United States?
Chinese Exclusion Act
What did usually people bring with them on their immigrations journeys to Ellis Island and Angel Island?
Suitcases or trunks
Clothes
Food
Photos
Keepsakes
Why are immigrants important (in whatever country they immigrate to)?
They bring new ideas, cultures, skills, and help make the country stronger and more diverse.
What is at least one major difference between the immigration stations?
Think: NOT location
Ellis Island was usually faster to immigrate through; Angel Island was stricter/longer and had harsher rules