The immigrants, including our grandparents, relatives, and friends, came to America from different parts of the world for various reasons. They sought to escape religious persecution and racial tension but their main motivation was to achieve freedom - the freedom to choose where they live, own property, participate in government, and above all else, be treated as human beings.
The journey to America was extremely difficult. While some had access to decent seaworthy boats, most had to endure overcrowded and dirty vessels that were appalling. Jewish immigrants faced additional challenges due to the non-kosher food provided on the ships. The cramped conditions onboard turned people into a herd of cattle with many suffering from seasickness. Accounts documented unsanitary bathrooms which undoubtedly made the journey torturous. However, despite these hardships, most immigrants believed that e
...nduring the terrible voyage was worth it because it led them to the desired freedom they sought.
Upon arrival at Ellis Island , conditions were far from sanitary. People were organized into lines and examined by doctors in order to detect any physical issues.Children over two years old were expected to walk independently.If a doctor noticed any health concerns , they would mark the person with chalk for further inspection Those considered problematic would be segregated and confined in a cage .The examination process at Ellis Island involved various methods to assess mental stability, including a series of questions asked by an interpreter. However, the most feared and final test was conducted by a doctor who inspected individuals' eyelids for diseases. Sadly, this doctor often frightened children and potentially spread more diseases due to the use of unsterile gloves and failure to change o
wash them between examinations. Personally, I found this both revolting and dangerous.
Additionally, immigrants had to line up according to their nationality for questioning. These inquiries instilled fear in many individuals who struggled with deciding whether to tell the truth or lie in order to gain entry into America. Later on, Jewish immigrants received specific assistance through the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). HIAS advised them to be truthful during their transition from the boat and settling in the western part of the country. Unfortunately, there were corrupt officials who accepted bribes during this process, which made me question if this land truly embodied freedom and justice as it claimed.
Throughout these experiences at Ellis Island, one thing remained certain: all immigrants passing through were filled with fear and confusion.This feeling would likely persist for several months following their arrival due to numerous restrictions that were in place. In the early twentieth century, various laws and restrictions were put in place to control immigration into America. Certain illnesses would lead to individuals being sent back home, while nationalities such as the Chinese faced entry restrictions under laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act. This ban on Japanese individuals entering America was disappointing for our ancestors who had hoped for a land of liberty.
Jews, on the other hand, experienced different treatment as many countries refused to accept them. The first Jewish settlers in America were the Morranos from Spain, who fled persecution by the Inquisition. They journeyed from Spain to South America and eventually arrived in New Amsterdam where they initially faced rejection by Peter Stuyvesant. However, they appealed to the Dutch West India Company and were ultimately allowed
into the colony. Despite Stuyvesant's efforts to make life difficult for them by denying permission to build a synagogue, when British naturalization laws came into effect after the colony was taken over by the British, they were able to establish one.
In Savannah, Jews faced certain limitations but were accepted due in part to Samuel Nunes, a Jewish doctor who played a crucial role in containing a disease that had claimed many lives. Even then, Jews were given land away from the main townDuring significant events such as the American Revolution and Civil War, the Jewish community did not have a unified stance. Opinions and concerns varied among individuals, leading to different positions taken by Jews in these conflicts. Some were worried about the potential loss of freedoms under English rule, while others joined the Patriots due to excessive tax burdens.
- John Locke essays
- 9/11 essays
- A Good Teacher essays
- A Healthy Diet essays
- A Modest Proposal essays
- A&P essays
- Academic Achievement essays
- Achievement essays
- Achieving goals essays
- Admission essays
- Advantages And Disadvantages Of Internet essays
- Alcoholic drinks essays
- Ammonia essays
- Analytical essays
- Ancient Olympic Games essays
- APA essays
- Arabian Peninsula essays
- Argument essays
- Argumentative essays
- Art essays
- Atlantic Ocean essays
- Auto-ethnography essays
- Autobiography essays
- Ballad essays
- Batman essays
- Binge Eating essays
- Black Power Movement essays
- Blogger essays
- Body Mass Index essays
- Book I Want a Wife essays
- Boycott essays
- Breastfeeding essays
- Bulimia Nervosa essays
- Business essays
- Business Process essays
- Canterbury essays
- Carbonate essays
- Catalina de Erauso essays
- Cause and Effect essays
- Cesar Chavez essays
- Character Analysis essays
- Chemical Compound essays
- Chemical Element essays
- Chemical Substance essays
- Cherokee essays
- Cherry essays
- Childhood Obesity essays
- Chlorine essays
- Classification essays
- Cognitive Science essays