First Impressions: Immigration

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about what you know or imagine about immigration to the United States around the year 1900. What kinds of people were coming? What challenges did they face? What hopes did they have?

What are two words that come to mind when you think about this time period and immigration?





Why do you think people decided to leave their homes and move to a new country like the United States in the early 1900s?

Document A: An Immigrant's First Day at Ellis Island (Adapted)

This account describes the experiences of a young woman arriving at Ellis Island in 1907.

"The first thing I remember was the tremendous noise. Thousands of voices, speaking in a dozen different languages, all seemed to be shouting at once. We were herded off the ferryboat like cattle, a mass of weary, anxious faces. My mother clutched my hand tightly, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement.

We walked for what felt like miles, up a grand staircase. At the top, stern-faced officials directed us into long lines. It was here that we had our first 'test.' Doctors stood, carefully observing each person as they passed. I saw one man pulled aside because he was limping. Another woman had her eyelids quickly flipped open with a buttonhook, a procedure that made many wince. It was quick, impersonal, and made you feel like you were being inspected, not welcomed.

Next came the questioning. An interpreter, who spoke our dialect, relayed the questions from a uniformed officer. 'What is your name? Where are you from? Who are you joining? Do you have money? Do you have a job waiting for you?' My father answered truthfully, stating we had twenty dollars and were going to join his brother in Chicago. The officer scribbled notes on a form, barely making eye contact.

After what felt like an eternity, we were allowed to pass through a gate. My mother sighed with relief. We were officially in America. But the journey wasn't over. We still had to find our way to Chicago, a city that felt a million miles away. Yet, there was a spark of hope. We had made it through the 'Island of Tears' and were ready to begin our new lives."

Source: Loosely based on the memoirs of various immigrants to Ellis Island, early 20th century.

Document Analysis Worksheet: Ellis Island Account

Instructions: Read "Document A: An Immigrant's First Day at Ellis Island" carefully. Then, answer the questions below, making sure to use evidence from the document to support your answers.

Part 1: Initial Understanding

1. Who is the author of this account, and what is their perspective?
   
   
   

2. What is the main topic of this document?
   
   
   

3. Where does this event take place?
   
   
   

Part 2: Fact vs. Opinion

Definition Check:

• Fact: A statement that can be proven true or false.
• Opinion: A personal belief, feeling, or judgment.

For each statement below, identify if it is a Fact (F) or an Opinion (O) based on Document A. Then, explain your reasoning.

4. "The first thing I remember was the tremendous noise."
   
   F or O?
   
   Reasoning:
   
   
   

5. "Thousands of voices, speaking in a dozen different languages, all seemed to be shouting at once."
   
   F or O?
   
   Reasoning:
   
   
   

6. "It was quick, impersonal, and made you feel like you were being inspected, not welcomed."
   F or O?
   
   Reasoning:
   
   
   

7. "My father answered truthfully, stating we had twenty dollars and were going to join his brother in Chicago."
   F or O?
   
   Reasoning:
   
   
   

Document Analysis Answer Key: Ellis Island Account

Instructions: This answer key provides the correct classifications and reasoning for the "Document Analysis Worksheet: Ellis Island Account."

Part 1: Initial Understanding

1. Who is the author of this account, and what is their perspective?
   
   Answer: The author is a young woman arriving at Ellis Island in 1907. Her perspective is that of an immigrant experiencing the process firsthand, which shapes her observations and feelings about the events.

2. What is the main topic of this document?
   
   Answer: The main topic is the personal experience of an immigrant during their arrival and initial processing at Ellis Island around 1907.

3. Where does this event take place?
   
   Answer: The event takes place at Ellis Island.

Part 2: Fact vs. Opinion

For each statement below, identify if it is a Fact (F) or an Opinion (O) based on Document A. Then, explain your reasoning.

4. "The first thing I remember was the tremendous noise."
   
   F or O? O
   
   Reasoning: "Tremendous" is a subjective adjective describing the noise. While there was noise, whether it was "tremendous" is the author's personal perception, not an objectively verifiable fact.

5. "Thousands of voices, speaking in a dozen different languages, all seemed to be shouting at once."
   
   F or O? O
   
   Reasoning: The phrases "thousands of voices" and "a dozen different languages" could be exaggerations or generalizations based on the author's impression, not a precise count. "Seemed to be shouting at once" is also a subjective observation of the noise level and chaos.

6. "It was quick, impersonal, and made you feel like you were being inspected, not welcomed."
   F or O? O
   
   Reasoning: "Impersonal" and "made you feel like you were being inspected, not welcomed" are clear statements of the author's feelings and interpretation of the experience. These are personal judgments, not objective facts about the procedures themselves.

7. "My father answered truthfully, stating we had twenty dollars and were going to join his brother in Chicago."
   F or O? F
   
   Reasoning: This statement describes specific actions and declarations made by the father: stating they had twenty dollars and were joining his brother in Chicago. These are verifiable pieces of information presented as direct reporting of what was said, not a personal feeling or judgment by the author.