![]() Immigrants were then taken to see if they could pass a legal exam. (Bial 27-29) Even the bravest child must have dreaded these examinations. Medical instruments were used to help with the exam, including metal eye probes that propped the eye open in order to see more clearly into the immigrants’ eyes. They were also looking for physical or mental issues and if the doctor checking the immigrants saw something he believed was a health issue, he would mark a letter on the person with chalk in a specific area so the person could be examined further. Some of these included tuberculosis, cholera, favus, and trachoma. Known as the ‘Six Second Physical’, examiners were specifically looking for diseases that could easily be spread. The medical exams were some of the most frightening experiences for children passing through Ellis Island. ![]() However, older children like Annie Moore and her two brothers had no parents to walk them through Ellis Island so they were on their own to go through the testing process. Most of the instructions were given to the parents, while children paid close attention to follow their direction. Everyone was instructed to get into lines where they would be screened to see if they needed more testing. Once on Ellis Island, the men were separated from the women and children, leaving their luggage in the baggage area. Considering most of the parents had no idea what was happening, children must have been even more stressed and terrified. (Quiri 19) There they began the screening process to see if they could enter the United States. The steerage class was required to stay on the boat, often for several days because there were so many immigrants trying to enter through Ellis Island, before they were put on a barge to be taken to the processing center. Once steamships reached the New York Harbor, first and second class passengers were asked screening questions and then allowed to go straight to New York City. (Burgan 29) Even then, they spent most of their time tired, hungry, dirty, seasick, and missing home. If a child was lucky, passengers from second or first class might throw candy down to them. Seasickness was also very common and many people would try to go up to the decks for fresh air. Rats and other pests swarmed the passengers, often ruining what little they were able to bring with them. Access to fresh water, food, and other necessities was very limited. Most traveled in steerage, the lowest paying class on a ship, packed together like cattle. Still, for a child to come to another country, often not being able to speak the same language, this new place must have been terrifying.Įven before a child stepped on to Ellis Island, the journey to get there was frightening enough. Although this did not always happen, the majority of workers on Ellis Island tried to make things easier for kids. When they landed, they were treated fairly on Ellis Island, receiving medical exams, proper meals, and were often spoken to by people who worked for the government in their own languages. (Faria 18) Some of the children came with their families, while others came alone meeting family members already living in the United States. 445,987 immigrants passed through its gates in the first year and, of those, a large amount were children. Annie’s story is one of hundreds of thousands of children who came to America for a chance at a new life and as soon as I heard about it, I was hooked on learning about how kids experienced the journey to America.Įllis Island opened its doors on New Year’s Day in 1892. Getting through Ellis Island was long and stressful, but the promise of becoming an American was worth all of the anxiety. She was selected as the first person to step foot on Ellis Island in order to be processed as an immigrant so that she could finally be reunited with her parents after three long years. A Child’s Journey Through Ellis Island From Dream to Reality: 2nd Place – Cavan McIntyre-Brewer, Home Schooledįifteen year old Annie Moore must have been nervous, excited, and scared all at the same time.
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