Thesis
Ellis Island allowed millions of
people from all over the world to bring their families and cultures to the
United States. It gave birth to the American dream by allowing access to
resources unavailable to immigrants in their home countries and
became a turning point in American history by facilitating the
introduction of new cultures to America and by giving immigrants the chance for
a better life. Ellis Island was a representation of a shift in
immigration laws, requiring, for the first time, immigrants being examined
before allowed entry to the United States. For the
vast majority of immigrants, Ellis Island truly was an Island of Hope, a portal
to new opportunities and new experiences in America.
Immigrants arriving and being processed at Ellis Island
All photographs in this slideshow are from the book Ellis Island Interviews: In Their Own Words by Peter M. Coan.