Comparison of Ellis Island and Angels Island Essay

Comparison of Ellis Island and Angels Island - Essay Example Similarly, for an immigrant, it becomes difficult to adjust to the new surroundings, new customs and a new habitat altogether. Although both the parties mutually adjust and co-exist in the future, the initial phase would always be remembered.History of Ellis Island and Angel Island needs to be understood bearing this in mind. Both these points were recognized as entry points to America. Ellis Island is located in the upper bay just off New Jersey coast, within the shadow of a statue of Liberty. Today approximately 40% of America’s population can trace their origins back to Ellis Island and that is because the island has a history of processing twelve million immigration applications. Ellis Island got its name after its owners Samuel Ellis and was also known as Oyster Island earlier. Federal Government after procuring the island from Samuel Ellis primarily for the defense purpose. The immigration was processed at Castle Garden in New York which was later shifted to Ellis Island . The initial influx was of northern and western Europeans and much later southern and eastern Europeans also made their way to America through Ellis Island. Europe was mainly becoming stifling in terms of religion and socio-economic constraints. To escape from these conditions people migrated to a new land altogether. The quarantine ships examined the passengers while they were still in the waters and identified and separated people who were having contagious disease, disorders and were the potential threat to society. The passengers were then preceded to the island where rest of the formalities was carried out. Although it acquired a reputation of â€Å"island of tears† the usual proceedings did not take more than a few short hours to start a new life in America.