WESTWARD EXPANSION INDUSTRIALIZATION URBANIZATION 1870 1900
IMMIGRATION IN INDUSTRIAL AMERICA
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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lengthen ethnic names
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shorten long ethnic names
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sneak people into Ellis Island
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None of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -How did inspectors deal with all of the different languages coming through Ellis Island? Ans. Interpreters were hired as well as volunteers from local churches and synagogues.
Detailed explanation-2: -Records kept by the government demonstrate conclusively that immigrants left Ellis Island with the same surnames they had arrived with. The idea that names were changed at the point of entry is a myth, an urban legend promoted by a popular film.
Detailed explanation-3: -More commonly, immigrants would change their names themselves when they had arrived in the United States, and for a number of reasons. Someone might change their name in order to make it sound more American, to fit in with the local community, or simply because it was good for business.
Detailed explanation-4: -Despite the island’s reputation as an “Island of Tears” the vast majority of immigrants were treated courteously and respectfully, free to begin their new lives in America after only a few short hours on Ellis Island. Only two percent of the arriving immigrants were excluded from entry.