. The USA needed workers back then. There was lots of unoccupied land also. These immigrants did not march through ellis Island waving the flags of the countries that they left. I have a heritage from several other countries but I have never consideded myself any kind of hyphenated American.
Correct.
I would add that an immigrant in those days had to have a sponsor that lived in the US and swore to take responsibility for the immigrant, so the immigrant would not be an economic burden to the country.
There were three separate medical checks on Ellis Island. You had to pass all three, or back on the boat you went for a trip to your native country.
My mother’s father worked in salt mines in northern Italy, went to war in 1916 fighting for the Italians against the Austrians in the Alps, was wounded and captured as a POW.
Came back after the war to the salt mines and said I am going to America. And he did. Six months later, he sent for his family to follow him. My grandmother, uncle and my mother, who was 3 at the time, came through Ellis Island in August, 1920 after a three week boat trip from Italy on the SS Argentina.
My other grandfather came two times in 1909 and 1912, and stayed.
Had these men not been brave enough to start a new life thousands of miles away, I would not be here.