Figure 1.--Here steerage passangers line up at Ellis Island to begin the immigration process in the early 1900s. The process was primarily designed to find unhealty individuals. This was a stressful time for the emigrants. About 98 percent of the arrivals, hoowever, were allowed to enter the United States.

Extensive European immigration contunued after the turn of the 20th century. An imposing new building was completed on Ellis Island to process immigrants (1900). By the early 20th century about 1 million mostly European immigrants were entering American annually. Over 1.2 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island in the per year (1907). Large numbers of immigrants continued to flow from Eastern Europe and Italy. Eastern European immigration was promarily from the multi-ethnic Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires substanially increasing America's ehnic diversity. Jewish emigration continued to be substantial from Russia. This sharply fell off during World War I (1914-18). Countries at war did not want men of military age emmigrating. And sea travel was disrupted by the War. The Royal Navy blockaded the ports of the Central Powers. The Germans blockaded the Russian Baltic ports. After the War, immigration began to rise.

Created: 5:48 PM 9/5/2006
Last updated: 5:48 PM 9/5/2006