T-Chart Example
This is an example T-chart inspired by the Unit Plan, Destination America: Our Hope, Our Future.
Destination America: Our Hope, Our Future
Compare Ellis Island immigrants to Angel Island immigrants using the T-Chart below.
|
Ellis Island |
Angel Island |
| Where are the immigrants from? |
Mostly European countries (Italy, Poland, Ireland, England) |
Mostly from Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, India, Philippines) |
|
Where is the island located? |
East coast – across the Atlantic Ocean in New York Harbor |
West coast –– across the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco Bay |
| Nickname: |
Gateway to America |
Guardian of the Western Gate |
| When was island open for immigrants? |
Opened for immigrants between 1892 to 1924 |
Immigrants and emigrants between 1910 and 1940 |
|
Why were the islands built? |
To regulate immigration into America – a stopping point to America |
Designed to control the flow of Chinese immigrants with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Process and detain Chinese and other Asian immigrants. |
| How many people passed through the gates? |
Over 22 million immigrants passed through the doors to American through Ellis Island |
Estimated 1 million people entered and left the country. 175,000 Chinese 150,000 Japanese |
| What did the immigrants have to do when they got there? |
Medical examinations and full physicals for everyone by 1917. If a problem was curable, they were sent to the island hospital. If not, they were sent back home. |
Humiliating and barbaric medical examinations performed. Interrogation sessions took place |
| What were the conditions like? |
The Statue of Liberty greeted the immigrants and welcomed them to America. The conditions were crowded. |
Harsh prison-like conditions while awaiting the demanding hearing process to prove their status as legal immigrants |
| How long did they stay? |
Process took 3-5 hour with the interviews. Some stayed for months waiting for family members or other reasons. |
Some stayed over night, while others stayed for months. Chinese immigrants stayed an average of 2-3 weeks. While waiting for their immigration status, many of the immigrants etched poems of depression and fear on the walls of the barracks. |
| How were they granted permission to stay? |
Prove they could be in America legally. Prove their country of origin, where they expected to live and work in America. Anyone with a criminal record or suspected of being an indentured servant was rejected. By 1921 a literacy test had to be passed and a passport or visa had to be shown. Had to have at least 20 dollars to be allowed to enter America. Their money was exchanged on the island. |
Prove their identity by matching details of their lives with the answers of their relative in the United States. Often had to wait months while their case was being investigated. |
< Return to Classification Charts