The contrast between castle garden and ellis island is instructive. Cannato delivers a definitive history of americas landmark port of entry. With this book, fleegler has made his own important contribution to the academic literature of ethnic and immigration studies. Given the central role of ellis island in the story of american immigration, it is surprising that vincent j. American passage the history of ellis island preloaded digital audio player november 1, 2009 by vincent j.
American passage hardcover the history of ellis island. Jon meacham and tim mcgraw take listeners on a moving and insightful journey through eras in american history and the songs and performers that inspired us. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read american passage. The history of ellis island kindle edition by cannato, vincent j download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Douglas brinkley, bestselling author of the wilderness warrior the. Before ellis island opened, the restriction of immigrants was weak. Ellis island is a historical site that opened in 1892 as an immigration station, a purpose it served for more than 60 years until it closed in 1954. Feel free to jump forward to specific sections, by clicking on a section title in the table of contents below. American passage captures a time and a place unparalleled in american immigration and history, and articulates the dramatic and bittersweet accounts of the immigrants, officials, interpreters, and social reformers who all played an important role in ellis islands chronicle. As one of the main points of entry for immigrants coming from europe during the immigration booms of the late 1800s and early 1900s ellis island was a symbol for of hope for immigrants as almost 99 percent who landed passed through quickly. Quotas disillusion and restriction american passage. Cannato traces the politics, prejudices, and ideologies that surrounded. Cannatos fine book offers this perspective and more. American passage captures a time and place unparalleled in american immigration and history, and articulates the dramatic and bittersweet accounts of the immigrants, officials, interpreters, and social reformers who all play an important role in ellis islands chronicle.
Perhaps the history of ellis island can teach us some perspective. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide cannato, vincent j. Today the small island stands alongside plymouth rock in our nations founding mythology as the place where many of our ancestors first touched american soil. American passage offers a comprehensive history of ellis island from the 1890s to today. When put into its proper context, as cannato surehandedly does, ellis islands desultory existence emerges as a functional, if. The history of ellis island is about an uncertain chapter in americas past, one most people might automatically deem unfair or at least depressing. Cannato masterfully illuminates the story of ellis island from the days when it hosted pirate hangings witnessed by thousands of new yorkers in the nineteenth century to the turn of the twentieth century when massive migrations sparked fierce debate and hopeful new immigrants often encountered corruption, harsh.
More than 12 million immigrants passed through ellis island between 1892 and 1954with a whopping 1,004,756 entering the united states in 1907 alone. The below text details the actual origin of the island as a location for an immigration hub, all the way to its current status as a national monument. American passage the history of ellis island by vincent j. The history of ellis island will be published by harpercollins on june 9, 2009. The history of ellis island ebook written by vincent j. New york city is an archipelago, a philippines on the hudson river, the handiwork of a glacier thousands of years ago. Walter isaacson never before has ellis island been written about with such scholarly care and historical wisdom. Today it stands alongside plymouth rock in our nations founding mythology as the place where many of our. Cannato is associate professor of history at the university of massachusetts boston where he teaches courses on new york city history, boston history, immigration history, and twentiethcentury american history. Cannato has written a biography of ellis island, which in 1892 replaced castle garden as the main entry because the federal government exerted firmer control over immigration as the origin and perceived. Read a selection from the introduction of the new book american passage. This will be the first fullscale narrative history of ellis island. By bringing us the inspiring and sometimes unsettling tales of ellis island, vincent cannatos american passage helps us understand who we. For most of new yorks early history, ellis island had been an obs.
Ellis island was a federal operation, created in response to the national uproar at perceived changes in the type and nature of. By the late 1800s, it would attract many more people than had ever come to witness a pirate execution. American passage tells the history of ellis island from a multifaceted lens including social, political and economic history that helped to shape this american icon of immigration. American passage american passage audiobook, by vincent j. Castle garden was a state operation, created largely at the behest of immigrant aid societies, designed to protect and aid new arrivals to america. Cannato has written an extremely readable and enjoyable book on the history of ellis island. In this sweeping, often heartwrenching epic, vincent j. From eyewitness accounts, cannato weaves together a poignant testament to the hopes and fears of huddled masses yearning to breathe free. American passage 9780060742744, 9780061940392 vitalsource. As one of the main points of entry for immigrants coming from europe during the immigration booms of the late 1800s and early 1900s ellis island was a symbol for of. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading american passage. Gibbet island would shed its notorious name and history and revert back to a previous name. Cannato expressed the course that the late 1800s to 1900s immigrants went through. Never before has ellis island been written about with such scholarly care and historical wisdom.
By bringing us the inspiring and sometimes unsettling tales of ellis island, vincent cannatos american passage helps us underst. Meacham chronicles our history, exploring the stories behind the songs, and tim mcgraw reflects on them as an artist and performer. By bringing us the inspiring and sometimes unsettling tales of ellis island, vincent cannatos american passage helps us understand who we are as a nation. American passage captures a time and a place unparalleled in american immigration and history, and articulates the dramatic and bittersweet accounts of the immigrants, officials, interpreters, and social reformers who all play an important role in ellis islands chronicle. Today, the small island stands alongside plymouth rock in our nations founding mythology as the place where many of our ancestors first touched american soil. Vincent j cannato ellis island had been an obscure little island that barely held itself above high tide. Cannato the remarkable saga of americas landmark port of entry, from immigration post to. Cannatos thesis is that the history of ellis island as an immigration inspection station parallels the history of american attempts to restrict immigration. The main focus of cannatos book was the many changes in the immigration policy, and how it shaped the united states. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn.
Cannato the remarkable saga of americas landmark port of entry, from immigration post to deportation center to mythical icon. Although 12 million immigrants passed through ellis island from 1892 to 1954, cannatos protagonists are not the immigrants but the officials charged with. It is a both a story of political corruption on the part of some who preyed on these arrivals, as well a story of hope and new beginnings. Cannatos fine study, american passage, is the first booklength history of the famous immigrant depot. Cannatos thesis is that the history of ellis island as an immigration inspection station parallels the history. For most of new yorks early history, ellis island had been an obscure little island that barely held itself above high tide. In doing so, they expanded the ideal of american democracy and paved the way for a modern, multicultural america. Blk africa african african black alaskan alaskan indian albanian algerian alsace lorraine alsatian american indian arabian argentinian armenian asian asiatic assyrian australian austrian aztec bahamian barbadian basque belgian belgium bermudian bessarabian black boer bohemian bolivian bosnian brazilian. On this page you will find a detailed history of ellis island.