U.S. Immigration Gateway

The Great Wave of Immigration:

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the largest wave of immigration in U.S. history, known as the "Great Wave." During this period, millions of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Asia, arrived in the United States. They sought refuge from poverty, religious persecution, and political instability in their home countries. Ellis Island and Angel Island served as major immigration processing centers, where immigrants underwent medical examinations and legal inspections before entering the country.