Immigrants arriving at Ellis Island in 1903 had to pass a doctor’s exam that checked for diseases like tuberculosis and trachoma. In 1906, 12,432 people were turned away at the door. The ones who got in brought $25 MILLION in cash with them, because they knew nobody was going to hand them anything.
There was no welfare, no food stamps, and no Medicaid. They had to actually work, or they were sent back.
Also, Back in 1903 assimilation was the goal. Congress passed a law in 1906 requiring anyone who wanted citizenship to speak English, and companies like Ford ran their own schools to teach English, safety, and American history. A Ford English School diploma even counted toward a person’s citizenship application.
Back when we were a proper country.. 💔💔