Is it true that the White Star Line discriminated against steerage passengers, locking them behind barriers to prevent them from reaching the boats?
Was discrimination intended? Not in the sense that many assume today. Throughout the mid-1800s through the first part of the 20th Century, American immigration laws required that all emigrant ships landing passengers in the New World restrict the placement and movements of steerage passengers. These restrictions were put into law by Congress for the stated purpose of ensuring decent conditions in steerage. Another, more implied than stated, reason was to control the spread of disease normally brought over by the poorer elements of society. Any ship not fitted with barriers (or found to not be using them in accordance with the law), risked being held at Quarantine Station (just inside the Narrows on the Staten Island side), unable to discharge any passengers until the American Health Officers completed the timely process of personally checking each soul on board (normally, they only checked Third Class passengers) to verify that the ship was free of disease. In extreme cases, all passen
