Curriculum
Immigration and Citizenship
Essential Question
What do students need to understand about the history of immigration to be informed for it's modern debates? Examine the important story of immigration in the United States by reviewing the nature of immigration and giving students tools to analyze the history of immigration both through the social history and the legal and policy debates from the Founding until the present. With this context in mind, students are better able to engage in the modern debates regarding immigration. Students will understand the factors that led early immigrants to the United States and the challenges they faced upon arrival. They will analyze how American lawmakers viewed immigrants and the evolving nature of immigration policy. Finally, students will use this knowledge to prepare and present their own plan for immigration policies.
Curriculum resources
What is importance of immigration to the American story? Trace the history of immigration in the United States from its Founding to the first half of the twentieth century. Help students gain an understanding of the experience of immigrants in the 1800s, the factors that brought them to the United States, and the challenges they faced upon their arrival. Equip students to engage in the modern conversation on immigration in the United States.
What is the background history of immigration policy in the United States? Examine the philosophical origins, legal debates, and legal history from the Founding of the nation to the late 1900s. Give students tools to understand how American lawmakers have viewed immigrants and the reasoning behind the evolving nature of immigration policy.
What are the modern day debates on immigration and what are the consequences of the different proposals? Help students refine their research, writing, and presentations skills as well as gain an understanding of how to engage with civility in a discussion about a sensitive topic.