A Different Perspective

Until this century, most of America's history has been recorded and written by white men.
How is it determined who records a country's history? Do you think written history can be biased? Defend your view. How might our American history be different if told from the perspective of say, black women? Some time in the 21st century, people of Hispanic heritage will become the largest single ethnic group in the United States. Do you think our history will be rewritten when our country has an Hispanic majority? Do you think it should be? Explain why or why not

The First Immigrants

The first immigrants came to this land anywhere from 10,000 to 45,000 years ago, crossed a land bridge that once existed across the Bering Sea to migrate from northeast Asia to northwest North America. These immigrants were the ancestors of Native Americans. Think of all the immigrants that came to this land after the Native Americans.
What do you think a Native American might have to say about current efforts to limit immigration?

Immigration Restrictions

Throughout history, Congress has passed laws to restrict immigration. Sometimes these laws were aimed at specific countries, like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States for 10 years. Others were aimed at entire regions, such as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from Europe. Others were aimed at classes of people, such as an 1882 immigration act that barred entry to criminals, paupers, and the insane, among others.

Why do you think Congress passed some of these restriction acts? Do you think Congress always acted honorably? Should anyone who wants to live in the United States be able to live here, or should there be some restrictions on immigration? Defend your thinking. If you believe there should be restrictions, explain what they should be.

Give Me Your Tired

"Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor • • Millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island were welcomed by the sight of the Statue of Liberty on Bledsoe Island in New York Harbor The base of the statue is inscribed with a poem written by American poet
Emma Lazarus
".. . Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" 

Imagine you are an immigrant seeking freedom from war in Russia or hunger in Ireland. Write how you would feel seeing the Statue of Liberty after your long voyage across the Atlantic.

Ellis Island

Ellis Island was opened on January 1, 1892. The immigration center helped send many newcomers to the United States on their way, but sent back those who were sick or otherwise deemed unfit to live in this country.
Where did your ancestors come from? How might your life be different if your ancestors had been sent back to their native countries?