Immigrant Stories
Bell Work:

Should immigrants to the US change their
language, religion, and customs once they
move here (assimilate) or not?
◦ Why should they assimilate or not assimilate?
Salad Bowl v. Melting Pot
Immigration Stats

Since 1820
◦ 65 Million immigrants have entered US
◦ 40% of that total entered from 1881-1920
Immigration after
1920
Immigration from
1881-1920
Why they came

Push factors
◦ Poor economy
◦ Potato blight Northwestern Europe
◦ Discrimination and ethnic cleansing

Pull factors
◦ US is expanding
 Need for factory, railroad workers
 Land is available (Homestead Act 1862)
 Steamship lines advertise US as ‘land of
opportunity’
Directions

Alone or with a partner choose one
story
◦ Read it
◦ Create a Haiku or Limerick that describes
this story
 15 minutes - Prepare to share
Limerick (lines 1,2,5 and then 3,4
rhyme)
There once was a man from Peru
Who dreamt he was eating his shoe
He awake in the night
With a terrible fright
Haiku (syllables 5-7-5)
I walk across sand
And find myself blistering
In the hot, hot heat
Chinese Exclusion Act 1882
BELL
WORK:
Analyze this
cartoon
using LIE
A brief history of immigration

“Why should the
nation become a
Colony of aliens,
who will shortly be
so numerous …
and will never
adopt our language
or customs, any
more than they
can acquire our
complexion?”
Why did we pass the Chinese
Exclusion Act?
DIRECTIONS
1. Examine the timeline
 What happened between the 1860s, when Chinese were
welcomed, and 1882, when they were excluded?
2. Using Documents A-D
 Complete the Graphic Organizer
1. Combine the information from the timeline and
primary sources
 Answer the final question (1 paragraph)
Immigration
1924 National Origins Act
Directions

Please take out your “Chinese Exclusion
Act” Packet
◦ Make sure you have completed steps 1-3
 You may work with your partner from yesterday
(5 mins)
◦ We will discuss this and then hand it in for
credit
Today’s Agenda
- Discuss and Hand in Act Packet
- Dillingham Commission Report
- 1924 National Origins Act
Bell Work

Please
analyze
using
LIE
Anti - Immigration
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pro - Immigration
New immigrants won’t
assimilate
They are drunks, unwashed,
uncultured
They bring poverty, disease,
and threaten American
culture
They provide cheaper labor
than US citizens
Immigrant voters can be
manipulated
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Immigrants bring skills to
America that benefit the
nation
Diversity is a positive thing
This nation was created by
immigrants seeking a better
life, that tradition should
continue
Unskilled immigrants work
more cheaply and take the
jobs that US citizens don’t
want helping bring down the
cost of goods
If you try to block people
from coming here legally, they
will just come illegally.
Opinions
Immigrants react to negative
attitudes.

Form close-knit communities
◦ “Little Italy”
◦ “Chinatown”




Keeps culture alive
Keeps them safe
Keeps them isolated
Makes things worse?
How does the US deal with
immigration in the early 1900s?

Dillingham Commission 1907-1911
◦ 4 Principles
1. We welcomed them in the past BUT there are too
many people coming here and the quality of immigrant
has decreased making it much more difficult for them
to assimilate
2. The physically and mentally unfit should not be allowed
into the country for economic reasons
3. The number of immigrants allowed into the country
should correspond to the number of available jobs
4. If there are too many new immigrants they lower the
standard of living since they are willing to work for low
wages
How does the US deal with
immigration in the early 1900s?

Dillingham Commission 1907-1911
◦ 3 Restrictions
1. Set limits on how many immigrants can enter the
country per year
2. If they do not intend to become citizens or live here
permanently they should not be allowed. Especially
men with no wives or children.
3. Do not allow those who (because of their personal
qualities or habits), would be least likely to
assimilate and would make the least desirable
citizens.
How does the US deal with
immigration in the early 1900s?

Dillingham Commission 1907-1911
◦ 4 Methods
1. Do not allow anyone who cannot read or write in
some language
2. Limit the number of people allowed in based on
their race
3. Increase the fees to enter the country
4. Charge more for single men then for men with a
wife and children
National Origins Act - 1924

Based on the Dillingham
Commission Report
◦ Limited the number of
immigrants from each country
 Europeans = 2% of the number of
European Immigrants in the US in
1890
 Italians, Hungarians, Poles were hardly
here at all before 1890 – access greatly
reduced
 Further closes the door to people
from Asia
National Origins Act Cont…

Effect
◦ Immigration falls to its
lowest point since the mid1800s

1930s
◦ The National Origins Act
◦ Great Depression
◦ World War II
 Combine to almost completely
stop immigration
 In the 1930s the number of
people LEAVING the US is
greater than the number of
people moving in.
Illegal Immigration Today
Bell Work: please answer the
question below in your notebook…
How do the fears and solutions regarding
immigrants from 1880-1924 compare to
the fears and solutions you have heard
people discuss today?
1.
◦
◦
◦
How are they similar/different?
Were fears then real or imagined?
Are today’s fears real or imagined?
Today’s Immigration Opinions
Pro Immigration

High-tech industries depend on
them
◦ 12% of immigrants earn college degrees
(8 % of native born Americans)
◦ 30% of tech startups in 1990s

Anti Immigration

Concerned that high levels of
immigrants take away jobs from
native-born Americans

1/3 of of immigrants lack a high
school diploma
Keep cities strong
◦ Start small businesses - Create new jobs
◦ Largest US cities would have seen a drop
in population since 1980 without
immigration

Diversity is a positive thing

Their work helps bring down the
cost of goods and they will take jobs
native-born citizens won’t take
◦ Double the amount of native born
Americans

Drains poor countries of their
most talented citizens

We are currently in a recession
there is a job shortage
Today’s Immigration Policy
Emphasis on reuniting families and
attracting skilled workers
 Only 20,000 immigrants allowed per
country (same for every nation)
 Yearly cap of immigrants is 290,000

Birth
Born here
1.
◦
Congrats! You’re in 
Born in another country?
2.
◦
As long as one of your
parents is a US citizen you’re
in!
Naturalization
1.
At least 18
2.
Have applied for and been
lawfully admitted to the US
for permanent residence
3.
Live here for 5+ years with
Green Card
4.
Show good moral character
5.
Pass English Language test
6.
Pass a US ‘knowledge’ test
7.
Take an oath of Allegiance to
the US
How to become a citizen in 2012
2 Ways
What if you came here illegally?

If you want to become a Citizen:
◦ you must go back to your country of origin and
apply for admittance
◦ May take years or may never happen
2005
-The Dream Act
-Allow people brought here illegally by their parents
WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN to apply for
citizenship without deportation when they turn 18
- If they are enrolled in college
- Or if they join the military
DOES NOT BECOME A LAW
2012 – Some in government are calling for the Dream Act to be
looked at again or a similar policy to be put in place.
30 Days – I’m an Illegal Immigrant


Draw a T-Chart in your notebook.
During the video please take notes on the 2
views presented in the video.
View 1:
The family should be allowed to stay
View 2:
The family should be deported
Policy Paper Intro
Bell Work

Take out your T chart from yesterday
◦ We are starting the video right away.
Discuss

What should be done about people in
this family’s situation?
◦ Should they be given an opportunity to
become citizens without deportation?
◦ Should this only be an opportunity for the
children and not the adults or should it cover
everyone?
 Please be able to explain your answer
Illegal Immigration Today

In the last 3 years
◦ 1.2 million immigrants deported
 Majority Latinos

Currently
◦ Estimated11.2 million illegal
immigrants live in the US
Illegal Immigration Cont…

Concentrated in:
◦ California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois

1982 Supreme Court Ruling
◦ States must provide schooling for kids here
illegally
 Increases budget for schools
 California = 2 billion/yr

Many businesses employ in low paying
and difficult jobs
◦ Los Angeles Garment Industry = most profit
◦ Who should be punished?
Writing based on sources

Recognize what the source is, its value and
flaws
◦ Purpose, Audience, Bias

ALWAYS
◦ Make it clear that the SOURCE is saying
something, NOT that you are saying it
 “In reaction, propaganda such as the play (Doc. A) portrayed
Chinese immigrants as selfish and conspiring to intentionally
run the “white man” out of the labor market.”
V.
 “The Chinese were very frugal and determined to make
every white man jobless in California.”
What should the policy be?
4 choices
1. Open ourselves to the World
2. Make Emigration Unnecessary
3. Admit the Talent We Need
4. Restrict Immigration
You and your partner must decide:
• Which policy you believe the US should use for immigration
•Consider both legal and illegal immigration
•When you have chosen a policy direction, tell Mrs.V.
•You will get your first 2 sources and you may go to 214.
Extra Stuff
U.S. Citizen Ethnicity
2011
63.4% White
 16% Hispanic
 13% African American
 5% Asian
 1.2% American Indian
 .2% Pacific Islander

◦ (more than 100% due to people reporting heritage as more than
one race)
Ethnicity
White
Hispanic
African American
Asian
Additional
Other Stats – USA Citizens
12% Foreign Born
 19% Speak a language other than English
at home
