"Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history." --Oscar Handlin, Introduction to The Uprooted, 1951
Description: Unless you are one of the United States' roughly two million Native Americans, your ancestors were immigrants. You may be able to trace your roots to the explorers who came to stake early claims on the territory. Perhaps your ancestors were enslaved and came here in the cargo hold of a ship or to work off a debt as an indentured servant. Your ancestors may have come to work in the factories during the peak of the industrial revolution or to farm lands seized by the United States government as the country expanded westward. It’s also possible that they arrived during the 1970s and 80s when violent political unrest in Africa, Asia and Latin America prompted many to flee their countries of origin. Perhaps you are an immigrant. Whatever the case may be, as former president Bill Clinton voiced during a graduation speech at Portland State University in 1998, "the United States has always been energized by its immigrant populations. America has constantly drawn strength and spirit from wave after wave of immigrants...They have proved to be the most restless, the most adventurous, the most innovative, the most industrious of people.”
This class is an introduction to United States immigration history. In addition to the actual historical nitty-gritty of who, what, and when, we’ll also look at the factors that brought and continue to bring people here, their experiences once they arrive, and their contributions to American society.
The goal of this class is to help you:
·
Develop an understanding of the centrality of
immigration to the history of the United States;
·
Deepen your understanding of the origins of
immigrants to the U.S. and of the diverse experiences they encountered when
they arrived;
·
Explore “nativist” movements and their effect on
immigrants and immigration policy.
Your grade will be based on the following:
20% Participation Class participation will be measured by your preparation for and active participation in the class. It includes arriving to class on time, having class materials, and asking questions when you don’t understand.
25% Homework Homework will be assigned nightly and should be typed. If for some reason you do not have access to a computer, you need to talk to me before the assignment is due in order to work out a plan.
15% Quizzes
20% Final Exam There will be weekly quizzes and a final exam. The quizzes will generally focus on vocabulary and specific issues raised during the week.
20% Final Project Using Windows Movie Maker, iMovie or a similar program, your
final project for this class will be to produce a short documentary
(3-5 minutes long) that explores some aspect
of immigration to the United States.
Materials: You will need a three-ring binder or a separate section in an existing binder to keep readings and other materials in order. You will receive a homework folder with an assignment log attached to the cover. We will update the assignment log daily (at the beginning and end of class); you should keep all completed assignments inside the folder.
