Immigrants and Immigration Immigrants and Immigration in Social Studiesin Social Studies

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions What is “The American Dream”?What is “The American Dream”? Why is it difficult for immigrants to Why is it difficult for immigrants to

become accepted in society?become accepted in society? How can “diversity” and “unity” both How can “diversity” and “unity” both

be valued in American culture?be valued in American culture? Has the “immigrant experience” been Has the “immigrant experience” been

common across time and nations?common across time and nations? Why does the introduction of new Why does the introduction of new

technologies often seem to create both technologies often seem to create both prosperity and poverty?prosperity and poverty?

Lesson Ideas Lesson Ideas Use “The American Dream” lesson to Use “The American Dream” lesson to

identify different perceptions of what it identify different perceptions of what it means to be “American,” as well as examine means to be “American,” as well as examine successive periods of significant immigration successive periods of significant immigration in America.in America.

Compare contrasting attitudes towards Compare contrasting attitudes towards immigration, past and present: benevolent immigration, past and present: benevolent versus authoritarian. versus authoritarian.

Have students create “Community Heritage Have students create “Community Heritage Sheets” based on their own cultural Sheets” based on their own cultural traditions, foods, music, dress, etc.traditions, foods, music, dress, etc.

Use immigrant stories from past and present Use immigrant stories from past and present times to describe “push” and “pull” times to describe “push” and “pull” elements of immigration.elements of immigration.

The New Colossus.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightening, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "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-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Whose Dream?Whose Dream?A Colony of Aliens

Crime: Its Causes & Remedies

Aliens or Americans?

Teacher's Domain (WNED)

Harvard Collection on Immigration

NYPL Digital Gallery (immigration AND new york)

NYS Archives Digital Collections

What is Assimilation?

Reinstein Collection at Cheektowaga Public Library

European Immigrant Women in the US

Hearings on Un-American Activities, Buffalo, NY 1957

Foreign Immigration - Charitable Institutions of NYC (LOC and MOA)

Harvard Collection on Immigration

Domestic educator in home of steelworker family, Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company, New York

Hagley Digital Archive - General Collection

Mothers care for their babies at Albion State training School circa 1940.

History of Albion Correctional FacilityGeneseo Migrant Center

Prejudice, Social Distance and Familiarity with Mental Illness

PoorHouse History

Polish Study, Buffalo, NY 1926-28

Harvard Collection on Immigration

In Their Own Words…In Their Own Words…

Digital History’s “Ethnic Digital History’s “Ethnic America: Immigrant America: Immigrant Voices” Voices” http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/ethnic_am.cfm

Immigration: Their Immigration: Their Stories (ThinkQuest)Stories (ThinkQuest)

Immigrant Letters (U of Immigrant Letters (U of Minnesota)Minnesota)

Interviews with Today's Immigrants (LOC)

The New Americans (PBS Independent Lens)

Family Histories at Ellis Island

Immigrant Life in New Immigrant Life in New YorkYork

The Lower East Side Tenement The Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City Museum in New York City preserves and interprets preserves and interprets America's urban, immigrant, America's urban, immigrant, and working class and working class experiences between 1863 experiences between 1863 and 1935, when the Lower and 1935, when the Lower East Side was home to 7,000 East Side was home to 7,000 people from more than 20 people from more than 20 nations. The museum is nations. The museum is located in a former tenement located in a former tenement house at 97 Orchard Street. In house at 97 Orchard Street. In 1900, nearly two-thirds of the 1900, nearly two-thirds of the city's population lived in the city's population lived in the Lower East Side area.Lower East Side area.

Letter with Report Letter with Report Submitted by the Submitted by the Citizens Committee Citizens Committee of Orchard, of Orchard, Rivington, and East Rivington, and East Houston Streets, Houston Streets, New York City to New York City to President William President William Howard Taft: Howard Taft: 04/09/191204/09/1912

National Archives Digital Galleries

The 1850 decennial census was the first census in which data were The 1850 decennial census was the first census in which data were collected on the nativity of the population. collected on the nativity of the population.

From 1850 to 1930, the foreign-born population of the United States From 1850 to 1930, the foreign-born population of the United States increased from 2.2 million to 14.2 million, reflecting large-scale increased from 2.2 million to 14.2 million, reflecting large-scale immigration from Europe during most of this period.1 As a immigration from Europe during most of this period.1 As a percentage of total population, the foreign-born population rose from percentage of total population, the foreign-born population rose from 9.7 percent in 1850 and fluctuated in the 13 percent to 15 percent 9.7 percent in 1850 and fluctuated in the 13 percent to 15 percent range from 1860 to 1920 before dropping to 11.6 percent in 1930. range from 1860 to 1920 before dropping to 11.6 percent in 1930. The highest percentages foreign born were 14.4 percent in 1870, 14.8 The highest percentages foreign born were 14.4 percent in 1870, 14.8 percent in 1890 and 14.7 percent in 1910.percent in 1890 and 14.7 percent in 1910.

From 1930 to 1950, the foreign-born population of the United States From 1930 to 1950, the foreign-born population of the United States declined from 14.2 million to 10.3 million, or from 11.6 percent to 6.9 declined from 14.2 million to 10.3 million, or from 11.6 percent to 6.9 percent of the total population. These declines reflected the percent of the total population. These declines reflected the extremely low level of immigration during the 1930s and 1940s. The extremely low level of immigration during the 1930s and 1940s. The foreign-born population then dropped slowly to 9.6 million in 1970, foreign-born population then dropped slowly to 9.6 million in 1970, when it represented a record low 4.7 percent of the total population. when it represented a record low 4.7 percent of the total population. Immigration had risen during the 1950s and 1960s, but was still low Immigration had risen during the 1950s and 1960s, but was still low by historical standards, and mortality was high during this period by historical standards, and mortality was high during this period among the foreign-born population because of its old age structure among the foreign-born population because of its old age structure (reflecting four decades of low immigration).(reflecting four decades of low immigration).

Since 1970, the foreign-Since 1970, the foreign-born population of the born population of the United States has increased United States has increased rapidly due to large-scale rapidly due to large-scale immigration, primarily from immigration, primarily from Latin America and Asia. The Latin America and Asia. The foreign-born population foreign-born population rose from 9.6 million in rose from 9.6 million in 1970 to 14.1 million in 1970 to 14.1 million in 1980 and to 19.8 million in 1980 and to 19.8 million in 1990. The estimated 1990. The estimated foreign-born population in foreign-born population in 1997 was 25.8 million. As a 1997 was 25.8 million. As a percentage of the total percentage of the total population, the foreign-born population, the foreign-born population increased from population increased from 4.7 percent in 1970 to 6.2 4.7 percent in 1970 to 6.2 percent in 1980, to 7.9 percent in 1980, to 7.9 percent in 1990, and to an percent in 1990, and to an estimated 9.7 percent in estimated 9.7 percent in 1997.1997.

US Census Bureau, History (click (click on “US Census Bureau” for 2000)on “US Census Bureau” for 2000)

The Foreign Born Population: The Foreign Born Population: Census 2000Census 2000

US Census Browser (U of VA) Immigration Explorer Interactive M

ap (NY Times) Genesee County Department of Hi

story Orleans County Census Informatio

n Social Explorer Maps (subscribe) (subscribe)

New York State Archives, Legacies Project

Polish-American Heritage in WNY

Local Legacies Project (LOC)American Folklife Center (SI)

When immigrants and refugees leave their homelands, When immigrants and refugees leave their homelands, they take with them a way of life—rich customs and they take with them a way of life—rich customs and traditions that sometimes become part of to the cultural traditions that sometimes become part of to the cultural fabric of their new countries. Over time, America has fabric of their new countries. Over time, America has soaked up the cultures of its immigrant populations and soaked up the cultures of its immigrant populations and has spun them into a uniquely American tapestry.has spun them into a uniquely American tapestry.

Sample some of the Sample some of the art, , food, , music and  and words brought to the United States from the homelands  brought to the United States from the homelands of the people featured in The New Americans.of the people featured in The New Americans.

Value of Heritage Projects:

Makes new learning interesting

Educates people about other cultures

Shows relationship of people to each other in society

Inspires community involvement

Provides orientation for visitors to local area

Traces and documents growth of a community

Generates communications around topic of “heritage”

Simple to assemble and disseminate

Highly visible and easily accessible

Rely on local resources and talents

Inspire creativity!!

Folk Art ValuesFolk Art Values Keeping Traditions Alive: Some artists and their communities place high value on  Some artists and their communities place high value on

adhering to family or group traditions, preserving them—and the way of life they adhering to family or group traditions, preserving them—and the way of life they represent—for the next generation. represent—for the next generation.

Making it Useful: Some artists and their communities place high value on the  Some artists and their communities place high value on the usefulness of the objects they create. The design, materials, and execution all contribute usefulness of the objects they create. The design, materials, and execution all contribute to its function, an important aspect of the "aesthetic" in such things as folk furniture, to its function, an important aspect of the "aesthetic" in such things as folk furniture, utensils, and crafts. utensils, and crafts.

Keeping Connected: Reinforcing a close identification with a group to which they  Reinforcing a close identification with a group to which they currently belong is the ambition of many folk artists. They may create objects for use by currently belong is the ambition of many folk artists. They may create objects for use by members of the group or to sustain outsiders' views of the group and its traditions.members of the group or to sustain outsiders' views of the group and its traditions.

Re-creating Memories: An artist’s ability to recreate memories of shared group  An artist’s ability to recreate memories of shared group experiences is often personal but highly desired and encouraged by his or her group. experiences is often personal but highly desired and encouraged by his or her group.

Sustaining the Spirit: Some artists place great value on objects that are used as  Some artists place great value on objects that are used as integral parts of religious ritual or that hold special religious meaning for the audience. integral parts of religious ritual or that hold special religious meaning for the audience.

Being Creative: The ability to innovate within tradition is an attribute strongly admired  The ability to innovate within tradition is an attribute strongly admired in the shared group expressions of some folk communities. Resourceful use of found or in the shared group expressions of some folk communities. Resourceful use of found or recycled materials is a challenge many contemporary folk artists relish.recycled materials is a challenge many contemporary folk artists relish.

– ——Varick Chittenden, Exhibit Curator. From the brochure of the folk arts exhibition, Varick Chittenden, Exhibit Curator. From the brochure of the folk arts exhibition, Out of the OrdinaryOut of the Ordinaryproduced by Gallery produced by Gallery Association of New York State (1995). Association of New York State (1995).

New York Folklore Society WNY Heritage Press

You, Whoever You Are You, whoever you are!...

All you continentals of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, indifferent of place!

All you on the numberless islands of the archipelagoes of the sea!All you of centuries hence when you listen to me!

All you each and everywhere whom I specify not, but include just the same!

Health to you! good will to you all, from me and America sent!Each of us is inevitable,

Each of us is limitless—each of us with his or her right upon the earth,Each of us allow'd the eternal purports of the earth,

Each of us here as divinely as any is here.Walt Whitman

Immigration (LOC)