Overview
With the dedication of the "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" in New York Harbor in 1886, the United States' national identity would be shaped by its policies about, conceptualization of, and public opinion regarding immigration. In turn, the illumination of Liberty's torch has changed over time and for different groups of people.
Nearly 15 million immigrants arrived in the United States between 1860 and 1900. From 1900 - 1950 that number was around 20 million. The latter half of the century saw an increase in immigration arrivals to over 25 million. During the first two decades of the 21st century, immigrants coming to the US have averaged just over 1 million per year.
Each person and family that arrives to the United States has a story. It is rare for these stories to be taught to students with a focus on "innovation" by immigrants. This module's goal is to provide those stories. As Ronald Takaki shared in his impressive work A Different Mirror (1993), "While our stories contain the memories of different communities, together they inscribe a larger narrative." In short, knowing about the contributions of immigrants to the US can shape our understanding of the nation and ourselves.
Suggested Essential Questions
How have immigrants to the US contributed to innovations across different sectors of society?
In what ways have the perceptions of and policies related to immigration in the US changed over time?
To what extent do the voices and actions of immigrants impact your understanding of the past and the contemporary world and you own lived experiences?
How does immigration to the US compare to immigration to other nations?
C3 Inquiries relevant to this module
Note: We suggest adding primary and secondary sources found in this module to the C3 Inquiries below. Doing so will add a dimension of "how to globalize U.S. history?" not found in the original design.