Immigration

Social Studies Standard: American Immigration and Industry: PS 4 Migration, Immigration, & Industry: The learner will be able to describe the impact of migration, immigration, and expansion industry on American culture and various ethnic groups including Native American tribes.

Enduring Understanding: Immigration changed both the immigrants and the existing culture of the United States.

Overarching Essential Question: How did immigration and the expansion of industry during the late 19th century shape the culture of the U.S. as it is today? How did these experiences shape the various ethnic groups that immigrated?

Essential Questions:

1. What were the motivations and reasons for immigration?
   • Who were the immigrants? Where did the immigrants come from?
   • What reasons did immigrants have for leaving their homelands?
   • What reasons did immigrants have for coming to the U.S.?
   • How did immigrants get to the U.S.?
   • What were the points of entry? What were the final destinations?
2. What was life in the U.S. like for new immigrants?
   • What types of things did immigrants bring with them to the U.S.?
   • What was the process for entering the U.S.?
   • Why were some immigrants rejected?
   • What challenges did immigrants face in the U.S.?
   • Where did immigrants live?
   • How did immigrants earn a living in the U.S.?
   • What kind of new skills did immigrants have to learn?
   • How were immigrants different from people already living in the U.S.?
   • Why did some Americans view immigrants negatively?
   • What factors made life better for immigrants in the U.S.?
3. What effect did various groups have upon the culture of the U.S.?
   • How were immigrants affected by their experiences as newcomers? How did they change?
   • What kinds of successes did immigrants have in the U.S.?
   • What parts of their native cultures (language, food, music, holidays, etc.) did immigrants bring with them to the U.S.?
   • How did immigrants affect the already existing culture in the U.S.?
   • How have various groups made life in the U.S. better?

Procedure:

• You will be divided into 6 groups.
• Each group will be assigned a specific immigrant group to research (Chinese, Germans, Italians, Irish, Japanese, Polish/Russian).
• Each group will divide its responsibilities to cover the 3 main questions.
• All questions will be fully answered on note cards.
• Groups will "jigsaw" to share and organize all information collected.
• Each group will create some method of sharing its findings with the class.

To Research Links

Dawn Alexander October 4, 2007