A NATION BUILT FOR IMMIGRANTS

“Will the recent surge of newcomers tear the US apart? Not if history is any guide: From the beginning, America was made to unite citizens, even those with deep differences.”

By: Michael Barone

Published: The Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2013

Level of Difficulty: ***
BEFORE YOU READ
* The Immigration History of the United States https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBJcqxI7kas

Note to the student: This task needs to be done fast so allow yourselves 2 (maximum 3) minutes per question

QUESTIONS

1.       What does “That” refer to in the phrase “That is exponentially larger than in 1970...”?

2.       What does “this transformation” in the phrase “Needless to say, this transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed in our politics” refer to?

3.       The writer says “The issue remains tense”. What is the reason for the concern?

4.       The writer also states that according to history, there is really no need to worry because........

5.       The two most common reasons for migration are the desire to............................................................

6.       The Scottish and the Irish immigrants were different from the blacks in that.............................

7.       The Scottish and Irish desire to expand their territory contributed greatly to the founding of the modern US. State one of these contributions.

8.       The reform movements spear-headed by the Yankees came about as a result of the fact that.............................................................................................................................................

9.       What was at the root of the political differences in the mid 19th century?

10.   What conclusion can be drawn from the account of migration patterns in the interim period between the Civil War and WW II?

11.   Why do you think few Irish wanted to go back to farming?

12.   Which sentence in the paragraph beginning “The Irish also...” best expresses the main idea?

13.   The German immigrants to the US can best be described as...................................................

14.   The tug of war between the Irish Catholics and the Germans ultimately helped shape the future of America as.............................................. Now state the reason.

15.   Why did the US have no religious test for federal office?

16.   The purpose of universal public schools was to see that ............................................................

17.   Why were the Slav and Jewish immigrants a special problem for the US?

18.   Why is the military the most racially equal part of society in the US?

19.   For what reasons did the Northward black migration suddenly end?

20.   How could the current economic situation of America and the Latin American countries effect migration?

21.   The advantage of Asian migrants is that they are ...................................................................

22.   What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This was a revolutionary approach”?

WRITING TASK

Based on what you have just learnt, do you believe the new trends in migration will have a negative impact on the USA or not? Remember to justify your opnion.

A NATION BUILT FOR IMMIGRANTS KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This factual and informative text is ideal for any form of speed reading; with this in mind, I have suggested times – an upper limit of 3 min. per question. The text itself lends itself to an interesting writing task as well.

1. 12 million Mexican born people and millions of American children who are their offspring.
2. The fact that Hispanics have replaced blacks as the largest officially recognized minority group.
3. The US  is well on its way to flying apart. This is the minimum you need to write; practice shortening your answers.
4. Americans have developed a capacity and a habit of accomodating and uniting citizens with very different and deep differences.
5. To pursue dreams or to escape nightmares; to build new communities on which they can put their stamp.
6. They weren’t coerced.
7. The ousting of the Creek Indians from what is now Alabama and South Georgia, the victory over the British at New Orleans, the acquisition of Florida and Texas, the opening of the way for the Mexican war and the acquisition of California.
8. The Yankee community developed a vigorous evangelical Christianity.
9. The issue of slavery
10. Migrations aren’t just responses to economic incentives
11. Because they had suffered so much during the Irish patatoe famine
12. Irish Americans put their stamp not only on popular politics but on popular culture.
13. Pacifist, isolationist and dovish
14. Abraham Lincoln was nominate in 1860; he rejected nativist and prohibitionist policies.
15. Because the Founding Fathers knew they were creating what many now call a multicultural nation.
16. Children understood and respected a common civic culture
17. Because they came from polities where representative government, cvic participation and guaranteed liberties were weakly (or not at all) rooted.
18. Because the war experience raised the argument that people who risked their lives for the nation should be treated equally when they came home.
19. Because legal segregation ended, there were urban riots and continued residential segregation in the North.
20. Migrants could self-deport, migration could be reduced, future migrants could have higher skill and educational level
21. Are more upscale; you can’t use the verb “have” as it doesn’t fit the sentence.
22. Creating a strong federal government where powers would be limited in order to reduce cultural conflict and preserve zones of authority.