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American Immigration (305-0-1)

Instructors

Shana B Bernstein
847/467-6850
620 Lincoln #205

Meeting Info

Parkes Hall 214: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

This course introduces students to the social, political, legal, and cultural history of immigration in the United States. In addition to exploring the history of southern and eastern European immigrants, it uses a comparative framework to integrate Latin American and Asian migrants into our understanding of immigration since the late nineteenth century. The course is an exploration of major themes in immigration history rather than a comprehensive examination. Issues students will consider include immigration law, acculturation, community, racial formation, victimization vs. agency, the transnational and international context of immigration, and competing notions of citizenship, among others

Learning Objectives

We have five primary objectives in this course: 1) To gain an analytic framework for understanding the processes by which immigrants have helped create and recreate their own and the United States' culture and society. 2) To understand the ways in which law has structured the immigration experience. 3) To understand some central issues both in immigration history and in the historical study of immigration. 4) To foster analytical, reading, discussion and writing skills. 5) To help students think and communicate critically about historical and contemporary society and politics.

Evaluation Method

Papers, discussion

Class Materials (Required)

Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America
Mae Ngai
ISBN 0691124299 (Paperback)
Princeton

The Bread Givers 3rd edition
Anzia Yezierska
ISBN 0892552905 (Paperback)
Persea Books

How Race is Made in America: Immigration, Citizenship, and the Historical Power of Racial Scripts
Natalia Molina
9780520280083 (paperback)
University of California Press

Articles available on Canvas

Class Notes

History Area of Concentration: Americas

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration restricted to Undergraduate students only