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