For Wednesday, December 13

Please read Nancy Foner, The Golden Age of Immigration and bring the Reading Q’s I handed out in class today. (You can find a copy of the article in Course Reader 13.)

We will also go over the Final Exam Review sheet.  I will distribute copies in class.

**Reminder, the Final Exam is Monday, December 18. The online quizzes 7-12 are also due by 2:30 on Monday.

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Wednesday 11/22 Class, The State of Arizona (2014)

Any student who wishes to see me regarding your bibliography or your essay, please come to my office hours on Wednesday from 1-2.  In addition, I will be in my class from 2:30 to 3:15.

Please watch the a documentary from 2014, The State of Arizona and complete the Viewing Questions that you will find on Blackboard.  We will have a discussion on Monday.  Here is the link to the film:

http://citytech.kanopystreaming.com/video/state-arizona

If you watch this at home, you may need to use your library card number.  You can watch on any computer on campus.

If you would like to learn more about the film and filmmakers, here is a link to the documentary home page:

https://itvs.org/films/state-of-arizona

Also complete any of the Course Reader items on the border for Monday.

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Mexican Railroads and Immigration to the US

By the 1890s, construction of railroad lines that connected southern and northern Mexico were completed.  These lines connected with American transcontinental railroad lines at border cities like El Paso, Texas.  These railroad lines made movement for Mexican immigrants much more convenient.  It also spurred Mexican immigration into northern cities like Chicago.

Here are two maps:

1. National Railroad of Mexico (1891)

2. Atkinson, Topeka, and the Santa Fe Railroad (1891)

We will discuss some of the pushes and pulls for Mexican immigrants during the 20th century. However, it is important to consider how the means of travel effected immigration as well and patterns of settlement.

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Research Workshop, In-class on Wednesday, Nov. 15

On Wednesday, we will have a workshop in class on research.  Please watch the following short YouTube clip on Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources:

Also take a look at this PrimarySecondaryTertiaryGeneralChart and please either print or have access to copy for class on Wednesday.  We will  do a short activity on distinguishing between sources

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Topic for your Essay – Due Tuesday, November 7

Provide the following information:

  1. Relationship of interviewee to you
  2. What is his or her nation of origin
  3. When did the immigrate.

Please give this info as a comment to this post.

DUE TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 7

This assignment is worth 5 pts of your total essay grade.

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A Family Gathering – Please watch last ten minutes!!!

Today I want to spent sometime going over the reliability of immigration sources.  While oral history has many advantages over other sources if want to know what “really happened,” it also depends on the personal memory of our witnesses.  After the exam, we will watch a PBS documentary, A Family Gathering, about a Japanese-American woman who uses oral history as part of her attempt to create a history of her family.

I hope to discuss in class the following question:

Why does Lise (the filmmaker) make this documentary?  Why is it difficult for her to find out about the family’s past?  What other sources does she use to find out more about her family?

Feel free to post your responses here.  As always, if you have any other comments regarding the film please share with the class.

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For Wednesday, Oct 18

Please read and have access to a copy of Lee Chew, The Biography of a Chinaman and Helen Clark, The Chinese of New York.  Both articles are in Course Packet 6 on Blackboard.  Also a reminder that the review sheet for next week’s Midterm is now up on Blackboard.

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Island of Hope, Island of Fear

Today we will begin watching a short documentary about Ellis Island.  The documentary was made in 1989 and uses actual footage of Ellis Island and the narration of immigrants who had been processed there during the great wave of immigration during the turn of the twentieth century.

I will provide you with Viewing Questions in class.  You do not have to turn in the questions, but use them for note taking.   (I have posted a copy of the Viewing Question in Blackboard as well.)

The documentary should also be helpful as you think about your oral interview essay.  This film uses the experience of individual immigrants with some additional research to tell a larger story about immigration.  Your goal will be the similar in your essay. I will talk more about the assignment next Wednesday.

**A reminder—No class meeting on Monday.  Our next meeting is on Wed. 10/11. Please read the Jacob Riis excerpt and bring it to class.  Also be sure to read the short book review, “White on Arrival.”  Both reading our in your Blackboard course packet.

 

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For Monday, Oct 2

We will continue with “First Wave” immigration.  There will be an open note quiz primarily on the reading material from Wednesday.  Please also  read the “Nativist Press” and the book review of How the Irish became White for Course Reader #4.

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For Wednesday, 9/27

Please begin reading course packet #4, “The First Wave.” Read the two Library of Congress descriptions of Irish and German immigration first.  Please read the primary document “Tide of Irish Emigration” and “Castle Garden” for Wed.  Read the rest of the documents for next Monday.

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