US Citizenship & Issues

Lesson 2 on 1.2 text

National Identity

• What values do we share as Americans?– Freedom– Equality– Popular Sovereignty– Majority rule with minority rights– Economic Opportunity– Individual Initiative– Others?

• How has immigration impacted these values?

Cartoon #1 AnalysisCartoon #1 Analysis• Study the cartoon.• Answer the questions as an exit

ticket:1.What symbols in the cartoon

represent immigrants?2.Does the cartoonist present

immigration as a problem or progress? Explain.

3.What is the message of the cartoon? 4.What value is being expressed?

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Cartoon #2 AnalysisCartoon #2 Analysis• Study the cartoon.• Answer the questions as an exit ticket:

1. What symbols in the cartoon represent immigrants?2. Does the cartoonist present immigration as a problem or progress? Explain.3. What is the message of the cartoon? 4. What value is being expressed?

Path to US Citizenship

Citizen by birth• Natural born citizen or Automatic citizenship

• Method 1: jus sanguanis – “Rule of the blood”– Born to a US citizen

• Method 2: jus soli– “Rule of the soil”– Born on any US soil

• (state, territory, vessel, etc.)

Path to US CitizenshipNaturalization:• The legal process of becoming a citizen• The USCIS is in charge. Costs about $675!

– Enter legally (Declaration of intent)– Be 18 years old (Discuss children)– Have continuous residency for 5 years (3 if

married)– Be of good moral character– Speak English (Not for natural born citizens!)– Know about US history & government– Take Oath of Allegiance

Aliens vs. Immigrants• Define the terms!• Answer the questions:

– Are all aliens immigrants? Explain!– Are all immigrants aliens? Explain!

• Differentiate between the types of aliens in the US today with an example of each.– Resident alien --Refugee– Non-resident alien --Illegal alien

• What rights do citizens have that the above do not have?

Is it too hard or too easy to become a citizen?

• Can you pass the test? Let’s find out!• Once naturalized, what one right is forever

denied to these new citizens?• What are the rights, duties & responsibilities of

all citizens?• As a citizen can you ever lose your citizenship?

– Denaturalization (Only naturalized!)– Expatriation– Punishment for a crime

US vs. Countries around the World

• Compare US to Canada:– Canadian Citizenship Video

• Compare US to Britain:– British Citizenship Video

Immigration Issues• What issues cause the US to tighten immigration

laws?– Racism (Chinese Exclusion Act of 1883)– Employment Fears (Immigration Control & Reform Act of

1986)– Terrorism (Patriot Act of 2001)– Cultural Change Fears (Johnson Act of 1924)

• What issues cause the US to loosen its laws?– Economic Prosperity (Immigration Act of 1965)– Change in Values (Immigration Reform Act of 1990)

• 14th Amendment defines US citizenship-Discuss this week’s blog!

Exit TicketMany suggestions have been made as to what the US should do about illegal aliens coming in to our country. Some of these suggestions include: •Building a wall along the southern border •Deportation back to their country•Giving amnesty to those already here or at least for children•Starting a guest worker program•Open our borders to everyone

What do you think we should do about this issue? What are the pros & cons of your choice?