Chapter4

American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy, and Citizenship

Chapter FourE Pluribus Unum: American Citizenship

Chapter Four: Learning Objectives

• Describe the role of ideas and beliefs in what it means to be an American citizen

• Explain how immigration policy has changed over time and the controversies over assimilation that larger-scale immigration has spawned


• Explain how controversies over citizenship affected free blacks before the Civil War and Native Americans

• Identify the requirements that Congress has imposed for the naturalization of foreigners


• Describe the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship

Steve Helber/AP Photo

E Pluribus Unum: “From Many, One”

Do you believe the ideas behind “From Many, One” have changed to reflect changes in America since the founding?

Bettmann/CORBIS

E Pluribus Unum: Early Americans

Characteristics of early America

• Vast, fertile land

• Common ancestry and religious background

• Shared language, customs, and manners

• Commitment to shared political beliefs

E Pluribus Unum: Modern Americans

Characteristics of modern America

• Diverse ethnic background and origin

• Multiple languages spoken, English dominates

• Diversity in religion, Christianity most prevalent

• Continued commitment to shared political beliefs

Immigration: By the Numbers

Source: Immigration and Naturalization Service, “Immigrants, Fiscal Year 2000,” Table 1, atwww.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/statistics/IMM00yrbk/IMM2000list.htm, accessed July 28, 2002.

Immigration: Issues at the Founding

America – restrict access or open for all?

• Madison – prosperity linked to open immigration

• Franklin – concerned about the effects of immigration in American communities

• Jefferson –unrestricted immigration may undermine important American political values

Immigration: Unrestricted Access

Why unrestricted immigration until 1875?

• More land and jobs than residents

• Large influx of European immigrants

• Nativism movement and Know Nothing Party emerged in the 1840s and 1850s

Immigration: Restricted Access

Immigration: Restricted Access

What do you believe were reasons why our political leaders wanted to restrict immigration beginning in the late 18th century?

Do you believe restricting immigration reflects the principles upon which our country was founded?

Immigration: Modern Issues

Features of modern immigration

• More immigration from Asia than ever before

• National origin quotas abolished in 1960s

• Recent decrease in number of refugees


Do you believe there are problems with legal immigration? If so, what?

Do you believe there are problems with illegal immigration? If so, what


Issues related to illegal immigration

• As Table 4-4 demonstrates, illegal immigration occurs along all borders, although primarily along the Southern border

• How should the U.S. work to strengthen our borders and relationship with our neighboring countries to solve the problems of illegal immigration?

Table 4-4


Legal solutions to illegal immigration

• Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

• Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996

• REAL ID Act of 2005

• Secure Fence Act of 2006

Early Citizenship Controversies

As the Constitution did not clearly define citizenship in the early years of our country, controversies emerged over the citizenship status of two groups:

1. Free blacks before the Civil War 2. Native Americans


Free blacks before the Civil War

• How was citizenship for free blacks defined through the following actions of government?

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Seamen’s protection certificates

Scott v. Sanford (1857)


Native Americans

• Treatment by British was based on situation

• The national government has always had the power to manage “all affairs with the Indians”


What was the legal status of Native American tribes?

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock (1903)

Indian Citizenship Act (1924)

Acquiring American Citizenship

There are two ways to become an American citizen:

1. Through laws or treaties

2. Through naturalization


Citizenship through laws or treaties

• Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

• Practice has been upheld by the Supreme Court


Citizenship through naturalization

• Naturalization Act of 1790 first law

• Some changes to requirements since 1795-Eliminated race as a restriction-Language restrictions changed-Citizenship oath created

Pledges and Promises

The citizenship oath

• Official oath adopted in 1929

• Applicants for citizenship sign oath in a public ceremony

• Plan to update the oath in 2003 to simplify language was not approved


What do you believe are some of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship?

• The U.S.C.I.S. has defined some responsibilities of citizenship (page 120)

Myths and Misinformation

Are Puerto Ricans American citizens?

• In a 2004 survey 41% of Americans correctly stated that Puerto Ricans are American citizens

• Puerto Ricans have been citizens since 1917

• Puerto Rico functions much like a state – should it be granted statehood?

Expatriation

How to become a non-citizen

• Voluntarily through expatriation

• Involuntarily through a variety of actions (page 123)

Assimilation: Competing Ideas

Two competing ideas in assimilation:

1. The melting pot

2. Multiculturalism

Assimilation: The Melting Pot

The melting pot

• Leave behind old identity

• Adopt new, common American identity

What are some positive or negative aspects of the melting pot approach to assimilation?

Assimilation: Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism

• Emphasizes traditions from different cultures

• American culture benefits from diversity

What are some positive or negative aspects of the multiculturalism approach to assimilation?

Citizenship and Deliberative Democracy

What are some expectations of citizens?

• Loyalty to country and government

• Respect of laws and fellow citizens

• Obligation to participate in political process

Deliberation, Citizenship, and You

Dual citizenship

• Dual citizenship prohibited until mid-twentieth century

• Four ways to claim dual citizenship (page 128)

• Do you believe dual citizenship should be allowed? Why or why not?

Summary

• Citizenship has rights and responsibilities

• Defining citizenship in the U.S. has not always been clear-cut

• There have been and will continue to be debates over the assimilation of immigrants

Documents

Chapter4