Unit 1: Foundations of American Citizenship

Chapter 1: The American People

The Diversity of AmericansSection 1

Ancient Roots:Civics

The study of the rights and duties of citizens.Citizenship

Dates back more than 2,500 years to ancient Greece and Rome.

In those days very few people were citizens. Why?Only men with property possessed the right to vote

and to take part in government.Today gender and wealth are no longer

requirements for citizenship.

What Is Civics?

What does it mean to be a citizen?American citizens who live abroad are still

citizens of the U.S.Citizens are a part of the country.They may share a common history, common

customs, or common beliefs.They agree to follow a set of rules and to

accept the government’s authority.As a citizen, what do you agree to do?

American society has undergone many changes in the past, and these changes continue today.

More than 300 million people live in the United States today.All of us are descendants from families that

immigrated at one time or another.

A Changing Society

Until the mid- 1900s , most immigrants came from Europe.The first groups came from Spain during the

1500s.Beginning in the 1600s, people from France

and England came to North America.The French settled in Canada and the English

settled mainly on the East Coast (13 Colonies).During the late 1600s and 1700s, immigrants

from Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, and Sweden joined the English settlers.

A Nation of Immigrants

The number of immigrants rapidly grew after American Independence.Immigration grew to 600,000 in the 1830s to

more than 2 million by the 1850s.Between 1860 and 1890, more than 10 million

Europeans streamed into the country. (Northeastern European)

From 1890 to 1924, 22 million more immigrants came to America. Most of these immigrants came from southern and

eastern Europe. (Italians, Greeks, Poles, and Russians.)

After Independence

During the past 50 years, immigrations from Europe to the U.S. has fallen off.Latin America now accounts for the largest

share of foreign newcomers, followed by Asia.Enslaved Africans-

Between 1619 and 1808 more than 500,000 African slaves were brought to the United States.

Most African Americans today are descendents of enslaved persons.

The American population is extraordinarily diverse in terms of ethnic, or racial, backgrounds.

The breakdown of the American population:234 million are white of European descent.37 million are African American.Over 12 million are Asian or Pacific Islanders.2.8 million are Native American.Over 39 million are Latinos.

A Diverse Population

Over the years, America’s population has drastically changed.

The places where Americans lived has also changed.In the mid-1800s people began moving from rural areas

to cities. The higher wages paid in the cities attracted workers.Blue-collar workers-

Those who work in factories .White-collar workers-

Those who work in offices, schools, stores, and other nonfactory jobs.

By 1920 more than half of all Americans lived in towns or cities.

Transforming America

In the past few decades, manufacturing has lost ground to what we call the “service economy.”People who earn a living by performing

services such as practicing law or medicine, teaching, or programming computers.

The Change in Jobs

What are values?The general principles, or beliefs, you use to

make these judgments are your values. Values are broad ideas about what is good or

desirable, and are shared by people in a society.

Basic American Values:Freedom, equality, opportunity, justice,

democracy, and respect.

American Values and Institutions

Popular sovereignty-Means government by consent of the governed.This is done through:

Fair, free, and regular elections.Equal justice under the law.Majority rule through the people’s representatives

in government.

Language- English is the primary means of communication

in education, government, and business.

Shared Values Unite Americans

Institutions:Family is the most important social institution.

It is the core of social life.It produces new generations, socializes the young,

offers care and affection, and provides economic support.

Religious institutionsEducational InstitutionsSocial InstitutionsGovernmental Institutions

American Institutions

Who Are America’s Citizens?Section 2

Two ways to gain citizenship:1. Birth2. Naturalization-

The legal process to become a citizen.

Citizenship by Birth:If you are born in any state or the District of

Columbia, you are automatically become an American citizen.

This is also applies to those born in any American territory (Puerto Rico or Guam) or any U.S. military bases over seas.

Path to Citizenship

A person can claim American citizenship if their parents are both citizens or if one is a citizen who has lived in the U.S.

Children born on American soil to non-U.S. citizens acquire U.S. citizenship.

Americans may also hold dual citizenship.

Birth Citizenship Continued

Aliens-Noncitizens that live in the U.S.They come here to work, study, or to visit

relatives.They remain citizens in their own country and

eventually return home.Immigrants-

People who move to the U.S. permanently.

The Naturalization Process

Step 1: Aliens who want to become U.S. citizens must first sign a statement saying that want to become a citizen.The Declaration of Intention is then filed with the U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).Step 2: the alien must live in the U.S. for at least five

years (Aliens who marry citizens only have to wait three years).During this time many aliens take courses to prepare

for citizenship. Step 3: If the alien is 18 and has lived in for at least 3

months in the state where they seek naturalization, they may file an application for citizenship.

Beginning the Process

After the paper work is checked, the alien has an interview with a USCIS official.

The alien then must take a citizenship exam that consists of questions about reading, writing, and speaking English.

The exam also contains basic facts about the history and government of the United States.

After the exam, the USCIS makes its decision.

Interview and Examination

The final step in naturalization.It is a ceremony and pledging an oath of

allegiance. The alien swears to:

Be loyal to the country above all others.Obey the Constitution and other laws.Perform military or other duties if needed.

Then the person signs a document and is declared a citizen of the U.S.If he or she has children under the age of 18

they automatically become citizens.

Oath of Allegiance

Regardless of how you become a citizen, American citizenship is for life. Only the federal government can give or take

away citizenship.Three ways the federal government can take

away citizenship:1. Denaturalization2. Expatriation3. Punishment for crimes

A Lifelong Privilege

Denaturalization-The loss of citizenship through fraud or deception

during the naturalization process.Expatriation-

The easiest way to lose citizenship.Expatriation is giving up one’s citizenship by leaving

one’s native country to live in a foreign country.Can be voluntary or involuntary.

Punishment for crimes-A person may lose citizenship when convicted of

certain federal crimes that involve extreme disloyalty.Treason, participation in a rebellion, and attempting to

overthrow the government.

Only 675,000 immigrants are allowed to enter the country each year.Traditionally relatives of U.S. citizens and

people with needed job skills received the highest priority or first consideration.

Immigration Act of 1990Benefits people with particular skills, talents,

or the money to invest in our economy.

Aliens in America

Despite immigration limits, approximately 12 million aliens are living in the U.S. illegally.

Illegal aliens enter the country several ways:Some enter the country as temporary visitors

and never leave.Some risk arrest and cross the boarders

illegally. (Canadian and Mexican)Others are foreigners who stay in the U.S. even

after their permits expire.

Illegal Aliens

It is illegal to hire illegal aliens. Aliens who do find work are often under paid and work long hours.

Everyday illegal aliens fear deportation.The U.S. Border Patrol-

Law enforcement unit of the USCIS.The Border Patrol guards the 6,000 miles of

Mexican and Canadian international land borders and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding Florida and the island of Puerto Rico.

Legal Aliens are classified in different categories.Resident Alien-

A person from a foreign country who has established permanent residence in the U.S.

They can stay in the country as long as they want without becoming a citizen.

Nonresident Alien-A person from a foreign country who expects to

stay in the U.S. for a short, specified period.Refugees-

People fleeing their country to escape persecution.

Legal Aliens

Aliens who enter the country legally live life like normal Americans.They own property, have businesses, and

attend public schools.They pay taxes and are entitled to legal

protection.Aliens do not have full political rights.

They can not vote in elections or run for political office.

They can not serve on juries or work in most government jobs.

They also must carry identification cards with them at all times.

Government and the PeopleSection 3

A government is the ruling authority for a community or society.

Any organization that has the power to make and enforce or carry out laws and decisions for its members acts as a government.

The Need for Government

Most important purpose of a government is to provide laws or rules of conduct.

These laws help prevent conflicts between individuals, groups, or nations.

Keep Order:Governments make laws to help prevent

conflicts and to settle those conflicts that do arise.

Governments have the power to enforce the laws.

What Governments Do

Provide Security:Government defends citizens and their land

from enemies.This is the reason why the government set up

armed forces and agencies to watch for likely sources of trouble.

Provide Public Service:Government provides libraries, schools,

hospitals, parks, water, and utilities.Many government services are aimed at

keeping the public healthy and safe.

Guide the Community:Public policy- a course of government action to

achieve community goalsMost public policy decisions involve financial

planning.Creating a budget is key to the success of the

community.

National Government:Made up of three branches:

The legislative, The Executive, and The Judiciary The national government is different from

other levels of government in two ways:1. A national government has the highest level of

authority over its citizens.A city or state government can not make any laws that

would go against the laws of the national government.2. A national government provides the basic

framework for citizenship.

Levels of Government

While the national government make laws for the entire country, state governments decides matters for the people in that state.

The level of government closest to Americans is local government. Local governments include counties, cities, and

towns.

State and Local Government

Democratic Government:Direct democracy-

All the citizens met to debate government matters and vote firsthand.

Direct democracy is not practical for most countries today.

What is a Republic?Many countries have a representative democracy.The citizens choose a smaller group to represent them,

make laws, and govern on their behalf.Republic:

A system of limited government in which the people are the ultimate source of governmental power.

The U.S. is the oldest representative democracy in the world.

Types of Government

Constitutional Monarchy:The monarchs are heads of state only, presiding at

ceremonies and serving as symbols of unity.Great Britain and Japan are two widely known examples of a

constitutional monarchy.

Democratic Principles:Voting and Democracy-

All genuine democracies have free, fair, and competitive elections.

Everyone’s vote must carry the same weight.All candidates have the right to express themselves freely to

the public.The requirements for voting must be kept at a minimum.Voting must be done freely and in secret to keep people

feeling safe.

Voters Have Choice-Voters have a choice in which political party

they want to vote for.Political parties compete with each other for

those votes.Majority Rule-

Citizens agree that when differences of opinion arise, they will abide by what most people want.

At the same time, the majority must respect the rights of those in the minority.

In authoritarian regimes, power is held by an individual or group not accountable to the people.Absolute Monarchy-

Power is technically unrestricted.Said to be chosen by God. King or QueenVery rare in the world today.

Dictatorships-Like monarchs, dictators have complete control over a

country.Usually take power through force. To stay in power, most dictators rely on police and military.Often tamper with elections or refuse to have them.They limit the freedom of speech, assembly, and the press.

Authoritarian Government

Totalitarianism-In a totalitarian state, the government’s control

extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives.They ban political opposition.They regulate farms and business in what they

produce.They control the media and use propaganda, scare

tactics, and violence.