HIST 205-02, Immigration: The Changing Face of America, Spring 2007

Abstract

As the topic of immigration takes center stage in the US public agenda, the opportunity to analyze the “immigrant problem” in a historical context presents itself to us in a unique manner. A central element of this course will incorporate aspects of the current immigration debate to examine the historical causes and consequences of migration to the United States. We will address questions regarding the perceived benefit and cost of immigration at both the national and local (community) levels. We will also explore the economic, social, cultural, and political impact immigrants have had on the United States over time. Close attention will be given to examining the ways in which immigrants have negotiated the pressures of their new surroundings and in the process shaped or redefined American conceptions of national identity and citizenship.