Migration Part 3 - At the Border
Objective: This worksheet aims to provide students with a multifaceted understanding of the historical and emotional complexities of immigration at a border. By combining historical facts with empathetic role-playing, students explore the challenges, legal hurdles, and personal stakes involved in seeking a new life.
Content and methods: The worksheet utilizes a blend of historical reading, audio-based interaction, and creative writing. It provides a text on a country's immigration policies to establish historical context. Methodologically, it shifts from factual comprehension to perspective-taking by prompting students to listen to border official questions, write a reflective essay from the viewpoint of an immigrant, and analyze the internal emotional landscape of those facing interrogation.
Competencies:
- Historical Literacy: Understanding historical immigration laws
- Empathy and Perspective-Taking: Analyzing the emotional burden and fears of immigrants during the entry process
- Listening and Writing Skills: Processing oral questions and articulating detailed personal narratives in an essay format
- Critical Reflection: Evaluating the consequences of refusal and the ethical implications of national allegiance and bias
Target group: Grades 9-12 (High School)
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Target group and level
Grade 9 and above
Subjects
Migration Part 3 - At the Border
You are at the border. Answer the border official's questions.
Stop the audio after each question.
Answer the questions of the border officer.
Put yourself in the immigrant's shoes.
Ellis Island: Gateway of Hope and Tears in the 1920s
Introduction
During the 1920s, Ellis Island was a pivotal entry point for immigrants coming to the United States. It was a place of hope for many seeking a new life, but it also held the potential for heartbreak for those who were turned away.
Statistics and Reasons for Refusal
Ellis Island processed millions of immigrants during its years of operation, with nearly 4.1 million arriving in the 1920s alone. Despite this large number, approximately 2% of immigrants were denied entry. Common reasons for refusal included medical issues, such as contagious diseases, and concerns that immigrants would be unable to support themselves and become a public charge.
Additionally, during the early 1920s, U.S. immigration policies became more restrictive with the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the National Origins Act of 1924, which introduced strict quotas based on nationality. These laws favored Western European immigrants while limiting those from Eastern Europe and other regions.
Consequences of Refusal
For those denied entry, the consequences were immediate and severe. They faced deportation back to their countries of origin, often at the expense of the steamship companies that brought them. This return could mean facing the very hardships they sought to escape, such as poverty, persecution, or political instability.
Conclusion
Ellis Island in the 1920s was both a beacon of hope and a site of sorrow. While it opened doors to new opportunities for millions, it also highlighted the challenges and limitations faced by immigrants due to changing U.S. policies. The island's legacy continues to remind us of the complexities and human stories behind immigration.