Key Terms
Many ethnic groups, languages, and cultures come here & melt together to create our country. They LET GO OF the heritage of their native lands & become “Americans.”
Melting Pot
Opened in 1892 as an immigration station in NY Harbor it processed millions of newcomers until it closed in 1954. Today, about 40% of Americans can trace at least one ancestor back to those who passed through its doors.
Ellis Island
A legally recognized resident of a country who has certain rights and duties in that country.
They owe allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection.
Citizen
Maria’s parents were Italian citizens & immigrants. They were in the United States for a week and Maria was born.
1. Is Maria a U.S. citizen?
2. Why or Why Not?
1. Yes
2. Law of the Soil or Natural Born Citizen
What is the chemical symbol for water?
H20
Many ethnic groups, languages, and cultures exist together side-by-side.
People MAINTAIN their cultural identity and diversity but still fit together to form “Americans.”
Mosaic
Examples of these include: war, poverty, famine, persecution, lack of jobs, or environmental disasters, economic hardship, political instability, or violence
Push Factors
It is the most common way to become a United States citizen. Currently 281 million people are citizens through this way.
Natural Born Citizen, Born here, Law of the Soil
Seth comes to the United States when he is a child. When he turns 21, he decides to complete the naturalization process. He completes everything correctly, but he fails the Civics test.
1. Is Seth a US Citizen?
2. Why or Why not?
1. NO
2. He failed the Civics test
Which country has played every single soccer World Cup?
Brazil
A person who moves from one country to make their permanent home in another country.
Immigrant
Located in San Francisco Bay, this Immigration Station served as the largest immigration port on the West Coast between 1910 and 1940. Approximately 500,000 immigrants from 80 countries were processed, detained, and/or interrogated at the site.
Angel Island
Latin term literally meaning: “The law of blood.” It says that a person's nationality at birth is the same as that of his natural parents.
jus sanguinis
When Troy, who was born in the United States, is 5 years old, he moves to Japan with his grandmother. He grows up in Japan, goes to school there and decides to stay for the rest of his life as a legal alien living in Japan.
1. Is Troy a US Citizen?
2. Why or Why not?
1. YES
2. He never expatriates, he was born in the US
In 2013, which team did LeBron James captain to an NBA Championship?
Miami Heat
Favorable conditions in another area that encourage people to immigrate from their homeland.
Pull Factors
This Act passed in 1882 banned Chinese laborers from immigrating for ten years, prohibited them from becoming U.S. citizens, and required certificates for any Chinese person traveling in or out of the country, marking the first federal law to bar an entire ethnic group from the U.S.
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
The legal process by which a citizen of one country becomes a citizen of another.
Naturalization
While on a vacation in Puerto Rico, Mrs. Crosby, a Canadian citizen, gives birth to her son Sydney.
1. Is Sydney a US citizen?
2. Why or Why Not?
1. YES
2. Puerto Rico is a US territory...Law of the Soil
What is the best-selling book of all time (according to Guinness World Records)?
The Bible
The lowest deck of a steamship used by immigrants paying the cheapest price for tickets. Named because of how close it is to the steering of the ship.
Steerage
At Ellis Island, inspectors checked for this eye disease by flipping the immigrant's eyelid with a buttonhook to look for signs of the contagious disease. If a disease was suspected inspectors would chalk mark the immigrant's coat (often with an "E" for eyes)
Trachoma
A person is legally recognized as a citizen of two countries simultaneously, holding rights and responsibilities in both, often acquired at birth or through naturalization, allowing for things like holding two passports, voting, working, and travel without visas between those nations.
Dual Citizenship
Carl is student from Peru who has overstayed his educational visa of 4 years at the University of Pittsburgh. After college he gets a job with UPMC, buys a car, and pays taxes for 10 years...he never breaks a single law in the United States.
1. Is Carl a US Citizen?
2. Why or Why Not?
1. NO
2. Although he has done nothing wrong, Carl has not completed any of the other steps necessary to become a US Citizen
Mt. Fuji is the highest point located in which Asian country?
Japan