Humanities 2319

American Minorities:  Political Culture in A Global Environment

Activity for Lecture 4

You must all answer this first question:

Please read the text of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.  Compare and contrast it with the Slave Act of 1793.  Imagine the year is 1855, you live in Columbus, Ohio.  You have a choice--you can either be the owner of a flour mill OR you can choose to be a seamstress who does piecework.  An individual approach you and asks you to secretly house an escaped a young mother with a baby for two nights as she makes her way along the 'underground railroad' to Canada----would you have assisted her? In your response, be certain to discuss aspects of the life you chose (flour mill owner or seamstress) that would motivate you to help or not to help the escaped slave? (e.g. Religious, economic, political affiliation, education level, ethnicity).  You must consider the pros and cons  and discuss each.  This is not an analysis of your personal values----this is an attempt to force you to compare the potential outcomes

 

 

Choose 1 of the following questions to complete

 

1.  Consider this report  comparing the American experience to the French experience of
      assimilation and this news article.  Write an essay addressing the following:

1.  What similarities exist in the history of immigration between the US and France?
2.  What differences exist in the history of immigration between the US and France?
3.  What is the 'twilight of common dreams?" What is the difference between assimilation
      and acculturation?  Which would be the most successful policy for a country to
      promote? Why?  What are the disadvantages?
4.  Which has been more successful assimilating immigrants?  Why?

 

 

2.  Please consider these graphs.  Having learned what you have so far respecting how
     immigrants become a part of their host country and the factors which influence , what do
     these projections tell you about the future of Texas?  What problems will Texas face?  What
     steps can Texas take to attempt to address the issues it will face over the next thirty years? 
     What challenges do you expect that future teachers  face?  What are the implications
     present in these graphs in terms of Texas' overall economic future?