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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that immigration reached a new high in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and that it helped make the U.S. the diverse country that it is today. They will understand that there were both positive and negative responses to immigration from people already residing in the U.S. Polish immigration to Western Massachusetts will be examined as an example of the immigrant experience as a whole.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students should have background information on immigration to the U.S. at the turn of the century – countries of origin, numbers of people entering the U.S., reasons for coming.
Step 2.
Divide students into groups of four. Give each group a packet of documents from the American Centuries website – see attached. I would suggest shortening “Incoming of the Poles” and “Aliens in New England” to make the reading more manageable for one class period.
Step 3.
Instruct each group to examine the documents one at a time, together. As they read, have them record answers to the following questions on their own paper. You may choose to have one student record answers for the group or have each student write down the group’s answers.
Step 4.
Questions:
1. Keep a list of words/phrases that describe peoples’ opinions of the Poles – one column for positives and one for negatives. If a characteristic is mentioned more than once, make a note of it.
2. According to the articles, what makes someone a “valuable” immigrant?
3. According to the articles, why are the Poles coming to New England?
4. Abandoned farms of New England are mentioned several times in the articles. What does this have to do with Polish immigration?
5. According to the articles, how are the Polish immigrants adjusting to life in the U.S.? Give specific examples. What are they doing to maintain their connection to their Polish heritage?
6. Who do you think would support immigration? Who would not? Explain.
Step 5.
Circle the room while students are working to answer questions and keep students on task.
Step 6.
When all the groups are finished answering the questions, debrief the activity. Solicit answers to the assigned questions from each group and answer any questions students may still have.
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