1. E Pluribus Unum: American Citizenship
Chapter Four
E Pluribus Unum: American Citizenship
American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy, and Citizenship

2. Chapter Four: Learning Objectives
Describe the role of ideas and beliefs in what it means to be an American citizen
Explain how immigration policy has changed over time and the controversies over assimilation that larger-scale immigration has spawned

3. Chapter Four: Learning Objectives
Explain how controversies over citizenship affected free blacks before the Civil War and Native Americans
Identify the requirements that Congress has imposed for the naturalization of foreigners

4. Chapter Four: Learning Objectives
Describe the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship
Steve Helber/AP Photo

5. E Pluribus Unum: “From Many, One”
Do you believe the ideas behind “From Many, One” have changed to reflect changes in America since the founding?
Bettmann/CORBIS

6. E Pluribus Unum: Early Americans
Characteristics of early America
Vast, fertile land
Common ancestry and religious background
Shared language, customs, and manners
Commitment to shared political beliefs

7. E Pluribus Unum: Modern Americans
Characteristics of modern America
Diverse ethnic background and origin
Multiple languages spoken, English dominates
Diversity in religion, Christianity most prevalent
Continued commitment to shared political beliefs

8. Immigration: By the Numbers
Source: Immigration and Naturalization Service, “Immigrants, Fiscal Year 2000,” Table 1, at
accessed July 28, 2002.

9. Immigration: Issues at the Founding
America – restrict access or open for all?
Madison – prosperity linked to open immigration
Franklin – concerned about the effects of immigration in American communities
Jefferson –unrestricted immigration may undermine important American political values

10. Immigration: Unrestricted Access
Why unrestricted immigration until 1875?
More land and jobs than residents
Large influx of European immigrants
Nativism movement and Know Nothing Party emerged in the 1840s and 1850s

11. Immigration: Restricted Access

12. Immigration: Restricted Access
What do you believe were reasons why our political leaders wanted to restrict immigration beginning in the late 18th century? Do you believe restricting immigration reflects the principles upon which our country was founded?

13. Immigration: Modern Issues
Features of modern immigration
More immigration from Asia than ever before
National origin quotas abolished in 1960s
Recent decrease in number of refugees

14. Immigration: Modern Issues
Do you believe there are problems with legal immigration? If so, what? Do you believe there are problems with illegal immigration? If so, what

15. Immigration: Modern Issues
Issues related to illegal immigration
As Table 4-4 demonstrates, illegal immigration occurs along all borders, although primarily along the Southern border
How should the U.S. work to strengthen our borders and relationship with our neighboring countries to solve the problems of illegal immigration?

16. Table 4-4

17. Immigration: Modern Issues
Legal solutions to illegal immigration
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
REAL ID Act of 2005
Secure Fence Act of 2006

18. Early Citizenship Controversies
As the Constitution did not clearly define citizenship in the early years of our country, controversies emerged over the citizenship status of two groups:
1. Free blacks before the Civil War
2. Native Americans

19. Early Citizenship Controversies
Free blacks before the Civil War
How was citizenship for free blacks defined through the following actions of government?
Missouri Compromise (1820)
Seamen’s protection certificates
Scott v. Sanford (1857)

20. Early Citizenship Controversies
Native Americans
Treatment by British was based on situation
The national government has always had the power to manage “all affairs with the Indians”

21. Early Citizenship Controversies
What was the legal status of Native American tribes?
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
Dawes Severalty Act (1887)
Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock (1903)
Indian Citizenship Act (1924)

22. Acquiring American Citizenship
There are two ways to become an American citizen:
Through laws or treaties
Through naturalization

23. Acquiring American Citizenship
Citizenship through laws or treaties
Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Practice has been upheld by the Supreme Court

24. Acquiring American Citizenship
Citizenship through naturalization
Naturalization Act of 1790 first law
Some changes to requirements since 1795
-Eliminated race as a restriction
-Language restrictions changed
-Citizenship oath created

25. Pledges and Promises The citizenship oath
Official oath adopted in 1929
Applicants for citizenship sign oath in a public ceremony
Plan to update the oath in 2003 to simplify language was not approved

26. Acquiring American Citizenship
What do you believe are some of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship?
The U.S.C.I.S. has defined some responsibilities of citizenship (page 120)

27. Myths and Misinformation
Are Puerto Ricans American citizens?
In a 2004 survey 41% of Americans correctly stated that Puerto Ricans are American citizens
Puerto Ricans have been citizens since 1917
Puerto Rico functions much like a state – should it be granted statehood?

28. How to become a non-citizen
Expatriation
How to become a non-citizen
Voluntarily through expatriation
Involuntarily through a variety of actions (page 123)

29. How to become a non-citizen
Expatriation
How to become a non-citizen
Voluntarily through expatriation
Involuntarily through a variety of actions (page 123)

30. Assimilation: Competing Ideas
Two competing ideas in assimilation:
1. The melting pot
2. Multiculturalism

31. Assimilation: The Melting Pot
Leave behind old identity
Adopt new, common American identity
What are some positive or negative aspects of the melting pot approach to assimilation?

32. Assimilation: Multiculturalism
Emphasizes traditions from different cultures
American culture benefits from diversity
What are some positive or negative aspects of the multiculturalism approach to assimilation?

33. Citizenship and Deliberative Democracy
What are some expectations of citizens?
Loyalty to country and government
Respect of laws and fellow citizens
Obligation to participate in political process

34. Deliberation, Citizenship, and You
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship prohibited until mid-twentieth century
Four ways to claim dual citizenship (page 128)
Do you believe dual citizenship should be allowed? Why or why not?

35. Summary
Citizenship has rights and responsibilities
Defining citizenship in the U.S. has not always been clear-cut
There have been and will continue to be debates over the assimilation of immigrants