Because of the current high interest in issues of immigration, Constitutional Rights Foundation has created these lessons and made them available free of charge to educators. Like all our materials, the lessons are carefully balanced to present all sides of controversial issues.

The materials consist of six lesson modules designed to put the current controversies about illegal immigration into historical and political context. They consist of readings, guided discussion questions, and interactive learning activities designed to help students explore and deepen their understanding of the issues presented. In addition, the curriculum package includes a resource for conducting structured discussions with students.

Overview of Contents

1. History of Immigration Through the 1850s traces immigration to the United States through the 1850s. Particular attention is paid to the initial European immigration, the bringing of black slaves from Africa, Irish immigration and nativism against the Irish, and the Mexican-American experience and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
   
2. History of Immigration From 1850 to the Present provides background on European immigration at the turn of the 20th century, reactions against these immigrants, immigration after World War II, today’s new immigrants, illegal immigration, and the reasons people immigrate to the United States.
   
3. Issues of Illegal Immigration explores current topics and policy options that have been considered for addressing illegal immigration.
   
4. Federal Policy and Immigration examines the responsibility that the federal government has for handling immigration in a case study of the current legislative proposals in Congress.
   
5. Current Proposals on Illegal Immigration looks at the current proposals put forward by the U.S. House and Senate. It examines their content and looks at their pros and cons.
   
6. Options for Affecting Public Policy reviews methods for engaging in public policy issues. It explores letters to the editor, letters to officials, letter-writing campaigns, petitioning, e-mail and telephone campaigns, and lobbying.
   
7. Conducting Panel Discussions and Civil Conversations provides two strategies to engage students in discussing controversial issues and policies.

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