Lesson One
Darwinism and Anti-Italian Sentiment | Language Arts
Science
U.S. History
World Languages
| This lesson investigates the turn of the twentieth-century belief that different groups of people evolve differently from one another. Students learn how this belief affected changes in the United States immigration laws. They also research and report how history has proved the theory to be egregiously erroneous. |
Lesson Two
VOICES: Stereotypes in the Classroom | Language Arts
World Languages
| Poetry is presented that highlights the subtle and often overt ethnic stereotyping that can occur in classrooms. |
| Accompanying file: VOICES: supplemental material |
Lesson Three
Overview of Immigration to America | Language Arts
N.J. History
U.S. History
World History
World Languages
| The lesson investigates immigration to New Jersey. It focuses on the encroachment of the market economy into the European peasantry at various times during the nineteenth century. Students explore various reasons for the emigrations to the United States of America. |
| Accompanying file: Immigration Overview Essay |
Lesson Four
Italian Immigration to New Jersey, 1890 | Language Arts
N.J. History
U.S. History
World Languages
| Reasons for Italian Immigration to New Jersey in 1890, and corresponding settlements are explored. |
| Accompanying file: 1890 map |
| Accompanying file: 1890 handout |
Lesson Five
Lynching Italian Americans and Mob Violence | U.S. History
World Languages
| The lesson investigates lynching and mob violence, focusing on the late nineteenth-century lynching of Italian immigrants and the international ramifications. |
| Accompanying file: Lynching Essay |
Lesson Six
Italian Americans & World War II Detention Camps | Language Arts
N.J. History
U.S. History
World Languages
| The U.S. policy of detaining Italian nationals and other "enemy aliens" during World War II is investigated.
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| Accompanying file: Detention Essay |
