The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: A Detailed Explanation for APUSH Students

📚 The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: A Detailed Explanation

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, dramatically altered U.S. immigration policy. It abolished the national origins quota system, which favored immigrants from Western Europe, and instead prioritized family reunification and skilled workers. This landmark legislation had profound and lasting consequences for the demographic makeup of the United States.

🎯 Learning Objectives

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• Objective 1: Identify the key provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
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• Objective 2: Explain the historical context leading to the passage of the Act.
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• Objective 3: Analyze the short-term and long-term impacts of the Act on U.S. society.
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• Objective 4: Evaluate the arguments for and against the Act.

🧰 Materials

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• Primary Source Documents: Excerpts from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
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• Secondary Source Articles: Scholarly articles and news reports on the Act and its impact.
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• Demographic Data: Charts and graphs illustrating changes in U.S. immigration patterns.
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• Online Resources: Websites offering information on the Act and related topics.

Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)

Think-Pair-Share: Ask students to consider the following question: What factors do you think should be considered when determining who is allowed to immigrate to a country?

Main Instruction

1. 🏛️ Historical Context

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   • The National Origins Quota System: Discuss the discriminatory nature of the national origins quota system, established in the 1920s, which favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe.
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   • Cold War Concerns: Explain how the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement contributed to a growing sense that the quota system was inconsistent with American ideals.
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   • Civil Rights Movement: Connect the Act to the broader Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the push for equality and an end to discrimination in all areas of American life.

2. 📜 Key Provisions of the Act

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   • Abolition of National Origins Quotas: Explain how the Act eliminated the national origins quota system.
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   • Preference System: Detail the new preference system based on family reunification and skills. Explain the categories of preference and how they worked.
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   • Immigration Caps: Describe the establishment of overall immigration caps and per-country limits.

3. 📊 Impacts of the Act

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   • Demographic Shifts: Analyze the significant demographic shifts in the U.S. population following the Act, including the increase in immigration from Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
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   • Economic Effects: Discuss the economic impacts of the Act, both positive (e.g., increased labor supply, innovation) and negative (e.g., wage stagnation in some sectors).
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   • Social and Cultural Changes: Examine the social and cultural changes resulting from increased immigration, including the growth of multiculturalism and the challenges of assimilation.

4. 🗣️ Debates and Controversies

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   • Arguments in Favor: Present the arguments in favor of the Act, such as its promotion of diversity, its alignment with American values, and its contribution to economic growth.
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   • Arguments Against: Present the arguments against the Act, such as concerns about its impact on wages, its potential strain on social services, and its effect on national identity.
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   • Contemporary Debates: Connect the Act to contemporary debates about immigration reform, border security, and the role of immigrants in American society.

📝 Assessment

Essay Question: To what extent did the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 represent a turning point in U.S. immigration policy and its impact on American society?

❓ Practice Quiz

1. ❓ Question 1: What was the primary goal of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965?
2. ❓ Question 2: How did the Act change the criteria for admitting immigrants into the United States?
3. ❓ Question 3: What were some of the immediate effects of the Act on immigration patterns?
4. ❓ Question 4: What were some of the long-term consequences of the Act on American society?
5. ❓ Question 5: What were the main arguments for and against the Act at the time of its passage?
6. ❓ Question 6: How did the Act relate to the Civil Rights Movement?
7. ❓ Question 7: In what ways does the Act continue to shape debates about immigration today?