Chapter 1: The American People

1. Chapter 1: The American People Unit 1: Foundations of American Citizenship

2. The Diversity of Americans Section 1

3. What Is Civics? • Ancient Roots: • Civics • The study of the rights and duties of citizens. • Citizenship • Dates back more than 2,500 years to ancient Greece and Rome. • In those days very few people were citizens. Why? • Only men with property possessed the right to vote and to take part in government. • Today gender and wealth are no longer requirements for citizenship.

4. What does it mean to be a citizen? • American citizens who live abroad are still citizens of the U.S. • Citizens are a part of the country. • They may share a common history, common customs, or common beliefs. • They agree to follow a set of rules and to accept the government’s authority. • As a citizen, what do you agree to do?

5. A Changing Society • American society has undergone many changes in the past, and these changes continue today. • More than 300 million people live in the United States today. • All of us are descendants from families that immigrated at one time or another.

6. A Nation of Immigrants • Until the mid- 1900s , most immigrants came from Europe. • The first groups came from Spain during the 1500s. • Beginning in the 1600s, people from France and England came to North America. • The French settled in Canada and the English settled mainly on the East Coast (13 Colonies). • During the late 1600s and 1700s, immigrants from Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, and Sweden joined the English settlers.

7. After Independence • The number of immigrants rapidly grew after American Independence. • Immigration grew to 600,000 in the 1830s to more than 2 million by the 1850s. • Between 1860 and 1890, more than 10 million Europeans streamed into the country. (Northeastern European) • From 1890 to 1924, 22 million more immigrants came to America. • Most of these immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe. (Italians, Greeks, Poles, and Russians.)

8. During the past 50 years, immigrations from Europe to the U.S. has fallen off. • Latin America now accounts for the largest share of foreign newcomers, followed by Asia. • Enslaved Africans- • Between 1619 and 1808 more than 500,000 African slaves were brought to the United States. • Most African Americans today are descendents of enslaved persons.

9. A Diverse Population • The American population is extraordinarily diverse in terms of ethnic, or racial, backgrounds. • The breakdown of the American population: • 234 million are white of European descent. • 37 million are African American. • Over 12 million are Asian or Pacific Islanders. • 2.8 million are Native American. • Over 39 million are Latinos.

10. Transforming America • Over the years, America’s population has drastically changed. • The places where Americans lived has also changed. • In the mid-1800s people began moving from rural areas to cities. • The higher wages paid in the cities attracted workers. • Blue-collar workers- • Those who work in factories . • White-collar workers- • Those who work in offices, schools, stores, and other nonfactory jobs. • By 1920 more than half of all Americans lived in towns or cities.

11. The Change in Jobs • In the past few decades, manufacturing has lost ground to what we call the “service economy.” • People who earn a living by performing services such as practicing law or medicine, teaching, or programming computers.

12. American Values and Institutions • What are values? • The general principles, or beliefs, you use to make these judgments are your values. • Values are broad ideas about what is good or desirable, and are shared by people in a society. • Basic American Values: • Freedom, equality, opportunity, justice, democracy, and respect.

13. Shared Values Unite Americans • Popular sovereignty- • Means government by consent of the governed. • This is done through: • Fair, free, and regular elections. • Equal justice under the law. • Majority rule through the people’s representatives in government. • Language- • English is the primary means of communication in education, government, and business.

14. American Institutions • Institutions: • Family is the most important social institution. • It is the core of social life. • It produces new generations, socializes the young, offers care and affection, and provides economic support. • Religious institutions • Educational Institutions • Social Institutions • Governmental Institutions

15. Who Are America’s Citizens? Section 2

16. Path to Citizenship • Two ways to gain citizenship: • 1. Birth • 2. Naturalization- • The legal process to become a citizen. • Citizenship by Birth: • If you are born in any state or the District of Columbia, you are automatically become an American citizen. • This is also applies to those born in any American territory (Puerto Rico or Guam) or any U.S. military bases over seas.

17. Birth Citizenship Continued • A person can claim American citizenship if their parents are both citizens or if one is a citizen who has lived in the U.S. • Children born on American soil to non-U.S. citizens acquire U.S. citizenship. • Americans may also hold dual citizenship.

18. The Naturalization Process • Aliens- • Noncitizens that live in the U.S. • They come here to work, study, or to visit relatives. • They remain citizens in their own country and eventually return home. • Immigrants- • People who move to the U.S. permanently.

19. Beginning the Process • Step 1: Aliens who want to become U.S. citizens must first sign a statement saying that want to become a citizen. • The Declaration of Intention is then filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). • Step 2: the alien must live in the U.S. for at least five years (Aliens who marry citizens only have to wait three years). • During this time many aliens take courses to prepare for citizenship. • Step 3: If the alien is 18 and has lived in for at least 3 months in the state where they seek naturalization, they may file an application for citizenship.

20. Interview and Examination • After the paper work is checked, the alien has an interview with a USCIS official. • The alien then must take a citizenship exam that consists of questions about reading, writing, and speaking English. • The exam also contains basic facts about the history and government of the United States. • After the exam, the USCIS makes its decision.

21. Oath of Allegiance • The final step in naturalization. • It is a ceremony and pledging an oath of allegiance. • The alien swears to: • Be loyal to the country above all others. • Obey the Constitution and other laws. • Perform military or other duties if needed. • Then the person signs a document and is declared a citizen of the U.S. • If he or she has children under the age of 18 they automatically become citizens.

22. A Lifelong Privilege • Regardless of how you become a citizen, American citizenship is for life. • Only the federal government can give or take away citizenship. • Three ways the federal government can take away citizenship: • 1. Denaturalization • 2. Expatriation • 3. Punishment for crimes

23. Denaturalization- • The loss of citizenship through fraud or deception during the naturalization process. • Expatriation- • The easiest way to lose citizenship. • Expatriation is giving up one’s citizenship by leaving one’s native country to live in a foreign country. • Can be voluntary or involuntary. • Punishment for crimes- • A person may lose citizenship when convicted of certain federal crimes that involve extreme disloyalty. • Treason, participation in a rebellion, and attempting to overthrow the government.

24. Aliens in America • Only 675,000 immigrants are allowed to enter the country each year. • Traditionally relatives of U.S. citizens and people with needed job skills received the highest priority or first consideration. • Immigration Act of 1990 • Benefits people with particular skills, talents, or the money to invest in our economy.

25. Illegal Aliens • Despite immigration limits, approximately 12 million aliens are living in the U.S. illegally. • Illegal aliens enter the country several ways: • Some enter the country as temporary visitors and never leave. • Some risk arrest and cross the boarders illegally. (Canadian and Mexican) • Others are foreigners who stay in the U.S. even after their permits expire.

26. It is illegal to hire illegal aliens. Aliens who do find work are often under paid and work long hours. • Everyday illegal aliens fear deportation. • The U.S. Border Patrol- • Law enforcement unit of the USCIS. • The Border Patrol guards the 6,000 miles of Mexican and Canadian international land borders and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding Florida and the island of Puerto Rico.

27. Legal Aliens • Legal Aliens are classified in different categories. • Resident Alien- • A person from a foreign country who has established permanent residence in the U.S. • They can stay in the country as long as they want without becoming a citizen. • Nonresident Alien- • A person from a foreign country who expects to stay in the U.S. for a short, specified period. • Refugees- • People fleeing their country to escape persecution.

28. Aliens who enter the country legally live life like normal Americans. • They own property, have businesses, and attend public schools. • They pay taxes and are entitled to legal protection. • Aliens do not have full political rights. • They can not vote in elections or run for political office. • They can not serve on juries or work in most government jobs. • They also must carry identification cards with them at all times.

29. Government and the People Section 3

30. The Need for Government • A government is the ruling authority for a community or society. • Any organization that has the power to make and enforce or carry out laws and decisions for its members acts as a government.

31. What Governments Do • Most important purpose of a government is to provide laws or rules of conduct. • These laws help prevent conflicts between individuals, groups, or nations. • Keep Order: • Governments make laws to help prevent conflicts and to settle those conflicts that do arise. • Governments have the power to enforce the laws.

32. Provide Security: • Government defends citizens and their land from enemies. • This is the reason why the government set up armed forces and agencies to watch for likely sources of trouble. • Provide Public Service: • Government provides libraries, schools, hospitals, parks, water, and utilities. • Many government services are aimed at keeping the public healthy and safe.

33. Guide the Community: • Public policy- a course of government action to achieve community goals • Most public policy decisions involve financial planning. • Creating a budget is key to the success of the community.

34. Levels of Government • National Government: • Made up of three branches: • The legislative, The Executive, and The Judiciary • The national government is different from other levels of government in two ways: • 1. A national government has the highest level of authority over its citizens. • A city or state government can not make any laws that would go against the laws of the national government. • 2. A national government provides the basic framework for citizenship.

35. State and Local Government • While the national government make laws for the entire country, state governments decides matters for the people in that state. • The level of government closest to Americans is local government. • Local governments include counties, cities, and towns.

36. Types of Government • Democratic Government: • Direct democracy- • All the citizens met to debate government matters and vote firsthand. • Direct democracy is not practical for most countries today. • What is a Republic? • Many countries have a representative democracy. • The citizens choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf. • Republic: • A system of limited government in which the people are the ultimate source of governmental power. • The U.S. is the oldest representative democracy in the world.

37. Constitutional Monarchy: • The monarchs are heads of state only, presiding at ceremonies and serving as symbols of unity. • Great Britain and Japan are two widely known examples of a constitutional monarchy. • Democratic Principles: • Voting and Democracy- • All genuine democracies have free, fair, and competitive elections. • Everyone’s vote must carry the same weight. • All candidates have the right to express themselves freely to the public. • The requirements for voting must be kept at a minimum. • Voting must be done freely and in secret to keep people feeling safe.

38. Voters Have Choice- • Voters have a choice in which political party they want to vote for. • Political parties compete with each other for those votes. • Majority Rule- • Citizens agree that when differences of opinion arise, they will abide by what most people want. • At the same time, the majority must respect the rights of those in the minority.

39. Authoritarian Government • In authoritarian regimes, power is held by an individual or group not accountable to the people. • Absolute Monarchy- • Power is technically unrestricted. • Said to be chosen by God. • King or Queen • Very rare in the world today. • Dictatorships- • Like monarchs, dictators have complete control over a country. • Usually take power through force. • To stay in power, most dictators rely on police and military. • Often tamper with elections or refuse to have them. • They limit the freedom of speech, assembly, and the press.

40. Totalitarianism- • In a totalitarian state, the government’s control extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives. • They ban political opposition. • They regulate farms and business in what they produce. • They control the media and use propaganda, scare tactics, and violence.