Discussion #1
You reach the door of the Gumpertz tenement apartment at 97 Orchard St., in the Lower East Side of N.Y.City. Mrs. Gumpertz comes to the door.
You introduce yourselves to one another. Then you begin asking questions about how she likes living in America. How she is able to support herself and her children, and you also comment on what fine stitching she does in the dresses she sews. How did she learn to sew so beautifully?
What does she think of that upstart republican politician, "Teddy" Roosevelt, assuming she has heard of him in New York City politics. And final thoughts before you "take your leave"?
Discussion #2
As you read the lecture and the sections in the text on the world war decades [latter 1910's - 1940's] immigration attitudes in the public have changed, with resulting changes in political policies. First, what differences can you see?
Read with particular care pages 187 to 210 as the focus is on the post world war years in these pages. The changing attitude in the country is very apparent. The question is why. Define the changes that you clearly see in these years and try to account for them.
Discussion #3
How many of the most important technological advances of our age have been created by recent immigrants. Besides the obvious benefits of their accomplishments, what does this collection of "over-achievers" tell us about the relative openness of the U.S. immigration policy?
Do you see any apprehensions rising from the possibilities of ending the American openness? This question seeks more subjective insight than actual factual data.