Constitutional Academy: The Common Good, Immigration, and The Constitution
Featured Speaker: Paul Finkelman, Albany Law School
October 3, 2007,
5:00 – 8:30 pm
ESD 112 Conference Center
Paul Finkelman of Albany Law School was our featured speaker on October 3, 2007. In The Common Good, Immigration, and the Constitution, Finkelman informed, provoked, and inspired with a wide ranging discussion of the Constitutional history of citizenship in the United States. In the first part of the presentation, Finkelman traced the story back to the earliest recorded anti-immigrant references during the time of a legal “open door”, through the persecution of Chinese immigrants, to today. In the second part, Finkelman focused on the internment of Japanese Americans. Throughout the evening, Finkelman provided an international context, noting ways in which the United States’ story is both unique and common.
In breakout sessions, Paul Englesberg (Western Washington University) unveiled the work of the Asian American Curriculum and Research Project, detailing outrages afflicting immigrants in Washington State. Kim Pfluke and Kyle Orr (Illahee Elementary School) shared the important work they’ve been doing involving their fifth grade students in the collection of oral histories of immigrants living in their communities.
Presentation Materials:
Paul Finkelman’s Presentation Audio:
- MP3 Audio: The Common Good, Immigration, and the Constitution (Part One)
- MP3 Audio: The Common Good, Immigration, and the Constitution (Part Two)
Paul Finkelman’s Presentation Video:
- Video: The Common Good, Immigration, and the Constitution (Part One)
- Video: The Common Good, Immigration, and the Constitution (Part Two)
Paul Englesberg’s Presentation Audio:
Paul Englesberg’s Presentation Video:
Relevant Documents and Links:
- Historical Immigration and Naturalization Legislation from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
- Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886)
- Fong Yue Ting v U.S. et al. (1893)
- U.S. v Bhagat Singh Thind (1923)
- Executive Order 9066 (1942)
- Hirabayashi v. United States (1943)
- Korematsu v. United States (1944)
- Asian American Curriculum & Research Project
Washington State Classroom Based Assessments:
- Cultural Contributions (Elementary School)
- Enduring Cultures (Middle School)
- Cultural Interactions (High School)