Asians in the USA

elective courses

This course presents Asian immigration into the USA in the 19th and 20th century, mainly from China and Japan. We will analyze the causes of migration and the problems involved in the presence of a minority whose origins were non-European but also non-African; the assimilation process, its forms and its speed in various periods; the problem of the Japanese minority during World War II; migration from Indochina after 1975.

The aim of his course is to present problems connected with and arising from the Asian (mostly Far Eastern) immigration to the United States in the 19th and 20th century. We will analyze the principal causes of migration in the different cases of countries like China, Japan, Korea or Philippines, the ones where from most of the immigrants were coming to America since the middle of 19th century. The political situation of them will be discussed as well as their position vis-a-vis United States at the moment of the beginning of immigration to America. Then we will focus on the American internal problems resulting from the presence of the immigrant communities whose origins were neither European or African. The processes of assimilation, their forms, speed and intensity in different periods will be discussed as well as international difficulties caused by the very existence of some Asian groups in the USA (Chinese in late 19th century, Japanese in 1905-1945, Vietnamese since 1975). The source materials will be taken mostly from American presidential, Congressional and diplomatic papers, memoirs, press publications and literature.

Sources: - "The Annals of America", Chicago 1976, t.10-16 (dalej - Annals/nr tomu)

-Henry S. Commager (ed.) "Documents of American History" t.1-2, 9th edition, Englewood Cliffs, N.Jersey 1973 (dalej - Documents/nr tomu)

-Michał J. Rozbicki i Krzysztof Michałek (ed.) "A Selection of Sources on the History and Culture of the United States of America" Warszawa 1994

-William Carlson Smith "Americans in Process. A Study of Our Citizens of Oriental Ancestry" Ann Arbor, Michigan 1937

-Mark Twain "Disgraceful Persecution of a Boy" 1876 (w: "Your Personal Mark Twain", Berlin 1973)

-Michi Nishiura Weglyn "Years of Infamy. The Untold Story of America's Concentration Camps" Seattle 1996

-"The Japanese in America 1643-1973. A Chronology & Fact Book" Compiled by Masako Herman, Dobbs Ferry, N.York 1974

Literature: -Andrzej Bartnicki i Donald Critchlow (ed.) "Historia Stanów Zjednoczonych Ameryki" t.1-5, Warszawa 1995

-Krzysztof Michałek "Na drodze ku potędze. Historia Stanów Zjednoczonych 1861-1945" Warszawa 1990 i nast. wyd.

-Krzysztof Michałek "Amerykańskie Stulecie. Historia Stanów Zjednoczonych Ameryki 1900-2001" Warszawa 2004

-"Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups" Cambridge, Mass.-London 1980

On completion of this course student:

1. KNOWLEDGE

a/ Has in-depth knowledge of social phenomena connected with the Asian immigration to the USA in historical perspective

b/ Knows the history of the birth and functioning of the Far Eastern communities in America

c/ Has knowledge of different kinds of American reactions and approaches to the phenomenon of immigration of communities representing other types of civilization

2. SKILLS

a/ Is able to explain the mechanism of events of the past using primary and secondary sources known to him/her

b/ Identifies and recognizes the mutual dependence between the processes of immigration and the ones of internal development in the USA

c/ Analyzes and interprets critically the different proposals of of evaluation of results of the Asian immigration to the USA

3. SOCIAL COMPETENCES

a/ Is aware of importance of the cultural differences for understanding of the phenomenon of American national consciousness

b/ Helps other people to understand the American concepts of integration of an ethnically and culturally differentiated society

c/ Identifies and solves dilemmas of the tensions between the majority and minority in heterogenic society

Active participation in the classes (40%); presentation on one of the subjects discussed, chosen by student and approved by teacher (30%); 5-page end of semester essay on a subject on a subject accepted by teacher (30%) and a short interview with teacher before the deadline for graduation.

In a case of course taught online only:

Active participation in the classes (10%); presentation on one of the subjects discussed, chosen by student and approved by teacher (25%); quizzes at some classes (20%); comments on chosen fragments of primary sources assigned to the 2 – 4-person groups (20%); and a 5 page end of semester essay on a subject accepted by teacher (25%).