How does law shape society?
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“Undesirable”: Immigration and the American Identity
This module covers the Immigration Act of 1924 and the Immigration Act of 1929. In chapter one, students learn about eugenic theories and white nationalist ideologies and how they were enacted in policy as a reaction to shifting national demographics. In chapter two, students gain a deeper understanding of how…
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The Production of “Illegal Alien”
This module covers the history of Chinese exclusion in the United States. In chapter one, students learn a brief history of migrant labor from China (focusing on the railroad), and the concept of racial capitalism. In chapter two, students study two key Acts of Chinese Exclusion through the lens of…
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Abolition and the Amistad Case
A pivotal yet often overlooked moment in U.S. history is the case of the United States v. The Amistad. Although a landmark case involving questions of slavery, international law, and human rights, the Amistad rebellion is frequently underrepresented in standard history curriculum. Why is the Amistad not as widely taught…
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Comparing Methods of Making Freedom
In this module, Comparing Methods of Making Freedom, students compare two distinct approaches—the legal challenge embodied in the Dred Scott decision and the direct action of the Underground Railroad. Students will examine how freedom has been fought for in different ways. Dred Scott sought freedom through the court system, whereas…
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Seeking Asylum in the U.S. (2020s)
The focus of this module is the migration crisis of the 2020s. In chapter one, students learn a brief history of asylum seeking and refugee law, as well as the terminology. In chapters two and three, students go more in depth on two specific crises: Venezuela, and then Ukraine. The…
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Finding Evidence of Slavery in the Archives
In this module, Finding Evidence of Slavery in the Archives, students investigate how the history of slavery is preserved in ordinary documents of everyday life. Focusing on archival materials such as advertisements, students will learn to recognize how slavery was embedded in the daily rhythms of American society. Using runaway…