Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” (Emma Lazarrus). Die Produktion von Migration in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika (1865-1965)

(This seminar will be taught in English)

2.226

Dozenten

Beschreibung

Introduction to the seminar:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This famous line from Emma Lazarus’s poem—inscribed on the Statue of Liberty—captures an enduring ideal of the United States as a refuge for the world’s displaced and oppressed. Yet beneath this hopeful message lie deep contradictions tied to settler colonialism, genocide, and racial hierarchies. Connecting to themes from our lecture on global infrastructures and mobility, this seminar traces the historical trajectory of U.S. immigration and immigration policy from 1865 to 1965, paying particular attention to the interplay of inclusonary and exclusionary politics that produced social order and identities in the USA.

Throughout the late nineteenth century, industrial expansion created opportunities for immigrants but also began to inspire nativism that translated into restrictive measures — including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and subsequent laws that privileged white Europeans while discriminating against others based on race and "national origin". These developments reflect a broader sociopolitical dynamic in which the United States simultaneously held itself out as a land of freedom and opportunity while structurally excluding groups deemed racially or culturally “unfit.”
By exploring key legislative turning points — such as the Immigration Act of 1924 and the buildup to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 — participants will examine how the United States, as a capitalist settler colonial project, continually renegotiated its own demography, ideals, and global standing. In doing so, the seminar fosters a critical understanding of how migration was produced, regulated, and contested within a nation grappling with the tensions between its professed openness and ongoing racial inequalities.

Seminar Structure and Work Process:
During the initial phase of the seminar, students will explore a selection of secondary literature to establish a shared foundation of historical and theoretical perspectives. In the following weeks, we will closely analyze a range of historical sources — such as legislative documents, letters, newspaper articles, and personal testimonies — to gain insight into how immigration policy was shaped on the ground. Based on these readings, students will focus on refining their individual research projects and receive feedback in structured discussions and workshops. Toward the end of the seminar, participants will prepare and present academic posters showcasing their research questions, preliminary findings, and analytical approaches. This poster presentation will serve as a stepping stone toward the final term paper, helping students synthesize their work and articulate clear arguments as they transition into the writing process.

Studienbereiche

• Sozialwissenschaften > Master Internationale Migration und Interkulturelle Beziehungen (IMIB) > Modul 4 (PO 2022-2): Diversität in Migrationsgesellschaften
• Geschichte > Seminare
• Neueste Geschichte und Historische Migrationsforschung
• Europäische Studien > Bachelor-Studiengang > Nebenfach Geschichte der frühen Neuzeit und Neueste Geschichte > Neueste Geschichte
• Cultural Studies and Social Sciences (e.g. European Studies, International Relations)