IMMIGRATION Welcome to America! Two ways to become a citizen… 1.Natural Born (by birth) – on “American soil” OR to parents who are citizens (exception to diplomats) 2. Naturalization Process – regulated by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Steps to Naturalization Process 1.Legal aliens move into the US to become a citizen 2. Be 18 years old 3. Sign a statement, the Declaration of Intention, and file it with the USCIS 4. Live in the US 5 years, 3 if married 5. Take classes to prepare for citizenship 6. Live in the state where they want to be naturalized for 3 months 7. File an application for citizenship 8. Interview with USCIS official to check for necessary requirements and person is of good moral character 9. Take citizenship exam 10. Application for citizenship is granted 11. Take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States

Could YOU pass the test? 1.How many stars are there in our flag? 2. What color are the stars on our flag? 3. What do the starts on the flag mean? 4. What is the date of our independence day? (Month, Day, and Year) 5. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War? 6. What was the political party of the first president of the United States? 7. Who elects the president of the United States? 8. Who becomes president of the United States if the president should die? 9. How many changes or amendment are there to the Constitution? 10. Who makes the laws in the United States? 11. How many senators are there in Congress? 12. Name the two senators from North Carolina. 13. What is the supreme law of the United States? 14. How many Supreme Court Justices are there? 15. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence? 16. Which came first, the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution? 17. Who has the power to declare war?

We’re all immigrants… “E Pluribus Unum” -Where do you find this statement? -What does it mean?

Spanish, French, English settlers; 1500s from Spain in Southeast – Florida, Louisiana; 1600s from France and England – French in Canada and Louisiana, English on East Coast with 13 colonies; During 1600s and 1700s, immigrants from Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden also come to East Coast

Between , an estimated 500,000 slaves brought from Africa/Caribbean region

After US independence, # of immigrants grew from 600,000 in 1830s to more than 2 million by 1850s Between 1860 and 1890, more than 10 million Europeans – most from Denmark, Norway, Sweden – immigrated

Between 1860 and 1924, about 22 million immigrants came from Southern and Eastern Europe such as Italy, Greece, Poland, Russia , US pop grew from 12 million to about 120 million with about 40 million of those being immigrants)

Past years, Latin Americans account for largest # of immigrants

QUESTIONS… 1. Can you lose your citizenship?Yes! *Denaturalization, expatriation, crimes like treason You can also lose rights through crimes like felonies – will keep citizens from voting, owning firearms 2. What’s the difference between an Aliens and a Citizen? Aliens CANNOT serve on a jury, run/hold public office, vote Aliens CAN (like citizens) go to school, have a job, own property 3. What are citizens’ Duties? (MUST do): Obey laws, pay taxes, Jury, Selective Service, Attend school 4. What are citizens’ Responsibilities? (SHOULD do): Be informed, Vote, Respect/Tolerance/Compassion, Contribute/Participate, Volunteer (why is this needed?)