1. Rights and Responsibilities of a Citizen
American Civics
Rights and Responsibilities of a Citizen

2. What is Civics? Civics: Study of what it means to be a citizen.
Who could be citizens in the past?
Landowners?
Men?
Caucasian?

3. Rights and Responsibilities
Productive member of society
Member of town/city/state

4. Government Ideals: Beliefs that form a nation.
Government: Authority or power that rules on behalf of a group of people.

5. Freedoms Each person guaranteed same rights and freedoms.
Cannot be taken away.
Must do your share.

6. Freedoms we enjoy!
Not every country has the same freedoms that we have.
Free public schooling
Choose your own career
Own a house
Choose a person to marry
Raise a family
Start a business
Travel
Live anywhere you want!
Speak and write
Can’t be imprisoned without cause

7. Over 200 years ago… Founding fathers planned out our government
This is still in place today!
People rule through elected officials

8. Role of Citizen Vote in elections Work for a political party
Inform officials of needs/disagreements with gov’t
Know how gov’t works

9. Qualities of a “Good” Citizen
Responsible family members
Respect and obey laws
Respect rights and property of others
Loyal to nation/proud of accomplishments
Take part in community
Take part in gov’t
Use natural resources wisely
Well informed on important issues
Believe in equality of opportunity for all
Respect differences and ways of life

10. Why study? Need to become “good” citizens
Understand what our gov’t gives us
Understand our rights and freedoms…they can be taken away if we are not aware of the laws that protect them!

11. Immigration and Citizenship
American Civics 9

12. We Are All Immigrants!
Immigrants: People who came here from other lands.
Brought languages, cultures, beliefs, customs, hopes, and dreams.

13. Early Americans
Ancestors of Native Americans came between 12,000-60,000 years ago from Siberia.
Moved to North, Central and South America.
Vikings came and left.
Spanish settled in Mexico, Central and South America, California, Florida, Texas and the S.W. United States.

14. Early Americans 13 original colonies were settled by England.
Germans settled Pennsylvania.
Dutch settled along the Hudson.
Swedish settled in New Jersey, Delaware.
Africans settled the South as slaves.

15. History of U.S. Immigration Policy
Early years= struggle to survive.
Immigrants welcomed- workers needed.
Early 1800’s: Open Shore Policy
Unlimited immigration
No criminals or diseased
1880’s: Some restrictions added

16. History of U.S. Immigration Policy
1920’s: Quota Established
Immigration act of 1990:
675,000 per year
Preference to relatives, valuable skills
Refugees not included