AP U.S. HISTORY LESSON PLAN SERIES:
The 1965 Immigration Act & Model Minority Mythology
GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
SUGGESTED RUN TIME: 1 one-hour class period (with optional homework)
SUGGESTED RUN TIME: 1 one-hour class period (with optional homework)
Learning objectives
1. Students will be able to explain why American popular culture shifted from “Exclusion” to the “Model Minority” mythology mindset
2. Students will be able to explain how the Immigration Act of 1965 dramatically changed American demographics
2. Students will be able to explain how the Immigration Act of 1965 dramatically changed American demographics
AP U.S. History KEY CONCEPTS & SKILLS
KEY CONCEPTS
KC-8.3.I.C, “Immigrants from around the world sought access to the political, social, and economic opportunities in the United States, especially after the passage of new immigration laws in 1965.”
SKILLS
1.B Explain a historical concept, development, or process.
2.C Explain the significance of a source’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/ or audience, including how these might limit the use(s) of a source.
4.A Identify and describe a historical context for a specific historical development or process.
5.B Explain how a historical development or process relates to another historical development or process.
KC-8.3.I.C, “Immigrants from around the world sought access to the political, social, and economic opportunities in the United States, especially after the passage of new immigration laws in 1965.”
SKILLS
1.B Explain a historical concept, development, or process.
2.C Explain the significance of a source’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/ or audience, including how these might limit the use(s) of a source.
4.A Identify and describe a historical context for a specific historical development or process.
5.B Explain how a historical development or process relates to another historical development or process.
The model minority myth is the belief that all Asians are successful, quiet, and obedient. The myth assumes that Asian Americans simply “got over” previous American racism through hard work, solid family structure and generally “pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps.” At face value, it might feel like a “positive” stereotype. But the myth has ugly roots and has led to harmful consequences.
The 1965 Immigration & Nationality Act ended racist quotas of previous eras and opened the gates to a more colorful and diverse country. These changing demographics not only transformed the face of America, it also contributed to new stereotypes of a historically excluded and maligned population: Asian immigrants. With the popularization of the model minority myth, Asian immigrants became symbols of immigrant success--as well as wedge groups against other struggling communities. Using the pivotal 1965 Immigration & Nationality Act as an entry point, this lesson unpacks the causes leading to the creation of the model minority myth, as well as the myth's harmful effects on all people of color.
This lesson plan includes a deep analysis of the legislative history of the 1965 Act and invites students to consider primary sources that shed light on how the model minority myth was conceived and made popular.
For AP U.S. History classes, we recommend that this important lesson be inserted after learning about the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, as part of a broader study of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.
This lesson plan includes a deep analysis of the legislative history of the 1965 Act and invites students to consider primary sources that shed light on how the model minority myth was conceived and made popular.
For AP U.S. History classes, we recommend that this important lesson be inserted after learning about the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, as part of a broader study of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.
Lesson Plan Components
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Matt Vriesman
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Kathy Lu
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Julia Wang
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