Unit 2: Becoming An American
"Americanization means the process of becoming an American. It means civic incorporation, becoming a part of the polity - becoming one of us. But that does not mean conformity. We are more than a melting pot, we are a kaleidoscope, where every turn of history refracts new light on an old promise." - Barbara Jordan
immigration process
A major problem that immigrants face is an extremely long and difficult process in order to become an American citizen. For some, this can take years. Processing time is often too long, and fees can be too expensive for some trying to obtain citizenship. Most immigrants do not have a relative who lives in the US, which extends their naturalization process.
Immigration Delay Grows
US citizenship test
A major part in an immigrant's naturalization process is passing the US Citizenship Test, which consists of civics and history questions. It has been shown that many natural born citizens cannot pass this test. It also sparks another question: Should knowing the history of the United States, dates of wars, and geographical features actually determine if you are worthy of being a decent citizen?