Lady Liberty Opening the gate to a immigrant Jewish family. Source.
The United States is a Nation of Immigrants. Each immigrant group brings it unique story. Passover (Pesach) is the Jewish holiday that celebrates the emancipation of the Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt. The Haggadah is a Jewish text that is read every year during the Passover meal (Seder). Here are four haggadahs which remember that the Jews were once refugees, too, and are obligated to seek justice for "the Stranger." ADL: FOUR QUESTIONS: SEEKING IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE JUSTICE ON PASSOVER A Haggadah Supplement This Passover, let us all embrace the lessons of this holiday’s story and extend a hand of friendship to our immigrant and refugee neighbors and advocate for their rights. AWJS: Next Year in a Just World This year, put social justice on your Seder table. Use the AJWS Global Justice Haggadah to spark meaningful conversations at your Seder — and connect our shared story of liberation with people fighting for freedom around the world today.
This collection features several social justice haggadadot.
Also see: VOANews: New York Mosque Hosts Passover Celebrations POP QUIZ 100:03. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? 100:09. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? 100:10. What is freedom of religion? 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? 100:58. What is one reason colonists came to America? 100:76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? 100:84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination? 100:95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?* 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
A short film offering a glimpse into how an immigrant family remains comfortably estranged and elusive of its history. The "why" got lost along the way. A first-generation Chinese-American daughter laments lost opportunities to hear unheard history, but maybe it was never meant to be hers to hear.
يمكنك أن تصبح مواطناً أمريكياً بالولادة أو عبر التجنّس. يولد الأفراد مواطنين أمريكيين بصفة عامة إذا ولدوا في الولايات المتحدة أو إذا ولدوا في الخارج لأبوين أمريكيين. يمكنك أيضاً الحصول على الجنسية الأمريكية إذا كنت بعمر يقل عن الثامنة عشر وكنت مقيماً بصفة قانونية دائمة عندما تم تجنيس أحد والديك أو كليهما، أو بعد تبنيك من قبل والد أمريكي.
The 17th Amendment says that the people can directly vote for U.S. senators. this amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution on April 8, 1913. Before 1913, state governments chose the senators. People did not like this. They wanted to vote for senators themselves. They thought the old way was unfair and could lead to corruption."
60-Second Civics, Episode 5299: January 29, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 5049: January 9, 2023)
What is birthright citizenship and how might American citizenship change in the future? Professor Henry L. Chambers Jr. of the University of Richmond School of Law explains the concept of birthright citizenship and discusses way that the concept of citizenship might change over time.
Civil Discourse: An American Legacy is funded under the 2022 Leonore Annenberg Civic Mission of the Nation Initiative, sponsored by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. LAIC is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
60-Second Civics, Episode 5346, April 4, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4986, September 29, 2023)
What types of rights are associated with citizenship? Professor Henry L. Chambers Jr. of the University of Richmond School of Law explains some useful ways to think about citizenship, including how the rights of citizens have changed over the years.
Civil Discourse: An American Legacy is funded under the 2022 Leonore Annenberg Civic Mission of the Nation Initiative, sponsored by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. LAIC is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
60-Second Civics, Episode 5345, April 3, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4985, September 28, 2023)
How did the 14th Amendment transform citizenship in America? Professor Henry L. Chambers Jr. of the University of Richmond School of Law explains the impact of the 14th Amendment on citizenship and its particular effect on formerly enslaved Americans who were born in the United States.
Civil Discourse: An American Legacy is funded under the 2022 Leonore Annenberg Civic Mission of the Nation Initiative, sponsored by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. LAIC is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
60-Second Civics: Episode 4984, September 27, 2023
What was citizenship in America before the Civil War? Professor Henry L. Chambers Jr. of the University of Richmond School of Law explains the uncertain status of citizenship before the Civil War, particularly for Black Americans.
Civil Discourse: An American Legacy is funded under the 2022 Leonore Annenberg Civic Mission of the Nation Initiative, sponsored by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. LAIC is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
60-Second Civics, Episode 5343, April 1, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4983, September 26, 2023)
What was citizenship at the founding of our country? Professor Henry L. Chambers Jr. of the University of Richmond School of Law explains how citizenship was initially decided by each individual state, and how this presented a challenge as the United States gained independence and evolved into a more mature republic.
Civil Discourse: An American Legacy is funded under the 2022 Leonore Annenberg Civic Mission of the Nation Initiative, sponsored by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. LAIC is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
60-Second Civics, Episode 5342, March 31, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4982, September 25, 2023)
Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics
(AI summary) At the beginning of the United States, citizenship was not very clear. Each of the 13 states had its own rules for who was a citizen. When the states joined together, U.S. citizenship was a mix of all these state citizenships. The Constitution showed that citizenship was important, but it did not fully explain what it meant. For example, only people born in the U.S. or citizens at that time could become president.
This animation is part of our series, "There's a Poem for That," which features animated interpretations of poems both old and new that give language to some of life's biggest feelings. Check out the full series here: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTheresAPoemForThat
Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta started the United Farm Workers union, because farm workers did not have
"the legal right to organize and to vote for collective bargaining. They didn't have the right to have clean drinking water, access to portable toilets, lunch breaks, or short rest breaks during workdays. And they were not entitled to the minimum wage or unemployment insurance."
Cesar Chavez Day resources from California Department of Education
Explore the debate around the unique legal status of American Samoa, a U.S. territory whose residents are not U.S. citizens, and as a result, retain Indigenous ownership over their land. Two American Samoans share their opposing viewpoints: a traditional chief who wants to maintain the status quo and a U.S. Marine veteran who believes in the right to citizenship for his people. Both perspectives bring forward questions about American Samoans’ relationship to land, family, and identity.
'HOMEGROWN: A Part Of/Apart From' is a collection of short films from the U.S. territories and Hawaiʻi exploring issues of cultural identity, sovereignty, and agency, as residents and members of the diaspora grapple with what it means to be “a part of and apart from” the mainland U.S.
Generated with MS Image Designer AI· March 27, 2025 at 11:49 PM
AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can enhance civic and citizenship education for adult learners, specifically for the U.S. naturalization process. For more info, see this presentation. Below are key points. Happy National AI Literacy Day!
1. AI and Digital Literacy in Civics Education
AI tools help create level-appropriate materials for citizenship and civics courses.
Emphasis on **Critical Democratic Literacy**, which includes:
Teaching digital skills: creating strong passwords, safe data sharing, using email.
Using AI for Level-Appropriate Materials
AI-generated adaptations of the USCIS Civics Textbook (One Nation, One People) at different English levels.
AI-Assisted N-400 Interview Practice
Mobile AI apps simulate USCIS interviews with realistic questioning sequences.
3. AI Tools for Civic Engagement and Instruction
AI for Question Generation
Tools like Magic School generate quizzes from YouTube videos.
AI-Driven Research Projects**
Claude 3.0 App for learning about government services and civic participation.
AI Historical Simulations
Humy.AI enables students to “interview” historical figures like Harriet Tubman, creating deeper personal connections to history.
4. AI and Media Literacy
AI’s Role in Media Analysis
AI-powered comparison of articles for bias and reliability.
Fun tools like Simulator and IFakeTextMessage.com simulate social media misinformation scenarios.
Fun tools like Claude, Fodey, MS Designer can simulate traditionl media misinformation scenarios.
AI Hallucination & Information Verification**
AI-generated misinformation awareness (e.g., USCIS case processing times).
5. AI for Advocacy and Data-Driven Decision Making
Use USCIS LPR Eligible to Naturalize and Census data for civic participation projects.
Use demographics tools like California Immigrant Data Portal and USC Dornsife’s Literacy Maps to target services and requests for funding.
Final Reflections
Students: How does AI impact trust in online information and civic participation?
Educators: How does AI reshape civic education and teaching strategies?
This presentation highlights AI’s transformative role in citizenship education, enhancing learning through personalized, interactive, and data-driven approaches.
Europeans were surprised that Native American women had so much power and influence, particularly within the Haudenosaunee nations. In those nations, women held political power within the tribes, appointing and removing chiefs at their discretion.
60-Second Civics, Episode 5326, March 10, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4276: March 6, 2021)
On the first day of Donald Trump's second term as president, he signed an order about a long-standing U.S. rule: most people born in the country are citizens. Trump's order said this rule, based on the 14th Amendment, should no longer apply to children of people who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily. Federal judges quickly blocked the order, but the final decision will likely be made by the Supreme Court.
The U.S. is one of many countries, mostly in the Western Hemisphere, that offers birthright citizenship. This is less common in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The U.S. stands out because it’s the largest country with this rule, with hundreds of thousands of babies born each year to noncitizen parents.
Birthright citizenship started after the Civil War to give citizenship to formerly enslaved Black people. Over time, this law also applied to children of immigrant parents. While today’s debate may seem new, the U.S. has argued about birthright citizenship before.
00:00 A rule
2:23 Jus soli
3:13 Dred Scott
4:46 The 14th Amendment
8:02 Wong Kim Ark
10:30 Another look at the 14th Amendment
Sources and further reading:
Garrett Epps’s law review article about the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment has everything you’ll ever need to know about the history of birthright citizenship in the US article
The Library of Congress has a great map showing which countries of the world offer unconditional birthright citizenship like the US map
The 1861 map of the US we use a few times in the piece is itself a strikingly rich document that I could stare at forever 1861 map
Some other original documents we use in the piece:
Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship EO 14106
The Ipsos poll containing the question about support for ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants: IPSOS Survey
The Dred Scott decision article
President Andrew Johnson’s letter vetoing the 1866 Civil Rights Act article
Congress’s debates over the 14th Amendment (we quoted from page 498) debate
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act article
The Wong Kim Ark decision article
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
Practice Citizenship Interviews with Farsi-Speaking Americans
uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview Quiz for Presidents’ Week 2017: Hushang Ansary (Iran) (pdf)
A citizenship multiple-choice quiz based on the N-400 Application for Naturalization plus 10 civics questions.
uscitizenpod: 2016 Spring Citizenship Interview with Ali Akbari (Iran/Malaysia) (mp3)
A practice citizenship interview recorded in honor of Persian New Year (2016)
uscitizenpod: A Basic Citizenship Interview with Pari Akibari (Esfahan, Iran) (mp3) (video)
A practice citizenship interview recorded in 2007. Note: N-400 Part 10 is now N-400 Part 12 and the Civics questions are obsolete (ex: George W Bush was the current president in 2007).
uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan) (mp3) (video)
A short citizenship interview with "examiner" with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan), the Citizenship and GED/HiSET teacher from New Haven Adult School. After the interview, Teacher Osman reflects on being bi-lingual and bi-cultural in America.
uscitizenpod: New US Citizen Sardar Habibi's report-back in Farsi video
Milpitas Adult School student, Sardar Habibi (formerly of Afghanistan) talks about his US Citizenship Interview on Thursday, March 7, 2011. (Also in English)
More ESL/Civics Resources in English and Farsi
ACLU: Immigrants' Rights: What To Do If Stopped (IN FARSI) (video)
ACLU: What To Do When Faced With Anti-Muslim Discrimination (in Farsi) (video) CA DMV: California Driver Handbook (pdf) CLINIC: 100 Civics Questions in Farsi (pdf)
ESL Library: Nauruz (Norooz) Festival (article)
In this lesson, students read about the Persian New Year's festival (New Day). They learn about the ceremonial table, and create their own in small groups. Students also learn idioms related to nature. Note: A number of different English spellings are used for this holiday. The UN recognizes March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz
John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm): Naturalization for Iranians (Farsi/Persian) سیتیزنشیپ وتابعیت امریکا برای ایرانیان (video)
More Citizenship and Immigration videos in English and Farsi at John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm) (YouTube channel)
K-vonComedy: Famous Comedian Explains PERSIAN NEW YEAR Perfectly (K-von on Nowruz) (video)
Want to learn about a new holiday? Persian New Year is in March. K-von breaks it down in this video w/ fun animation. Check out K-von on YouTube (especially his Cleaning for Nowruz videos and his trailer for the Nowruz movie) and his TEDx Talk.
LastLY: Nowruz 2021: Date, Significance, Celebrations Associated With The Persian New Year Or Navroze video Nowruz, also called Navriz, Navroz, Novruz, Nooruz, Nevruz & Nauryz, is a Persian word where 'Now' means 'new' and 'Ruz' means ‘day’. Hence, Nowruz signifies a new day. Nowruz is the Iranian New Year celebrated by the ethnic Iranian people. In India, the Parsi community celebrate Nowruz with full fervour. This year, it falls on Saturday, March 20. Nowruz holds great significance in the Iranian community. It is marked as the day King Jamshid was crowned as the King of Persia. People purchase new clothes and visit family and friends on this day. Nowruz is usually celebrated in the evening by performing certain rituals such as jumping over bonfires and lighting firecrackers. The celebrations also include family coming around the Haft sin table awaiting the moment of March equinox. Haft seen, also called Haft-seen (Persian For “Seven S’s”), is an arrangement of seven foods whose name start with 's' in Persian.
MedicinePlus: Health Information in Farsi (فارسی) (web page)
PARS Equality Center
Pprovides free or low-cost legal immigration services to qualified individuals. We provide community members with integration support by offering immigration education, representation and advocacy.
Quartz: Nowruz: How millions celebrate the Persian New Year (video)
During Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebration, each vibrant item on the haftseen table has its own symbolic meaning.
SSA: Social Security Resources in Farsi (web page)
TEDx Talks: Iran from a Different Lens | Maryam Ghadiri | TEDxPurdueU (video)
When only one side of a story is told, the truth can be blurred or completely disjointed. When Maryam arrived in the U.S. she encountered stereotypes and predisposed opinions causing her to hide her own identity as Iranian. She now describes how she rekindled the pride she once had for her motherland, Iran, through curating a photo exhibit that celebrates Iran's rich culture, diversity and beauty.
USIP: Iran Primer: Nowruz: Traditions for Persian New Year (article)
Ironically, the most widely celebrated holiday in the Islamic Republic of Iran long predates the official religion. Nowruz, literally “New Day” in Farsi, marks the first day of spring and the Persian New Year. The holiday, which falls on March 20 this year, is widely celebrated across the Middle East and Central Asia. VOANews: New in Farsi (web page)
News in Farsi from the Voice of America
VOANews: Iranian-Americans Nurture New Generations After Revolution (2019) (article)
Sharifan and others from her generation seek to build a connection to their Iranian heritage and culture among their American children and grandchildren.
VOANews: Iranians Prepare For Traditional New Year Celebrations (video)
Iranians around the world are preparing to celebrate their traditional new year, Nowruz, which falls on Thursday. The ancient tradition is also celebrated by Kurds and marks the arrival of spring. Zlatica Hoke reports.
VOANews: Iraq Norwuz (video) It's time for celebration in Iraq. Men and women rang in a new year, as millions of Kurdish people celebrated Nowruz. The celebration falls on the first day of spring, symbolizing the passing of the dark season and the arrival of the season of light. VOANews: Kurds Celebrate 'Nawroz' - New Years (video) Kurdish residents of the northern Syrian city of Kobani are marking the New Year festival Nawroz. Celebrations were held along the border with Turkey, where many of Kobani's citizens fled when the city came under attack by Islamic State militants. Video by VOA Kurdish service reporter Mahmoud Bali.
Northern California's 'Little Kabul' a Cultural Hub to One of America's Largest Afghan Communities video
Alameda County in California, known as a retreat for hippies four decades ago, has become home to one of the largest Afghan American communities in America. VOA's Saba Shah Khan takes us to one area known as "Little Kabul," now a cultural hub for the Bay Area's rapidly growing Afghan American population.
VOA Learning English: Once a US Soldier, Iranian Immigrant Now Serves Veterans (article, mp3, video)
Assal Ravandi knows service. First, as a soldier in the United States Army in Afghanistan. Now, as a soldier for soldiers at the organization she founded: Academy of United States Veterans. Read, listen to, and watch more great stories from VOA Learning English series: People in America
VOA Learning English: Mahsa, English Teacher in Iran, Talks About Spending Nowruz With Family (video of Skype interview)
Avi Arditti from VOA Learning English and Mehrnaz Sami from VOA's Persian Service (and an English teacher) talk to a Skype caller about the Persian New Year (2013)
VOA Learning Engish: Mohsen, Engineering Student in Iran, Talks About Nowruz (video of Skype interview)
Avi Arditti from VOA Learning English and Mehrnaz Sami from VOA's Persian Service (and an English teacher) talk to a Skype caller about the Persian New Year
VOA Learning English: Vernal Equinox: The Arrival of Spring (article)
An overview of many holidays associated with the Vernal Equinox (the Arrival of Spring) including Nowruz. Vox: Persian New Year, or Nowruz, explained for non-Persians (article)
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