A Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement

Resolution
INCLUDING THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONS HIGH SCHOOL UNITED STATES HISTORY CURRICULUM
WHEREAS, immigrants bring their rich educational and work experiences that strengthen and improve
Americas economy; and
WHEREAS, the average high school student lacks understanding of the rich culture and history of the many
immigrants that reside in California; and
WHEREAS, the 11th grade history curriculum excludes immigrants extensive relationships with science,
social justice, politics, and economic development within the United States, including but not limited to the
prominent historical events listed below; and
WHEREAS, segregation against many races, including a multitude of Asian groups racially labeled as
Mongoloid, was prevalent throughout the Civil War era; and
WHEREAS, the California Gold Rush sparked a massive influx of Chinese immigrants who, through labor
contributions for projects like gold mining and the transcontinental railroad, disproportionately influenced and
developed Americas industrial economy, and continue to do so as over twenty percent of global patents are
introduced by immigrants to the United States; and
WHEREAS, epitomized in the cases of People v. Hall (1865), Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886) and 1913 alien land
laws, many immigrants have been and continue to be deprived of their civil rights, freedoms, and national
values intrinsic to the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Asian Pacific Islander (API) immigrants became such a significant part of American society that
Angel Island had to be opened as an immigration facility that provided comparably poor treatment; and
WHEREAS, the plight and contributions of Filipinos to the labor movement in the creation of the powerful
United Farm Workers union that put the national spotlight on California labor is left out of high school
curriculum; and
WHEREAS, the fact that over twenty percent of all Medals of Honor were presented to immigrants exemplifies
their significance and sacrifice to Americas defense; and
WHEREAS, little of the immigrant contributions listed above appear within the 11th grade US History
curriculum; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, 27.2 percent of California was made up of immigrants; and
WHEREAS, there were nearly 5,300,000 Asians of immigrant descent living in the US in 2012; and
WHEREAS, there is a subsequent need to expand the groups of people studied; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the California Department of Education (CDoE) should expand the current 11th grade
history curriculum to include the stories and contributions of immigrants in the United States of America
RESOLVED, That the CDoE should take into account the historical events mentioned above
RESOLVED, That the CDoE should establish a study committee to discover necessary and significant
contributions of immigrants
RESOLVED, That the CDoE should review the suggested high school reading list attached to this resolution,
RESOLVED, That the CDoE should enhance the 11th grade United States History curriculum to encompass all
significant immigrant contributions so that it may provide a truer image of our nations development for our
posterity.