IC: What immigrants have done for our country physically
QOAC: Struggles of immigrants
James Madison once said, “America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity”. Two essays that highlight that very well are “Quilt Of A Country” by Anna Quindlen and “The Immigrant Contribution” by John F. Kennedy. Both writings talk about the importance of immigration when it comes to the growth and health of our United States. But, despite their similar themes, Quindlen and Kennedy offer different strategies of highlighting the struggles that immigrants have endured whilst shaping our country.
As previously stated, both essays have undoubtedly similar subject matter. Quindlen and Kennedy both talk about how an American identity is virtually impossible to define due to the fact that America has a foundation composed of immigrants. The idea that
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In Kennedy’s essay, he uses many facts and proven claims to support his thesis. Did you know that around 42 million people came to the U.S. after the Declaration of Independence was signed (Kennedy 24)? Kennedy uses that evidence coupled with the fact that two men (Alexander Hamilton and Albert Gallatin) who signed the declaration were immigrants to display that even the people who made our country an independent nation weren’t native (Kennedy 24). He also lists dozens of names of historical figures that helped shape our American culture. Quindlen, on the other hand, uses feelings and examples of hardships to try to connect with the reader, rather than using cold hard facts. “Children learn in social-studies class and in the news of lynching blacks, the denial of rights to women, and the murders of gay men” she declares. Quindlen uses the ideas of prejudice and disrespect to immigrants as a way connect on an emotional level. Her true message is that we should not just tolerate, but aid one another (Quindlen