Eighth Graders At Adams School Present Findings On Immigration, Get Visit From Senator

“The students here have done a marvelous research job and produced some very enlightening presentations on the immigration of Irish, Germans, and other ethnic groups coming to the United States,” Meyer said. “I was happy to see the hard work that went into these presentations, and to speak with the students about modern immigration issues being discussed in Hartford and across the country. Those state issues have included in-state tuition rates for the children of undocumented immigrants and making drivers licenses available for those immigrants.”

Students organized themselves in groups and chose different immigrant groups to study. Their presentations highlighted why the immigrants left their home country, why they moved to the United States, and how well they were able to adapt to life in a new home. One group focused on Irish immigration between 1820 and 1860. They discussed the waves of Irish who came to America to escape the Great Famine and religious persecution at the hands of the English. The students detailed this period of mass immigration and spoke on the obstacles and successes that the Irish found in America.

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Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSOXpkxvKfI&feature=youtu.be