Anne Frank: Citizenship Laws

Summary

Students will discuss the value of citizenship.

Background for Teachers

It is important for students to understand citizenship laws so that they understand that Nazi Germany took away the citizenship of the Jews as well as many other groups. In American History, citizenship has also been taken from several groups at different times in history.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Define citizenship. Discuss Constitutional Amendments dealing with citizenship. Discuss breaches of citizenship laws in American history.

Instructional Procedures

See preface material from 'Anne Frank in the World, 1929 - 1945 Teacher Workbook.'

Have students write an essay about citizenship.

Questions to be answered in the essay:

1. What does it mean to be a citizen of a country?
2. How does one become a citizen of a country?
3. What is the difference between a citizen and a noncitizen? Have students compare and contrast the 15th and 19th amendments to the US Constitution dealing with voting rights. Questions dealing with voting rights:
   1. Who was given the right to vote in each amendment?
   2. What actions were taken to keep these individuals from voting?
   3. Which amendment or amendments helped put a stop to some of these actions?
   4. How do voting rights relate to citizenship?

Have students discuss why Native-Americans were not considered citizens? Have students research Jim Crow laws and write an essay explaining the 14th Amendment and how the Jim Crow laws contradicted the 14th Amendment. Have students study the interment of the Japanese-Americans during World War II and compare their treatment with that of the Jews and other groups in Nazi Germany, who were interred and later exterminated. How did the United States justify the Japanese-Americans interment under the Constitution?