In the activities contained within this gallery, students will view video segments, identify and discuss differing viewpoints about immigration and alcohol in the 19th and 20th centuries. They will formulate arguments for debate on how to address the growing concerns over German influence and the prohibition of alcohol.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will:

• Discuss Americans’ concerns over immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and identify how these concerns became linked with the use of alcohol;
• Identify different viewpoints over immigration and alcohol and formulate arguments from different perspectives;
• Analyze and evaluate proposed legislation aimed at limiting the use of alcohol and limiting the German cultural influence on Americans;
• Debate the merits of the proposed prohibition legislation.

About the Author:

Greg Timmons has been a social studies teacher for more than 30 years. He has written lessons for and serves as an educational consultant to various PBS programs including Frontline, the NewsHour, and WashingtonWeek. He resides in Washington state and Montana.