In his introduction to Immigrants--A Library of Congress Book (1995),
James Billington, Librarian of Congress, states: "Our type of democracy
has depended upon and grown with knowledge gained through books and all
the other various records of human memory and imagination. By their very
nature, these records foster freedom and dignity. They provide keys to
the dynamism of our past and perhaps to our national competitiveness in
the future. They link the record of yesterday with the possibilities of
tomorrow."
The five documents we have studied record some aspects
of the lives of the early twentieth-century Chinese immigrants in New
York City. These archival and historical materials document the activities
and strategies of these Chinese newcomers in their struggle against the
prohibitive effects of the federal government's exclusion policies. They
also record the effort and wisdom of this ethnic group in striving for
their own rights.
Write an essay to discuss these questions:
-
What do you think of Billington's statement after studying the five
documents?
-
Can your experience with the documents support Billington's argument?
-
In which sense do these records provide keys to the dynamism of
our past and to our national competitiveness in the future?
Refer to all the documents. Look for evidence to show the "dynamism
of our past." Find the things that can link our past to our present and
future. Formulate your own argument before you start writing the answer.
In your first paragraph, you should clearly state your
thesis or opinion. Your thesis should be supported by specific relevant
evidence found in the given documents. You should carefully proofread
to correct errors.
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