During those five years, Mr. Kokovinis worked in the coal mines at Castle Rock and saved his money. Explain the number of immigrants coming to the United States has risen and fallen depending on the level of economic activity in the United States. Explain when the economy was growing, enthusiastic letters home from immigrants urged relatives to come to America. In bad times, letters home would warn relatives not to come. Explain some of the letters described economic incentives for the immigrants.
Economic incentives are things which encourage people to behave in particular ways.
For example, if a product we want to buy is on sale at a certain store, the lower price is an economic incentive for people to shop at that store. The economic incentives in the letters encouraged relatives to emigrate. For a week, students should collect newspaper articles and news-magazine articles about current immigration to the United States. As students share their articles orally, the rest of the class should listen for information about the economic incentives for immigration. List the incentives on poster board, adding to the list as new ideas are presented.