-
1 BCE
Indigenous languages
In North America, before settlers came from various countries, over 300 languages existed and were spoken by indigenous (native) people to the land. -
Period: 512 to 530
Irish Monks in North America
There is a legend that Irish monks may have landed in North America in the 6th century.
https://www.history.com/news/did-an-irish-monk-discover-america -
1000
Leif Erikson and the Vikings
Leif Erikson and the Vikings were in North America, in what is now called Newfoundland, for around 10 years.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15040888 -
1421
Chinese explorers discovered America
There is a possibility that Chinese explorers came to America, but this has not been verified. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=907602
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15040888 -
1492
Columbus - the last explorer to "discover" America
It has long been believed that Christopher Columbus discovered America, but many others came before him. He was the one who was recognized for it and opened up the "New World" to European settlers. -
First Colony in Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was the first colony formed in what is now the United States. It was a British colony and with it came English. -
Period: to
Period of linguistic tolerance and diversity (for the most part)
"In the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States, up until the first World War, linguistic diversity was often accepted and the presence of different languages was frequently encouraged through religion, newspapers in different languages, and in both private and public schools. There were exceptions to this acceptance of language diversity in this early period" however. (Baker, 2010, p. 189) -
United States Constitution Ratified
"Although there is no mention of official language in the US Constitution, there is evidence that large numbers of speakers of one language concentrated in the same geographic location was cause for some concern." (Freeman, 1998, p. 34). Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, "and other colonial leaders were concerned that immigrants from non-democratic countries [...] might not easily embrace the ideals of the newly-formed constitutional democracy." (p. 34) -
The Nationality Act
Immigrants were forced to speak English and be schooled in English -
US entered World War I and linguistic intolerance took hold
Anti-German sentiments were high and the language, and others, began to be seen as a threat -
Recommendation that ALL schools teach in English
"The Americanization Department of the United States Bureau of Education adopted a resolution recommending 'all states to prescribe that all schools, private and public, be conducted in the English language and that instruction in the elementary classes of all schools be in English'" (Baker, 2010, p. 191). -
The National Defense and Education Act
Foreign language education was promoted in response to the Russians' space exploration. -
The Civil Rights Act
"symbolized a less negative attitude to ethnic groups, and possibilities for increased tolerance of ethnic languages, at least at the Federal level" (Baker, 2010, p. 192). -
Bilingual Education Act - Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
To help native Spanish speaking students who were falling through the cracks in schools, this act "authorized the use of federal funds for the education of speakers of languages other than English. It also undermined the English-only legislation still lawful in many states" (Baker, 2010, p. 192). -
Lau versus Nichols
"Outlawed English mainstreaming [...] programs for language minority children and resulted in nationwide 'Lau remedies" (Baker, 2010, p. 192). The remedy was to provide students with help in English through ESOL classes and tutoring and also to offer some (but not much) bilingual education (p. 193).
