Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Msu Libraries: Digital Collections: Asian America
A collection of primary source documents and books that detail the racial discrimination Chinese and Japanese immigrants faced in the U.S. during America's involvement in the Second World War. One report from 1877 looks at Chinese...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: The Chinese Experience: Chinese Exclusion
This lesson plan is from a larger unit examining the Chinese immigrant experience in America in the 19th century. Students will examine actions that were taken to discriminate against the Chinese and exclude them from American society.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Immigrant Women and the American Experience
Explore the ways that immigrant women have transformed America socially, politically, and economically.
Harvard University
Open Collections Program: Immigration to the United States, 1789 1930: Timeline
A broad look at immigration policy, its changes, and the numbers of immigrants arriving in the United States from its beginnings until 1940. Included are hyperlinks to primary sources related to the topic in the Harvard University Library.
Library of Congress
Loc: Immigration
A content-rich site and Library of Congress "Featured Presentation" that looks at the immigration experiences of Americans from many backgrounds and countries. Includes lesson suggestions and resources, online immigration vocabulary...
Other
An Exploration of Historic Prejudice: The Chinese
The Chinese began coming to British Columbia in the mid-1800's. They suffered terrible abuse during their voyages to get there and much discrimination afterwards, often forced to work in dangerous conditions. Many of them sought gold...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Becoming American: The Chinese Experience (Educator's Guide)
A 48-page guide designed for teachers who are using "Becoming American," a PBS series on Chinese immigration to the United States in their classrooms. The guide examines the historical events and significance of Chinese migration to...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Chinese Facts for Atlantic Papers
From the Museum of San Francisco, this is an article that appeared in print in 1874. Shows image of political cartoon. Links to lots more articles concerning the Chinese immigrant.
Other
Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation
The Angel Island Foundation provides a history of the Immigration Station that was in operation from 1910 to 1940. Find information on the journey across the Pacific and conditions upon arriving at the Station.
Other
Brown Quarterly: The Chinese and the Transcontinental Railroad [Pdf]
From The Brown Quaterly (1997) an article describing the role of the Chinese immigrant in building the railroad. Includes images of the Chinese railroad workers. (PDF - scroll down to page 7)
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Coming to America: The Era of Mass Immigration
From 1865 to 1914, up to 25 million people immigrated to the United States. This tutorial examines their reasons for coming, where they came from, the Ellis Island processing center, and how they adapted to their new country. The...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Chinese Experience in 19th Century: Exclusion: Chinese Perspectives
This lesson uses primary sources to take a look at the Chinese perspective on the issue of the Exclusion Act and the effects of prejudice and discrimination on the Chinese population in the United States in the late 19th century.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr History Museum: Chinese Laborers and Construction of the Central Pacific
An article from the Utah Quarterly, Vol. 37, No. 1, by George Kraus, recounts the decision to use Chinese laborers in building the Central Pacific Railroad. Many primary source documents included as well as supplemental direct quotes in...
Stanford University
Stanford Magazine: Angel Island: Breaking the Silence
This article is about Katherine Toy, who is in charge of restoring the barracks at Angel Island. This story also discusses the plight of Chinese immigrants once they reach American shores and their poetry written on the walls of the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
A copy of the original Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is available on this site. You can also link to larger images, a typed transcript, and a downloadable .PDF file. There is also a concise and informative history and background on the...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: The Chinese Question From a Chinese Standpoint, 1873
Lesson on how the Chinese in California confronted anti-Chinese sentiment and discrimination in the late 1800s. Comprehensive activity with primary source materials.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: Immigration and Migration
[Free Registration/Login Required] A lengthy essay discussing the differing opinions about immigration and the role of immigrants in the United States in the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. Find out about the...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Chinese American Clothes and Heritage
With this collection, visitors can explore the fashions and culture of Chinese Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Other
Wyo History: The Rock Springs Massacre
Read this very detailed description of the Rock Springs Massacre and the circumstances that led up to it. Find out why Chinese immigrants became the focus of hatred and discrimination.
Sacramento Bee
Gold Rush: Chinese Transformed
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses the role of the Chinese immigrants during the gold rush in California and the mark they made on history.
PBS
Kqed: Immigration From China
A concise overview of the history of Chinese immigration to the U.S. including reference to important social and legal issues.
Library of Congress
Loc: Interviews With Today's Immigrants
This site, part of a larger lesson plan about immigration from the Library of Congress, provides interviews that students had with immigrants from around the world.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Immigration Through Angel Island
The sources in this primary set use documents and images to reveal the story of Asian immigration through Angel Island. Includes teaching guide.
Other
State of California: Immigration Station Angel Island
Memories of Angel Island immigration station are sometimes bittersweet as the Station was designed to "Exclude new arrivals." Site provides the interesting history of this immigration station of the West.