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Primary
Michigan State University

Michigan State University: Msu Libraries: Digital Collections: Asian America

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Lesson Plan
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: The Chinese Experience: Chinese Exclusion

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Graphic
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Immigrant Women and the American Experience

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the ways that immigrant women have transformed America socially, politically, and economically.
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Website
Harvard University

Open Collections Program: Immigration to the United States, 1789 1930: Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Immigration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Interactive
Other

An Exploration of Historic Prejudice: The Chinese

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Becoming American: The Chinese Experience (Educator's Guide)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Chinese Facts for Atlantic Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
Other

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
Other

Brown Quarterly: The Chinese and the Transcontinental Railroad [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
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)
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Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Coming to America: The Era of Mass Immigration

For Students 11th
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...
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Lesson Plan
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Chinese Experience in 19th Century: Exclusion: Chinese Perspectives

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum

Cprr History Museum: Chinese Laborers and Construction of the Central Pacific

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Stanford University

Stanford Magazine: Angel Island: Breaking the Silence

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Lesson Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: The Chinese Question From a Chinese Standpoint, 1873

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson on how the Chinese in California confronted anti-Chinese sentiment and discrimination in the late 1800s. Comprehensive activity with primary source materials.
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Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: Immigration and Migration

For Students 9th - 10th
[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...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Chinese American Clothes and Heritage

For Students 9th - 10th
With this collection, visitors can explore the fashions and culture of Chinese Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Website
Other

Wyo History: The Rock Springs Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Chinese Transformed

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses the role of the Chinese immigrants during the gold rush in California and the mark they made on history.
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Article
PBS

Kqed: Immigration From China

For Students 9th - 10th
A concise overview of the history of Chinese immigration to the U.S. including reference to important social and legal issues.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Interviews With Today's Immigrants

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: Immigration Through Angel Island

For Students 9th - 10th
The sources in this primary set use documents and images to reveal the story of Asian immigration through Angel Island. Includes teaching guide.
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Website
Other

State of California: Immigration Station Angel Island

For Students 9th - 10th
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.

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