K20 Learn
American Exclusivity: The Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act—the first race-based immigration restriction—is echoed in today's debates on the topic. Using graphic organizers and structured discussions, historians consider the reasons behind the act and compare the...
Curated OER
Chinese Immigration 1860s-1880s
Eighth graders consider the plight of Chinese immigrants to America. In this immigration lesson plan, 8th graders analyze political cartoons from the late 1800's that exemplify American public opinion regarding Chinese immigrants. The...
DocsTeach
Chinese Exclusion Broadside Analysis
Racism against Asian American goes deep in American history. Using a broadside in favor of the Chinese Exclusion Act, class members examine clues—with key portions of the document blacked out—to better understand the roots of anti-Asian...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Volume 2 - A History of the United States: Modern Times—Late 1800s to the 2000s
The second volume of the Core Knowledge History of the United States ebook begins by asking young scholars to consider the impact immigration, industrialization, and urbanization had on the United States in the late 1800s. The text ends...
Curated OER
Chinese Oregonians
Eleventh graders examine the reactions of Oregon natives regarding Chinese immigrants in late 1800's. In this Oregon history instructional activity, 11th graders visit the Portland Classican Chinese Garden and consider its impact for...
Curated OER
Becoming American: Immigration Experiences
Eleventh graders explore the process of becoming American. In this US History instructional activity, 11th graders examine the challenges that immigrants face in the United States. Students create a mini phrase book that would help...
Curated OER
Create a Walking Tour of San Francisco's Chinatown
Take a tour of Chinatown as it was in the 1800's. Analyzing primary source images and documents, learners will gain a better understanding of the myths and misconceptions of Chinese immigrants during the 1800's. They create a pamphlet to...
Curated OER
Immigrants East and West
Learners investigate the personal, political and economic events that drove people to leave their home countries. They research Chinese migrations in the 1800s and the English migrations in the 1600s. They create an identity based on...
Curated OER
Immigration in the Late 1800's
Seventh graders explore the progression of immigration patterns in the United States. They examine how immigrants perceived and adapted to the United States culture. Students discuss how immigrants were able to perserve their culture in...
Curated OER
American Growth and Expansion in the late 1800s
Eleventh graders examine a picture of John Gast's, American Progress to determine what they know about American growth between 1877- 1900. By working through thirteen center or folder activities, they study the economics,...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Xenophobia
In this historical events activity, students analyze an anti-immigration political cartoon and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Narrative Prompt
Reading about history is nothing like experiencing it firsthand. Encourage your eighth graders to do the next best thing with a historical narrative prompt, in which they describe the experience of a first-time traveler on the...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Affidavit and Flyers: Chinese Boycott Case
A lesson plan that includes a history of Chinese labor in America and pertinent historical documents and analysis sheets about the Chinese Boycott Case.
California Digital Library
Loc: The Chinese in California 1850 1925
Excellent overview of the Chinese experience in California complete with historical photos and primary documents. Site provides information on San Francisco's Chinatown, the anti-Chinese Movement, and Chinese laborers.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Immigration: Framing Soo Hoo Lem Kong
[Free Registration/Login Required] This resource presents a primary lesson plan that looks at primary sources to learn about Chinese immigration to California.
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...
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.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Anti Chinese Movement of the 1800s
Analyze primary sources in the media gallery and create an illustrated poem to learn how and why Chinese Americans were seen as threats to American society during the 1800s. This Anti-Chinese movement was one of the earlier incidents of...