Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Intolerance
The 1920s was a time of intolerance and a return to nativism, a claim to return to American values, defined as those held by white, western European descendents. Read about the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, restriction on immigration,...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Women in the Gilded Age
The roles available to women increased during the urbanization of America. Find out how the women's sphere of the home expanded into the community. See what new jobs were availabe to single, middle-class women, and read about how...
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Us: A Society in Transition
The 1980s were a time of tremendous change in the US. Computer technology, an increase in service-sector jobs, changing population patterns, homosexuality, AIDS, and changing immigration patterns were just some of the changes Americans...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Us Immigration Laws
Provides a timeline, facts, and information about the history of US Immigration Laws with a description of the dates and the purpose of each of the US Immigration laws.
Immigration and Ethnic History Society
Iehs: Jessica Lee, Did Immigrants Cheer a National Tragedy? Rumors Become Policy
This article focuses on immigrants and their reactions to national tragedy such as the assassination of President McKinley in 1901 and the rumored reaction of immigrants in New Jersey after the 9/11 attack. The point is that rumors can...
Immigration and Ethnic History Society
Iehs: S. Deborah Kang, Ins on the Line: Making Immigration Law on the Us Mexico
This article focuses on the history of the immigration on the US-Mexico border. The US-Mexico border has been and continues to be both open and closed as a matter of design. For much of the twentieth century, the Immigration and...
University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts: History of Migration and Immigration Laws in the Us
Provides a brief history of the migration and immigration laws starting in 1790, with brief descriptions of each law. Includes court decisions.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Whose Land Is This? [Pdf]
A lesson plan, with printable activity sheets, from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US." Designed to help learners examine the anti-immigrant sentiment that led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and...
A&E Television
History.com: The Mariel Boatlift: How Cold War Politics Drove Thousands of Cubans to Florida in 1980
After Fidel Castro loosened emigration policies, some 125,000 Cubans landed on U.S. shores over a span of five months. The Mariel Boatlift of 1980 was a mass emigration of Cubans to the United States. The exodus was driven by a stagnant...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Alien and Sedition Acts
A great description of the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798. See how the Federalists tried to hang on to power by restricting voting privileges and infringing on free speech and freedom of the press.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Contesting Futures: America in 1960s: Lyndon Johnson and Great Society
Read about the reforms and legislation undertaken through Lyndon B. Johnson's concept of the Great Society. These included economic and educational reforms, consumer protection, changes to immigration laws, and the Voting Rights Act of...
Immigration and Ethnic History Society
Iehs: Mark Overmyer Velazquez, "From Repatriation to Deportation Nation"
This article focuses on the history of the relationship between the US and Mexico regarding immigration. In the 1930s, the U.S. government forced hundreds of thousands of ethnic Mexicans, including some U.S. citizens, back across the...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Welcome to All?
This lesson is designed to be taught after an introduction to immigration history or as a culminating activity. This is a hands-on, technology-based lesson that relates a student's individual immigration history to the boom of...
Bowling Green State University
United States History: Industrialization, Urbanization, and Immigration
These are study notes for key points when learning about the industrialization of America during the Gilded Age. Looks at causes and consequences of the First and Second Industrial Revolutions, the impact of rapid urbanization, and the...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: A New African American Culture
All immigrants to America bring a part of their homeland with them. The same was true of slaves. See how vocabulary, arts, and music were knit into American culture.
Immigration and Ethnic History Society
Iehs: Carly Goodman, "Debating Diversity: The Diversity Visa Lottery"
This article focuses on the history of the Irish immigrants in the 80s and 90s who fought for ways to enter the US legally, the diversity in America, and the impact of the election of President Trump.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Old Values vs. New Values
An overview of the clash between the old way of life of the Victorian Age and the new, the Jazz Age.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Mining Boom
The allure of getting rich quick by finding gold or silver was just a dream for most prospectors. Read about the gold and silver rushes that usually ended up enriching the mining industry, not the miner. Find out about the make-up of the...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Underside of Urban Life
Read about the plight of the urban poor in the rapidly growing cities. In addition to the modern skyscrapers, the cities also had tenement housing where the poor lived. Find a description of that housing and the problems this housing bred.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Gold in California
The gold rush in California accelerated the western migration of thousands of young American men, who streamed into California to find riches. See who else arrived in California and find out what they did. In addition, there is a map...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Rise of American Industry
The Industrial Revolution came to America, smuggled in by Samuel Slater, who brought plans for a cotton-spinning mill. See how the growth of industry led to the growth of corporations, the growth of the nation geographically, and the...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Reaching to Asia
Read about American entrance into the spheres of influence in Asia beginning as early as Commadore Perry and his opening of Japan. Find out about American policy in China, Theodore Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize, and U.S. relations with...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Ellis Island
The official website for Ellis Island provides information and photos on the history and culture as well as news about the Island. Site includes information for teachers, especially in regard to planning a class trip. Also included are...
Immigration and Ethnic History Society
Iehs: Adam Mendelsohn, "No Business Like the Clothing Business: The Rag Race"
This article focuses on why the Jews who migrated to the US after WWII became more prosperous than those who settled in England. It discusses many factors, including the clothing industry and timing.