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A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History
Reshaping the Nation and the Emergence of Modern America: 1877 to 1930s Back to History Unit

(a) explaining the relationship between territorial expansion, westward movement of the population, new immigration, growth of cities, and the admission of new states to the Union;


Ellis Island
Ellis Island Foundation

Description: The Ellis Island Foundation website allows visitors to search passenger arrival records. Ellis Island, the major point of arrival for European immigrants, processed millions of immigrants.



Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions
  • Display a picture from the gallery of an immigration check-in. Ask students to describe what they see and what might be happening.
  • Have students describe their family history. Where did they come from, and how do they know?
  • What is the difference between immigration and emigration? How have the two had an effect on America throughout history and today?
Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson
  • Using a picture from the gallery, imagine you are one of the people pictured. Write a journal entry from their perspective. What are your hopes and dreams? What scares you about this new world? What happens when you arrive to Ellis Island?
  • Students can use the website or outside resources to research their own ancestry or someone who is famous.
  • Divide students into groups. Each group can read the experience of descendants researching their backgrounds. After students present their information, the class can discuss how the stories are the same or different. What were the reasons for coming to America? Why might people of different nationalities have had different experiences?

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