A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Chinese Exclusion Library of Congress, American Memory This site from the Library of Congress details the Chinese presence in California, an immigrant society different from that of the eastern United States. It contains brief historical information as well as primary documents, including periodicals and photographs. Highlight the main points of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Have students write down reactions to the act. Students should take on the persona of a Chinese immigrant already living in America. Have them write a letter to a family member still in Asia who wants to immigrate to the United States. Explain the situation with the act and how you feel. Another option would be for students to write a letter to a congressman. Divide the class into groups and assign one of the topics from the topical overview for students to read. Then have students teach the class what they learned about their topic. Using the pictures from each topic conduct a visual discovery having students discuss what they see, and how it relates to the Chinese presence in America.

Chinese Exclusion
Library of Congress: The Chinese in California

Description: This site from the Library of Congress details the Chinese presence in California, an immigrant society different from that of the eastern United States. It contains brief historical information as well as primary documents, including periodicals and photographs.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions

Highlight the main points of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Have students write down reactions to the act.
Students should take on the persona of a Chinese immigrant already living in America. Have them write a letter to a family member still in Asia who wants to immigrate to the United States. Explain the situation with the act and how you feel. Another option would be for students to write a letter to a congressman.

Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Divide the class into groups and assign one of the topics from the topical overview for students to read. Then have students teach the class what they learned about their topic.
Using the pictures from each topic conduct a visual discovery having students discuss what they see, and how it relates to the Chinese presence in America.