ProCon
Illegal Immigration
Should immigrants who illegally reside in the United States be eligible for citizenship? With information about undocumented immigrant population estimates, sanctuary cities, and unaccompanied immigrant children, pupils consider the pros...
ProCon
Sanctuary Cities
Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding, or do they defy federal laws? That is precisely the question scholars attempt to answer as they prepare for a class discussion or debate. After reading some brief background information,...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Educating Non-Citizens
Students distinguish between the privileges of being a U.S. Citizen and privileges that are forfeited if not a U.S. Citizen. For this history lesson, students analyze the rights of people in a democratic society through research,...
ProCon
Gay Marriage
The first legal gay marriage in the United States occurred in Massachusetts in 2004. Since then, countless others have tied the knot. Scholars decide whether gay marriage should be legal by reading a history of the issue, analyzing the...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Freedom of Movement
Class members examine human migration. For this population lesson, they read an article entitled, "Freedom of Movement" and respond to discussion questions about the article related to guest worker programs.
Museum of Tolerance
Cultural Research Activity
Class members explore cultural diversity through a variety of texts that showcase the importance of traditions. Then, they interview their family members to research their own cultural background and write their findings on quilt...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: "Gypsies" in the United States
This site has many photos from the Carlos de Wendler-Funaro Gypsy Research Collection. The site is an introduction to several groups of people from other countries who refer to themselves as "gypsies" in English. Each group, which has a...
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Ushmm: Holocaust Encyclopedia: The United States and the Holocaust
Article about the coverage and response that news of the Holocaust received at various times throughout World War II.
Other
Pine Tree Legal Assistance: Legal Guide for Immigrants to Maine
Great English-Spanish site that explains public benefits available to immigrants in the state of Maine and their impact on obtaining legal residency or citizenship in the United States. Though specifically written for non-citizens in...
Other
Pine Tree Legal Assistance: Legal Guide for Immigrants to Maine
Great English-Spanish site that explains public benefits available to immigrants in the state of Maine and their impact on obtaining legal residency or citizenship in the United States.
Harvard University
Harvard Univ.: Immigration to Us, 1789 1930: California Gold Rush (1848 1858)
Describes the California Gold Rush and the impact it had on immigration to the United States and to the future demographics of California. Includes a high-resolution map of the gold region of California in 1851.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Norwegian Immigration in the Nineteenth Century
[Free Registration/Login Required] A lesson plan about Norwegian immigrantion to the United States.
Library of Congress
Loc: Immigration: Polish/russian
A chronicle of Russian and other ethnic immigrants from the Russian empire. Information on their struggles, persecution and achievements in their chosen new land, America.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Jewish Immigration, Popular Culture, the Comic Book
[Free Registration/Login Required] Using primary source documents students look at Jewish immigration to the United states, popular culture of the time and the birth of the comic book.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: United States Mexico Borderlands
This is a great site that talks about changes in the U.S.-Mexico border. It also discusses the meaning of the border, the people that live there, and border regions. Click "next" at the bottom of the page for more information on the...
Other
Lower East Side Tenement Museum: The Immigrant Experience: History
A look at immigration policy in the United States from 1624 to 2000. This history is part of the Youth-Digital-Arts-in Residence program partnered with the Tenement Museum in New York City.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Immigration
This is a collection of 24 Grade-Leveled texts (5-11) on the topic of Immigration. Most Americans can trace their ancestry back to immigrants coming to the New World. Learn about America's history of immigration, particularly during the...
Other
Discover Nikkei: Japanese Migration to the United States
A brief overview of the history of Japanese migration to the United States, from 1885 to the present, that also describes the reactions of Americans to Japanese immigrants. Details are presented on the issue of racism and how it led to...
Other
Legal Guide for Immigrants to Maine
Comprehensive but easily understood legal guide for noncitizens in Spanish and English. Though directed to immigrants to Maine, the basic principles apply to immigrants to any state in the United States.
Other
Pine Tree Legal: Legal Guide for Immigrants: Housing
Comprehensive, easy-to-understand explanation in English and Spanish of how to acquire housing in the United States. Legal issues associated with buying or renting a residence are also presented. Though the site caters to immigrants to...
Other
Mla: Language Map
An interesting, interactive way to view the many languages spoken in the United States. This site is filled with data, interpretation of data, interactive maps, ways to use the data, and ways to compare languages spoken in states.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Immigration in the Gilded Age:using Photographs as Primary Sources
[Free Registration/Login Required] This resource presents a lesson plan about immigration that uses photographs as primary sources.
New Advent
Catholic Encyclopedia: Germans in the United States
Detailed information (much more than you will need) about German-speaking immigrants to America. The site highlights Pennsylvania as a hub for immigrants. Includes information about religious backgrounds and reasons for leaving their...
Other
Brown Quarterly: The History of Japanese Immigration in the u.s.
The Brown Quarterly article provides photos and a history of Japanese immigration in the United States. It also offers information about religion, discrimination, and work.