This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the experiences of Chinese Americans through the industrialization of America in the late nineteenth century. Western states like California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming have a rich history of Chinese railroad labor. In this inquiry, students will determine whether railroad work amounted to oppression of Chinese workers or an opportunity to build wealth.
Was railroad employment oppression or opportunity for Chinese workers?
Discuss the meaning of the terms oppression and opportunity.
What evidence suggests railroad employment was oppression of Chinese workers?
Formative TasksMake a list of evidence from the source suggesting that railroad employment was oppression of Chinese workers.
SourcesSource A: Tunnel Construction Photos Source B: Charles Crocker’s Testimony Source C: Excerpt of Ghosts of Gold Mountain
What evidence suggests railroad employment was an opportunity for Chinese workers?
Formative TasksMake a list of evidence from the source suggesting that railroad employment was an opportunity for Chinese workers.
SourcesSource A: Charles Crocker’s Summit Tunnel Testimony Source B: Gene O. Chan’s interview
Argument: Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, essay) that addresses the compelling question: Was railroad employment oppression or opportunity for Chinese workers? Use specific claims and relevant evidence from featured sources.
Extension: Explore the StoryMap “Geography of Chinese Workers Building the Transcontinental Railroad: A virtual reconstruction of the key historic sites and compile a list of oral history interview questions, and conduct a class discussion evaluating the strengths of the questions generated.
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