Lesson Plans Lesson Plans

Chinese in Maine

Kathleen Neumann, Maine Historical Society, Cumberland County

2021

6-8, 9-12, Postsecondary

  • Social Studies -- History

1-5 days

  • 1500-1774
  • 1775-1850
  • 1851-1920
  • 1921-today
  • The People/Peopling of Maine

This lesson presents an overview of the history of the Chinese/Chinese Americans in Maine and the U.S. including some of the factors that led to Chinese immigration to the U.S., the history of the Chinese Exclusion Act, a look into the xenophobia, racism, and discrimination many Chinese Americans have experienced and continue to experience, and the contributions of Chinese Americans to community life and culture in Maine.

  • Students will be able to identify and describe factors that led to Chinese immigration to the U.S. Students will be able to describe the Chinese Exclusion Act and its impact on Chinese Americans. Students will be able to define xenophobia and the impact it can have on immigrants. Students will be able to identify and describe the ways in which Chinese immigrants and their descendants have contributed to community life and culture in Maine. Students will answer questions about information from secondary and primary sources through close looking and hypothesizing. Students will examine and analyze primary source documents, art, and objects, and use the sources provided to draw informed conclusions and ask informed questions about the Chinese community in Maine and the United States.

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