Feb. 26, 1931: La Placita Raid
Immigration agents raided La Placita Park where they arrested and deported dozens of Mexican Americans.
Continue reading
Theme: Immigration
Immigration
Bread and Roses, Too
Book — Fiction. By Katherine Paterson. 2006. 275 pages.
Moving young adult historical-fiction novel based on a major strike in Lawrence, Mass., in 1912.
Continue reading
Moving young adult historical-fiction novel based on a major strike in Lawrence, Mass., in 1912.
Deportations on Trial: Mexican Americans During the Great Depression
Teaching Activity. By Ursula Wolfe-Rocca.
In this lesson, students analyze who is to blame for the illegal, mass deportations of Mexican Americans and immigrants during the Great Depression.
Continue reading
In this lesson, students analyze who is to blame for the illegal, mass deportations of Mexican Americans and immigrants during the Great Depression.
Sept. 2, 1885: Rock Springs Massacre
White coal miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming, brutally attacked Chinese workers.
Continue reading
June 24, 1980: General Strike in El Salvador Against Death Squads
A general strike was held in El Salvador against U.S.-funded death squads.
Continue reading
Teaching Sacrifice Zones
Teaching Activity. By Rosemarie Frascella. Rethinking Schools.
Our extractive fossil fuel-based economy has always demanded that some people’s homes and health be sacrificed for the benefit of more privileged and powerful others. This article explores how one teacher engages her students in thinking about how “sacrifice zones” play out in their lives.
Continue reading
Our extractive fossil fuel-based economy has always demanded that some people’s homes and health be sacrificed for the benefit of more privileged and powerful others. This article explores how one teacher engages her students in thinking about how “sacrifice zones” play out in their lives.
March 14, 1891: 11 Italians Lynched in New Orleans
A mob lynched 11 Italians in New Orleans for the killing of the New Orleans police chief.
Continue reading
Aug. 6, 1855: Bloody Monday
On election day, in Louisville, Kentucky, Protestant mobs attacked German and Irish Catholic neighborhoods.
Continue reading
May 6, 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act Signed
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was signed, prohibiting Chinese immigration to the United States.
Continue reading
Servitude and Rebellion
Teaching Activity. By Gayle Olsen-Raymer. 15 pages.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 3 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on the role and dissent of indentured servants in American colonial history.
Continue reading
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 3 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on the role and dissent of indentured servants in American colonial history.
500 Años del Pueblo Chicano – 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures
Book — Non-fiction. By Elizabeth Martinez. 1991 (2nd Edition).
Chicano history as told through hundreds of pictures and bilingual text.
Continue reading
Chicano history as told through hundreds of pictures and bilingual text.
A People’s History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence
Book — Non-fiction. By Ray Raphael. Series editor: Howard Zinn. 2002. 528 pages.
Using hundreds of primary sources, this book tells the more accurate, populist, complicated, and interesting story of the American Revolution.
Continue reading
Using hundreds of primary sources, this book tells the more accurate, populist, complicated, and interesting story of the American Revolution.
A Young People’s History of the United States: Revised and Updated
Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn, adapted by Rebecca Stefoff with additions by Ed Morales. 2022. 544 pages.
A young adult version of the best-selling A People’s History of the United States, ideal for 6th through 9th grade students.
Continue reading
A young adult version of the best-selling A People’s History of the United States, ideal for 6th through 9th grade students.
Caribbean Connections: The Dominican Republic
Book — Non-fiction and Fiction. Edited by Gallin, Glasser, Santana. 2005. 250 pages.
Reader-friendly overview of the history, politics, and culture of the fourth largest Latino community in the United States.
Continue reading
Reader-friendly overview of the history, politics, and culture of the fourth largest Latino community in the United States.
A Boy from Ireland
Book — Fiction. By Marie Raphael. 2007. 217 pages.
Historical fiction about the life of the Irish in New York City at the beginning of the 20th century for ages 12+.
Continue reading
Historical fiction about the life of the Irish in New York City at the beginning of the 20th century for ages 12+.
Socialists and Wobblies
Teaching Activity. By Gayle Olson-Raymer. 17 pages.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 13 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on the labor movement at the turn of the century.
Continue reading
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 13 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on the labor movement at the turn of the century.
One Country! One Language! One Flag!
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools. 3 pages.
Discussion questions and teaching ideas for examining the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the political milieu in which it was written.
Continue reading
Discussion questions and teaching ideas for examining the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the political milieu in which it was written.
Hunger on Trial: An Activity on the Irish Potato Famine and Its Meaning for Today
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools. 5 pages.
A trial role play helps students reflect on responsibility for the deaths of Irish peasants during the so-called potato famine.
Continue reading
A trial role play helps students reflect on responsibility for the deaths of Irish peasants during the so-called potato famine.
Lewis Hine’s Photographs
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson. Rethinking Schools. 4 pages.
Using photographs to spark creative writing and critical thinking about child labor issues and social justice.
Continue reading
Using photographs to spark creative writing and critical thinking about child labor issues and social justice.
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America
Book — Non-fiction. By Ronald Takaki, with a foreword by Clint Smith. 2023. 576 pages.
A multicultural history of the United States, in the voices of Indigenous people, African Americans, Jews, Irish Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and others.
Continue reading
A multicultural history of the United States, in the voices of Indigenous people, African Americans, Jews, Irish Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and others.
500 Years of Chicana Women’s History
Book — Non-fiction. By Elizabeth Martinez. 2007. 899 illustrations.
Stories and photos of Chicana/Mexican-American women in politics, labor, art, health, and more.
Continue reading
Stories and photos of Chicana/Mexican-American women in politics, labor, art, health, and more.
The Draft Riot Mystery
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. 9 pages.
Students are invited to solve a mystery, using historical clues, about the real story of the Draft Riots.
Continue reading
Students are invited to solve a mystery, using historical clues, about the real story of the Draft Riots.
The Line Between Us: Teaching About the Border and Mexican Immigration
Teaching Guide. By Bill Bigelow. 2006. 160 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Lessons for teaching about the history of U.S.–Mexico relations and current border and immigration issues.
Continue reading
Lessons for teaching about the history of U.S.–Mexico relations and current border and immigration issues.
Lawrence, 1912: The Singing Strike
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow and Norm Diamond.
Role play on the 1912 Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence, Mass.
Continue reading
Role play on the 1912 Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence, Mass.
Testing, Tracking, and Toeing the Line: A Role Play on the Origins of the Modern High School
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools. 13 pages.
A role play on the origins of the modern high school allows students to question aspects of schooling they often take for granted, such as tracking (“ability grouping”) and standardized testing — and to reflect on the racial biases of these so-called reforms.
Continue reading
A role play on the origins of the modern high school allows students to question aspects of schooling they often take for granted, such as tracking (“ability grouping”) and standardized testing — and to reflect on the racial biases of these so-called reforms.