Article, Video Chinese Railroad Workers in the Mid-Late-19th Century
- Grade Level 9th-12th Grade
- Time Period Late 1800s
Introduction
These resources highlight the contributions of Chinese railroad workers during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad (1863-1869). They explore the workers’ grueling labor, unjust conditions, and the xenophobia and racism they endured while shaping U.S. economic development.
VIDEO
PBS Learning Media: Chinese Transcontinental Railroad Workers Video
ARTICLES
The Guardian: “Forgotten by society: How Chinese migrants built the Transcontinental Railroad”
The New York Times: “Golden Spike: 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad”
Essential Questions
How have Asian Americans contributed to the economic development of the United States?
What jobs and/or industries have Asian Americans been a part of in the development of the United States?
How have categories of Asian/Asian American labor impacted the development of Asian American communities?