The Transcontinental Railroad

• Introduction
• Task
• Process
• Evaluation
• Conclusion
• Credits


• Teacher Page

Process

You are a Chinese-American worker between the years of 18  to 1869. Your task is to gather background information and write notes about your:

• daily life
• labor
• motive for immigrating to California
• skills

Once you have finished gathering background information you will answer the following questions:

1. Were the Chinese-Americans accepted in California?
   
2. Were their jobs of equal difficulty as other races?
3. Economically, how did their income compare to other important figures/groups of that time?
4. Did you experience any discrimination?
   

Use your answers from the above questions to write a letter to your family members back home regarding your daily life, your job, and the difficulties you have encountered.

You are a settler during 1862. Your task is to gather background information and write notes about:

• Homestead Act - why you came to California
• What was expected of you to do on your land

Once you have finished gathering background information, you will create a map of your land to scape. Think of the following:

• how will you landscape your land
• what you would plant
• design your house
• would you have any livestock (animals)
• farm equipment needed 

You are a member of the "Big Four." Your mission is to search for information and write notes regarding:

• who you are
• other than the "Big Four" what were they known as
  
• where you came from
• what kind of job(s) you had before the Gold Rush began
• during the Gold Rush, what your job entailed

For your activity, you will pair up with a classmate, choose one member of the "Big Four," and develop a promotional poster for the Gold Rush. 

Make sure you create your poster with the perspective of your "Big Four" member. 

Keep in mind, when you are reading these websites, remember to SCAN for key words (ex: Chinese, Homestead, Big Four). Remember to take notes on important information.

Chinese Americans

Settlers

Homestead Act of 1862 

Today in History, May 20th 1862 

The "Big Four"

Wikipedia on the "Big Four"

California State Railroad Museum 

Information on:

1. Leland Stanford
   
2. Collis P. Huntington
3. Charles Crocker
   
4. Mark Hopkins
   

Dinner Party Time!