A Fluid Frontier: Minority and Ethnic Groups and Opportunity in Oklahoma

Activities

Primary Source Activity

Read the following sections of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

SEC. 12. That no Chinese person shall be permitted to enter the United States by land without producing to the proper officer of customs the certificate in this act required of Chinese persons seeking to land from a vessel. And any Chinese person found unlawfully within the United States shall be caused to be removed therefrom to the country from whence he came, by direction of the President of the United States, and at the cost of the United States, after being brought before some justice, judge, or commissioner of a court of the United States and found to be one not lawfully entitled to be or remain in the United States.
SEC. 14. That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit Chinese to citizenship; and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.

Guiding Questions

  1. What is your reaction to reading this passage?
  2. What evidence supports your thoughts?
  3. Insert your name where ever it says “Chinese person.” Has your opinion changed?
  4. Now replace “Chinese person” with anyone who has blonde hair or anyone wearing glasses. How are you affected now that it is a group?
  5. Do you think this is fair? Why or why not?
     


Image Evaluation

Look closely at this 1864 engraving entitled Reading the Emancipation Proclamation.

Black men and women gathered around a soldier. One man holds a torch to illuminate papers the soldier is holding.

Reading the Emancipation Proclamation, 1864 (image courtesy of the Library of Congress)20

  1. What emotions are the people expressing?
  2. What do you think they might be feeling or thinking?
  3. Describe the ways that the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment would impact these people?


Storytelling: Oral History

Oral history is when someone speaks verbally about their past or traditions. Historians often interview people to learn from their oral histories, and you should, too.

Learn about your own family history! Interview a parent or guardian, aunt or uncle, grandmother or
grandfather, and find out where your family lived in past generations and how they got to Oklahoma.

The PDF file includes printable maps. Trace a path along the map to show how your family traveled to where you are today.

Below are a few guiding questions to help you get started and discover more about your family history. Ask your family these questions!

  1. How did our family get to Oklahoma?
  2. Who are your parents?
  3. Who are your grandparents?
  4. Did you ever hear your grandparents talk about their lives? What did they say?
  5. Where have your parents lived? Where have your grandparents lived?
  6. Why did our family move from where our ancestors once lived?
  7. Describe our family’s journey to Oklahoma.
Download Storytelling Activity (PDF)



Fluid Frontier Quiz

Use this one-page, ten-question quiz to revisit concepts covered in this e-exhibit.

Download the Quiz (PDF)