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Arriving in America, 1845 to 1920 is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on how immigrants arrived and how they were treated, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Geo.7.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 2 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Arriving in America, 1845 to 1920

D2.Geo.7.3-5

NameDate

Read each text, then answer the questions.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Chinese Exclusion Act

An information text written for this worksheet. Chinese immigrants worked in the California gold fields and built much of the transcontinental railroad. Some white workers blamed them for low wages, and Chinese Americans faced violence and unfair laws. In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. It stopped Chinese workers from immigrating and kept Chinese immigrants from becoming citizens. It was the first major US law to keep out people of one nationality. Congress repealed it in 1943, during World War II, when China was an ally of the United States.

  1. 1. When was the law repealed?
  2. 2. What did the law stop?
  3. 3. Why was the law unfair to people who had built the railroad?
2.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

Ellis Island

An information text written for this worksheet. Ellis Island, in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty, opened as an immigration station on January 1, 1892. About 12 million immigrants passed through it before it closed in 1954. Doctors checked each arrival for illness, and officers asked questions about family, work and money. Most people passed through in a few hours. About 2 out of every 100 were sent back, usually because of illness.

  1. 1. About how many immigrants passed through it?
  2. 2. Were most immigrants at Ellis Island allowed in? How do you know?
  3. 3. What did doctors check each arrival for?

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.7.3-5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Arriving in America, 1845 to 1920

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. In 1943, during World War II. 2. It stopped Chinese workers from immigrating and kept Chinese immigrants from becoming citizens. 3. Chinese immigrants built much of the railroad but were kept from becoming citizens.
  2. 2.1. About 12 million immigrants. 2. Yes. Most passed through in a few hours, and only about 2 of every 100 were sent back. 3. Illness.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.7.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.