Applying a Critical Lens to the Study of U.S. History

The first learning resource of its kind, The Asian American Experience applies a critical lens to the study of U.S. history, exploring the social, political, and economic forces that have shaped the experiences of Asian Americans.

Inquiry activities, primary sources, and historical perspectives equip students with the tools and context to conduct deep dives on key issues, including immigration and labor, the impact of discrimination, civil rights and liberties, and political representation.

Time Periods Covered:

  • East Meets West: Asia and Western Expansion, 1500s-1900s
  • Early Arrivals, Immigration, and Development, 1500s-1900
  • Era of Exclusion, 1860s-1900s
  • Immigration and Community Building, 1880s-1930s
  • Wars and Their Impact, 1939-1965
  • Post-1965 Era and The Beginning Of Activism, 1965-1970s
  • Post-War Migrations, 1970s-1980s
  • Late 20th-Century Challenges and Growth, 1970s-2000
  • New Millennium, 2000-Present

Content Highlights

  • A rich and diverse variety of primary sources, including images, audio clips, documents, and video, covering multiple dimensions of Asian American history and culture
  • Perspective essays designed to hone students' critical thinking on issues of enduring importance to the Asian American community
  • An interdisciplinary approach to understanding the historical and current experiences of Asian Americans

Database Features and Tools

  • Search by time period, keyword or resource type
  • Print, email or save resources to Google Drive and Dropbox
  • Instantly generate citations in APA, Chicago and MLA formats

The Asian American Experience is part of ABC-CLIO’s American Mosaic database series, a collection dedicated to exploring the experiences and contributions of diverse groups through history. Explore other titles in this series: