According to California History/Social Studies Standards, students in the fourth grade study the “story of their home state” including “its many waves of immigration.” Most of the 4th grade California history standards address Spanish exploration and colonization. When Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) history is taught in California immigration curriculum, it tends to focus on Chinese American immigrants via Angel Island and on Chinese exclusion laws. Not much is mentioned about early South Asian immigration. In fact, early South Asian immigrants played a significant role in California history and in the economic and agricultural development of California. This lesson focuses on the experiences of South Asian pioneers in California and their impacts on California’s culture and economy.

Students will be able to:

This lesson can be completed in one instructional session or over a period of 1-2 weeks. Here are options for lesson implementation:

From 1899 to 1913, almost 7,000 immigrants from South Asia came to the United States. These early South Asian immigrants came from Punjab. Punjab is the northern region of South Asia. Most of these Punjabi immigrants were Sikh. They belonged to peasant families. They had little education. They spoke little English. So, they had limited work opportunities. Many worked in the lumber mills in British Columbia and Washington. Others helped build railroads and worked on farms in California’s Central Valley.

South Asian immigrants excelled as laborers and farmers. Soon after they arrived, they were seen as an economic threat. They were accused of taking away jobs from white men. As such, they faced hate and violence. For example, in Washington, the Bellingham riots of 1907 took place. A mob of 400-500 white men attacked the South Asians living in Bellingham. They drove South Asian immigrants out of town.

South Asian immigrants faced much discrimination. But they found ways to overcome it. They built community for safety and for power. Pushed out of Washington state, many South Asian immigrants worked on farms in California’s Central Valley. In 1915, South Asian leaders built a Sikh Gurdwara, or temple, in Stockton, California.

The Stockton Gurdwara was the first Sikh temple in the United States. It was hugely important to the South Asian immigrant community in California. It was more than a church. It was a meeting place. It was a dining hall. It was a political center. It provided support and services. It also nurtured South Asian political leaders that made an impact on American politics. For example, Dalip Singh Saund was the Secretary of the Stockton Gurdwara. He then was elected as the first Sikh and Asian American U.S. Congressman in 1957.

In 1947, South Asian American immigrant leaders in California’s Imperial Valley built the second gurdwara in the United States. (Today, there are over 50 gurdwaras in California.) South Asian immigrants were recruited to develop the Imperial Valley. They were expert farmers in India. They applied their knowledge to California. For example, they used water from the Colorado River to irrigate California’s desert lands. They improved other farming techniques. They helped make California fertile.

South Asian immigrant farmers were doing well. But, racist laws banned them from owning land. So, South Asian immigrants had to find ways to transfer their property to others. Some made deals with white farmers, bankers, and lawyers who held land in their names. Some fought for their rights in courts.

Racist laws also banned South Asian immigrants from marrying white women. At the same time, racist laws banned South Asians from immigrating. Unable to bring wives from India, some South Asian immigrants married Mexican women and had children. There were many benefits to such marriages. First, their children could legally own land. Second, they created a distinct Punjabi-Mexican culture. For example, these families tended to speak Spanish. But, they ate South Asian foods. Today, descendants of these Punjabi-Mexican marriages are still thriving today. South Asian immigrants built a strong community in the Imperial Valley.

To get around the immigration ban, South Asian leaders from Stockton helped South Asians enter the United States through Mexico. They created special maps that showed safe travel routes. The maps also showed networks and resources.

South Asians immigrants have contributed greatly to California's culture, politics, and economy, especially farming. Today, people with Punjabi origins own farms on 10% of California's croplands. Punjabi American-owned farms produce over half of the country's raisins and almonds.

Students will be introduced to South Asia and South Asian Americans. The second part of the activity will begin to introduce the history of South Asian farmers in California.

Students will learn about the challenges early South Asian immigrants faced and how they overcame those challenges through community power and support using the example of South Asians in Stockton.

This activity offers two options for teachers to use to have students further build their knowledge and grow their understanding of the lasting and ongoing impact of South Asian Americans.

Teachers can choose one or more of the following options:

This activity offers two options for assessing students’ comprehension of the significance of South Asian immigrants’ experiences and contributions.

Teachers can choose one or more of the following options: