History Worksheets
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Census data can give students a deeper understanding of historic events like the Missouri Compromise and social studies topics like women in the workforce. Use the grade-range tabs below to explore all the options. Corresponding teachers' guides are available for each activity.
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- All Grades
- Grades K-5
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 9-12
All Grades
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"I Have a Dream" – Learning About Martin Luther King Jr.Analyze census data and graphs that demonstrate how lives of African-Americans were changed by Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
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19th Century Immigration - Causes & EffectsStudents will examine and interpret a population chart published in 1898 as well as an 1893 political cartoon about immigration.
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Adopting an Entrepreneurial Mindset - Using Census Data for BusinessStudents will use the Census Business Builder data access tool to gather and analyze information that entrepreneurs may consider when opening a business.
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America Then and Now - Interpreting Changes in Demographic DataStudents will review a series of infographics to learn how America’s demographics have changed between 1940 and 2024.
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Antebellum Economy - Understanding Employment in 1850Students will examine a table of 1850 Census data on employment to understand the professions of free men across the United States at the time.
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Authorizing the First Census - The Significance of Population DataStudents will analyze excerpts from the 1790 legislation that allowed for the administration of the first decennial census.
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Examining Changes in DataStudents will analyze and compare census data on the education levels of African-Americans in 1850 and in 1880.
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Exploring 19th Century Population Growth through Interactive MapsStudents will use two data visualization tools to explore U.S. population growth between 1790 and 1890.
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Exploring 19th-Century Child Labor Laws in the United StatesExamine historical photographs and a data table related to 19th-century industrialization and child labor.
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Exploring the Great Migration – 1910-1970Consider the causes and effects of waves of migration and compare the historical data with more recent data on migration overall.
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Geographic Mobility in the United States - 1920-1950Students will examine maps to explore changes in population density in the United States during three decades.
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Maps and Graphs - Exploring the U.S. Island TerritoriesStudents will examine data from the 1990–2010 censuses on population changes in the U.S. island territories.
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Median Income Patterns in the United StatesStudents will examine, and make comparisons using, a data visualization of median household incomes by U.S. county.
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Missouri Compromise – Free vs. Slave StatesIntroduces students to the Missouri Compromise and the issues associated with the expansion of slavery.
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Native American DwellingsLook at historical images to learn about three types of Native American dwellings.
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Population Expansion and Distribution in the United States: 1790-2010Students will use a data visualization tool to understand shifts in the U.S. population distribution from 1790 to 2010.
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Population Profile of Our New NationRefer to the 1790 and 1800 Censuses to compare the total population with the population of enslaved people, drawing conclusions from the data.
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Post-Civil War: Regional Shifts in U.S. Population by Age and SexStudents will examine population pyramids of 1850–1870 census data for different races/ethnicities and for the states and territories.
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Post-World War II Globalization - U.S. Citizens Living OverseasStudents will analyze the 1950 Census form for Americans living overseas and 1910–1990.
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Slavery, Geography, and PoliticsStudents will analyze multiple resources to learn how President Abraham Lincoln and Union forces used a 19th century population density map.
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The Art of Persuasion: Using Census Data to Influence OthersStudents will incorporate information from the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts data access tool into an advertisement for a city of their choice.
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The Great Depression - Using Census Data to Address an Economic CrisisStudents will identify the connection between government statistics and government programs by examining the problems from the Great Depression.
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The Highway System - Its Development and Impact on the United StatesStudents will examine a data visualization that displays 2010 Census data on population density along Interstate 90.
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The History of the TelephoneStudents will learn about Alexander Graham Bell and his invention of the telephone, its impact on the U.S. population and how phones have changed over time.
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The Impact of the Louisiana PurchaseStudents will examine population density maps of the United States during the 1800s.
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The Missouri Compromise - A Primary Source AnalysisStudents will examine tables of data from the 1820 Census to understand the implications of the Missouri Compromise, specifically in Maine and Missouri.
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The Progressives and the 1920 CensusInterpret and analyze a political cartoon about the 1920 Census.
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Trends in Congressional ApportionmentHigh school students will examine a 2020 Census brief to understand the apportionment process.
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Using Interactive Maps to Interpret U.S. Territorial ExpansionStudents will explore an interactive data visualization of state-by-state population growth as measured by the decennial censuses of 1790 through 2010.
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Using the Decennial Census to Draw Conclusions About American LifeStudents will examine questions from 1940, 1960, and 2010 census questionnaires to analyze socioeconomic changes in the U.S. population.
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Voting Trends in America, 1964-2020Students will analyze bar and line graphs showing the percentages of people who voted in elections between 1964 and 2020.
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Westward Bound – Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and OhioLearn about population movement, migration trends, and the westward expansion of the early 1800s.
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Where Should I Live? Using U.S. Census Bureau Data to Make DecisionsStudents will use the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts data access tool to examine information about three cities.
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Women in the Workforce 1940-TodayStudents will examine graphs on education, earnings, and workforce participation for men and women between 1940 and today.
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Women's Roles in Antebellum AmericaStudents will examine an 1850 Census questionnaire and an 1851 political cartoon to understand women’s rights issues during the Antebellum Period.
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Page Last Revised - July 8, 2022