Immigration

The authors offer a detailed survey of immigration, from colonial times to the present, focusing particularly on the “economic forces, political structures, and familial and personal imperatives” that led men and women to leave their homes and settle in a new land. These “voluntary immigrants,” the authors acknowledge, tell a story different from that of enslaved Africans, who were brought against their will. While the particular conditions that impelled people to journey to America changed over time, all immigrants hoped to find a better life for themselves and their children. The American founding fathers saw White, European immigrants, regardless of religion, as vital to the new nation’s economic growth. By the early 19th century, though, some lawmakers feared that poor immigrants would burden taxpayers, a concern that would reverberate later. At times, the authors reveal, potential immigrants faced strictures against leaving their home countries. In 1788, for example, Britain “banned the emigration of skilled artisans from Ireland.” From 1820 to 1920, America experienced a huge wave that swelled the immigrant population from 1.4 million in the 1840s to 6.3 million in the 1910s. Many were not escaping religious oppression or dire poverty; rather, they were middle class but saw few opportunities at home. Men often came first, establishing themselves before sending for wives and children. After first locating themselves in ethnic communities, they moved rapidly across the expanding nation. The authors examine the racial, religious, and political persecutions that caused immigration as well as the racism and xenophobia that many encountered when they arrived. Over the years, changing immigration policies have reflected fears that particular groups of immigrants posed a threat to economic security and national identity. The authors predict that in the future, an influx of refugees will result from the exigencies of climate change. The book is a comprehensive overview of migrants to America. TW