Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration

Few topics inspire such debate among American citizens as the issue of immigration in the United States. Yet, it is the steady influx of foreigners into America over 400 years that has shaped the social character of the United State, and has favorably positioned this country for globalization. Immigrants in American History is a chronological study of the migration of various ethnic groups to the United States from 1500 to the present day. The book explores dozens of immigrant populations in America and delves into major topical issues affecting different groups across time periods. The author profiles African Americans as an example of the effects of involuntary migrations. A cross-disciplinary approachderived from the contributions of leading scholars in the field of history, sociology, cultural development, economics, political science, law, and cultural adaptationintroduces a comparative analysis of customs, beliefs, and character among groups, and provides insight into the impact of newcomers on American society and culture.