Overview

Immigration makes America what it is and is formative for what it will become. America was settled by three different models of immigration, all of which persist to the present. The Virginia Colony largely equated immigration with the arrival of laborers, who had few rights. Massachusetts welcomed those who shared the religious views of the founders but excluded those whose beliefs challenged prevailing orthodoxy. Pennsylvania valued pluralism, becoming the most diverse colony in religion, language, and culture. A fourth, anti-immigration model also emerged during the colonial period, and was often fueled by populist leaders who stoked fears about newcomers. Arguing that the Pennsylvania model has best served the country, this book makes key recommendations for future immigration reform. Given the highly controversial nature of immigration in the United States, this second edition – updated to analyze policy changes in the Obama and Trump administrations – provides valuable insights for academics and policymakers.

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9781108820592

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Reviews

'As comprehensive as it is readable, A Nation of Immigrants tells the story of immigration to America over four centuries. This new edition includes astute discussions of the policies of the Obama and Trump administrations-and how they embody the narratives of welcome and nativism that have been present throughout U.S. history.' T. Alexander Aleinikoff, The New School for Social Research 'In the second edition of this brilliant work Susan Martin shows us once again how the United States truly was shaped by immigration from colonial times to the present. This magisterial work of political and social history is even more timely because of resurgent nativism and the extent to which immigration once again has taken center stage in American political development.' James Hollifield, Southern Methodist University 'Susan Martin deploys her keen insight from her distinguished and extensive work experience in the field and her scholarly training to deftly weave a comprehensive analysis of US immigration including the Trump years. Particularly welcome are the chapters that thoroughly excavate the patterns of immigration control that were established in the colonial period and were foundational but are often skipped in surveys of US immigration history and policy.' Anna O. Law, Brooklyn College 'In this important and compelling study, Susan Martin provides a fresh historical perspective for understanding immigration and its governance in the United States. A Nation of Immigrants demonstrates the persistence of three distinctive models of immigration dating back to the colonial era, revealing the full range of constructive and detrimental legacies that these traditions have yielded over time. This new edition includes fresh insights about the perils of partisan polarization and unilateral executive action on immigration during both the Obama and Trump administrations. In an impressive merging of careful scholarship and rich personal experience in the policy process, Martin gives new meaning to our immigrant past and offers thoughtful recommendations for our way forward on this irrepressibly contentious issue.' Daniel J. Tichenor, University of Oregon 'General readers and undergraduate students will appreciate the breadth of coverage and the excellent bibliography ... this is a well-written synthesis of American immigration history ... Recommended.' R. F. Zeidel, Choice

'As comprehensive as it is readable, A Nation of Immigrants tells the story of immigration to America over four centuries. This new edition includes astute discussions of the policies of the Obama and Trump administrations-and how they embody the narratives of welcome and nativism that have been present throughout U.S. history.' T. Alexander Aleinikoff, The New School for Social Research 'In the second edition of this brilliant work Susan Martin shows us once again how the United States truly was shaped by immigration from colonial times to the present. This magisterial work of political and social history is even more timely because of resurgent nativism and the extent to which immigration once again has taken center stage in American political development.' James Hollifield, Southern Methodist University 'Susan Martin deploys her keen insight from her distinguished and extensive work experience in the field and her scholarly training to deftly weave a comprehensive analysis of US immigration including the Trump years. Particularly welcome are the chapters that thoroughly excavate the patterns of immigration control that were established in the colonial period and were foundational but are often skipped in surveys of US immigration history and policy.' Anna O. Law, Brooklyn College 'In this important and compelling study, Susan Martin provides a fresh historical perspective for understanding immigration and its governance in the United States. A Nation of Immigrants demonstrates the persistence of three distinctive models of immigration dating back to the colonial era, revealing the full range of constructive and detrimental legacies that these traditions have yielded over time. This new edition includes fresh insights about the perils of partisan polarization and unilateral executive action on immigration during both the Obama and Trump administrations. In an impressive merging of careful scholarship and rich personal experience in the policy process, Martin gives new meaning to our immigrant past and offers thoughtful recommendations for our way forward on this irrepressibly contentious issue.' Daniel J. Tichenor, University of Oregon

Author Information

Susan F. Martin is the Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita in International Migration at Georgetown University. She directed the US Commission on Immigration Reform from 1992 –1997. Her books include Refugee Women (2004), A Nation of Immigrants (2010), and International Migration: Evolving Trends from the Early Twentieth Century to the Present (2014).

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