Kirjahaku

Providing valuable analysis on how people from different backgrounds mingle and diverge, Thomas J. Archdeacon discusses the origins of America and the various cultures that came together to form the country.From the English settlers who founded the Jamestown colony to the recent refugees from Vietnam and Cuba, the history of America has always been tied to the fortunes of its immigrants. In Becoming American, Thomas J. Archdeacon presents a fascinating account of the foreign peoples and cultures that, for nearly four centuries, have transformed American and, in the process, transformed themselves. Discussing the origins of the people who shaped America and weaving their stories together, Archdeacon elaborates on how people from all different culture backgrounds mingle and diverge, relating to the critical decisions that come with immigration.

Integrating sophisticated demographic techniques with clearly written narrative, this pioneering book explores the complex social and economic life of a major colonial city. New York City was a vital part of the middle colonies and may hold the key to the origins of political democracy in America. Family histories, public records of births, marriages, and assessments, and records of business transactions and poll lists are among the rich sources Thomas J. Archdeacon uses to determine the impact of the English conquest on the city of New York. Among his concerns are the changing relationships between the Dutch and the English, the distribution of wealth and the role of commerce in the city, and the part played by ethnic and religious heritage in provincial politics.