Immigration

L. Edward Purcell

Jan 1995 · Greenwood Publishing Group

About this ebook

This engaging narrative chronicles the history of the immigration to America from the 1600s to the present. The author offers an in-depth exploration of the American immigration experience, including why people emigrated, what they left behind, and what they found when they arrived. He also delves into the immigrants' unique contributions to the history and culture of the nation. The book examines the legal and social aspects of immigration, beginning with the founding of Jamestown in 1607 through the 1994 passage of Proposition 187 in California. Also featured are a brief chronology of immigration and the biographies of 45 important figures in American immigration history. The text is enhanced with photos, illustrations, and political cartoons, and a detailed bibliography is also included.

About the author

L. EDWARD PURCELL is an independent historian, editor, and journalist who has written over a dozen books and numerous articles, many of them on historical topics. He is currently an adjunct lecturer in American history at both Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa and Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa. He has worked in publications and historical publishing for more than 25 years, holding posts as editor-in-chief of a large state historical society and director of communications for a prominent non-profit public interest group. He was also editor of The Palimpsest, an award-winning illustrated history magazine. Mr. Purcell has taught history and writing at several colleges and universities and serves as a consultant on publishing and historical interpretation.