The New America, a Study in Immigration; Chapters I to IV

The New America, A Study In Immigration; Chapters I To IV — Mary Clark Barnes. The New America traces the making of the nation through immigration, from the Jamestown settlement and Plymouth to the organizational and ideological formation of American life. Chapters I–IV examine Beginnings, Development, Additional European Elements, and Tendencies, showing how early settlers sought liberty, education, and self-government; how technological advances and territorial expansion attracted new populations; and how diverse European groups contributed to the nation’s social and political fabric. The work then outlines the “New Immigration,” detailing the Italians, Slavs, Jews, Austro-Hungarians and others, and analyzes the role of state, church, and philanthropic agencies in guiding assimilation. It concludes with a discussion of Asiatic influences and the responsible institutions shaping immigration policy, education, and religious life, all aimed at understanding how immigration shapes American character and civic life.