What is an American? (4/4)
This is also part of this series: American Future, The - A History by Simon Schama (4)
|
Please install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player to view this content! This content has not been formatted for this device.
|
||||
| Subjects: American History, American Studies, Anthropology, Civil Rights, Economics, Immigration, Political Science, World Religions | ||||
The early settlers were themselves immigrants but they saw America as fundamentally a white and Protestant nation. Simon looks at the key events that challenged this view: the annexation of parts of Mexico in 1848 that made 100,000 non-whites American citizens, the immigration and subsequent expulsion of the Chinese in the late 19th century, and the massive immigration from Eastern Europe during the industrialisation of the Twenties. Each time there have been those who have insisted America must stay white if it is to stay true to itself, and each time they have been defeated by the sheer force of history. John F Kennedy defined America as a Nation of Immigrants in 1964 and Simon argues that the candidacy of Barack Obama represents the final triumph of the vision of America as a multi-ethnic nation. |
||||
American Plenty (1/4)
Simon Schama explores how American optimism about the infinite...
American War (2/4)
Simon Schama reveals how different is the American attitude to war...
American Fervour (3/4)
Simon Schama explores the ways in which faith has shaped American...
What is an American? (4/4)
Simon Schama looks at the bitter conflict over immigration in...