In this age of multicultural democracy; the idea of assimilation--that the social distance separating immigrants and their children from the mainstream of American society closes over time--seems outdated and; in some forms; even offensive. But as Richard Alba and Victor Nee show in the first systematic treatment of assimilation since the mid-1960s; it continues to shape the immigrant experience; even though the geography of immigration has shifted from Europe to Asia; Africa; and Latin America. Institutional changes; from civil rights legislation to immigration law; have provided a more favorable environment for nonwhite immigrants and their children than in the past.Assimilation is still driven; in claim; by the decisions of immigrants and the second generation to improve their social and material circumstances in America. But they also show that immigrants; historically and today; have profoundly changed our mainstream society and culture in the process of becoming Americans.Surveying a variety of domains--language; socioeconomic attachments; residential patterns; and intermarriage--they demonstrate the continuing importance of assimilation in American life. And they predict that it will blur the boundaries among the major; racially defined populations; as nonwhites and Hispanics are increasingly incorporated into the mainstream.
#146098 in Books Belknap Press 2001-09-15 2001-10-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x .92 x 6.14l; 1.06 #File Name: 0674006631322 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Brilliantly-formed; eloquently-reasoned thesisBy JRonJoyce Appleby's Inheriting a Revolution: The First Generation of Americans examines a post-Revolutionary America that looked differently than many founders had imagined. The focus of Appleby's book is the altered political; social; economic; and familial environment in which Americans who came of age after 1790 had to live--and in which many prospered. Appleby is prudent; however; to illustrate that not everyone flourished in the new America. Chroniclers recorded the American way of success as the qualities of the period's successful northern white men. "A new ideal character was created: the man who developed inner resources; acted independently; lived virtuously; and bent his behavior to personal goals" (11). White women; enslaved Africans; besieged Native Americans; and white men who did not adapt do not factor into this analysis.The Revolution bequeathed the first generation of Americans a society awash in opportunity. In the eyes of post-Revolution Americans; "Independence made possible the creation of a distinctive American society that honored individual initiative; institutional restraint; and popular public participation" (5). The subjects of Appleby's study seized new opportunities and recorded their stories of challenge and success in diaries and memoirs. Appleby credits four post-Revolution phenomena for facilitating early national success and growth. First; she continues the discussion of the radicalizing of politics; which Gordon Wood brilliantly began in The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Men of different classes and occupations found new voices in local; regional; and national politics. "Twelve years after the ratification of the Constitution; a national elite; established with such high hopes for forming a stabilizing center; had been ousted and with it went that union of social and political power essential to ruling class" (52).The second phenomenon which helped to shape the American social landscape was a revitalization of religion. As Nathan O. Hatch's excellent The Democratization of American Christianity also details; Christian revivalists; many of whom held little education--in an outright rejection of established church structures--preached of love and redemption in Christ. Religious movements brought together men and women of different backgrounds--including Africans--and inspired the establishment of voluntary religious associations. No one could "have predicted that the cool; rationalist attitudes of the Enlightenment would be overwhelmed by the warm passions of religious awakening" (8).The third important element for early America's success was new opportunity for the young. The availability of land; access to credit; and increased literacy rates prompted young people to take risks with their career ambitions. More importantly; young men departed rural areas in search of jobs and entrepreneurial experience. Family relationships changed dramatically as boys who would have once stayed at home to carry on his father's name and occupation traversed the expanding country in search of money and adventure.The fourth and most prevalent aspect of Appleby's study is the abolition of slavery in the Northern states. The decision to outlaw slavery by 1800 freed the North of the task of defending the bondage of humans in a post-Revolutionary America and it challenged the region to diversify its economic practices. Artificially cheap labor became a commercial crutch for the South. In addition; "the new distinction of free and slave labor with all its social entailments divided the United States in ways that could not have been imagined at the time of the Revolution" (8). Relations between those on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon Line became and remained frictional for decades.In Appleby's view; the North is the true winner following the Revolution; and the South's decision to hang on to slavery retarded its political; social; economic; and cultural development. This part of her argument; which is prominent throughout the book; may affront some southern historians. Her not-so-generous view of the South does; at times; reach beyond objectivity. Appleby's zeal of argument; however; should not cause scholars or general readers; from North; South; East; or West; to hesitate to engage a brilliantly-formed and eloquently-reasoned thesis of how first-generation Americans understood their world in the wake of the Constitution. Inheriting the Revolution rightfully places the early national period at center stage; rather than treat it as a footnote.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Think about it!!! We beat the British. Now what???!!!By floridabobThe concept of the book is cool enough; but Ms. Appleby makes it real. I am a member of the Sons of the American Revolution; so I follow this history in all its forms. I'd recommend this first to a student with any spark of patriotism and wondering whether American history is at all interesting. This book could turn that tiny amount of wonderment into a lifetime passion.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. New information about American cultureBy Thomas CushingVery disappointed that maps and photos that should have been included - WERE NOT AVAILABLE in kindle version. A historical text should include all necessary support materials........The text itself provides some very enlightening conclusions with regard to the century following the American revolution and how our nation developed and prospered...;;The writer has excellent insights but somewhat convoluted in presentation. Could have been clearer. Research and real life studies were excellent.
