Between 1840 and 1860; America received more than four and a half million people from foreign countries as permanent residents; including a huge influx of newcomers from northern and western Europe; hundreds of thousands of Mexicans who became U.S. citizens with the annexation of Texas and the Mexican Cession; and a smaller number of Chinese immigrants. While some Americans sought to make immigration more difficult and to curtail the rights afforded to immigrants; Abraham Lincoln advocated for the rights of all classes of citizens. In this succinct study; Jason H. Silverman investigates Lincoln’s evolving personal; professional; and political relationship with the wide variety of immigrant groups he encountered throughout his life; revealing that Lincoln related to the immigrant in a manner few of his contemporaries would or could emulate. From an early age; Silverman shows; Lincoln developed an awareness of and a tolerance for different peoples and their cultures; and he displayed an affinity for immigrants throughout his legal and political career. Silverman reveals how immigrants affected not only Lincoln’s day-to-day life but also his presidential policies and details Lincoln’s opposition to the Know Nothing Party and the antiforeign attitudes in his own Republican Party; his reliance on German support for his 1860 presidential victory; his appointment of political generals of varying ethnicities; and his reliance on an immigrant for the literal rules of war. Examining Lincoln's views on the place of the immigrant in America’s society and economy; Silverman’s pioneering work offers a rare new perspective on the renowned sixteenth president.
#8151840 in Books Southern Illinois University Press 1993-05-01Original language:English 9.25 x .88 x 6.00l; #File Name: 0809318253296 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. NAPOLEON'S IRISH LEGIONBy DVRNapoleon's Irish Legion is an excellent source of information for anyone who maybe researching the Irish Legion. In fact it is the only guide in English on the Legion next to the memoirs of Miles Byrne; an officer of the Legion. Byrne's memoirs are hard to come by; but Gallaher's book uses Byrne as a reference throughout the book. In my case I discovered my ancestor was a member of the Irish Legion; in fact Jacques Perry appears in this book as he was awarded the Legion of Honour for his efforts at the Siege of Astorga. Not only the book is an excellent reference; but it mentions the primary sources in France; so from this I was able to find close to 100 French documents on my ancestor; who as it happened was with Napoleon's Irish Legion since day 1 until the end. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Napoleonic history.
