Dr. Cohn provides an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the economic history of European immigration to the antebellum United States; using and evaluating the available data as well as presenting new data. This analysis centers on immigration from the three most important source countries - Ireland; Germany; and Great Britain - and examines the volume of immigration; how many individuals came from each country during the antebellum period; and why those numbers increased. The book also analyzes where they came from within each country; who chose to immigrate; the immigrants' trip to the United States; including estimates of mortality on the Atlantic crossing; the jobs obtained in the United States by the immigrants; along with their geographic location; and the economic effects of immigration on both the immigrants and the antebellum United States. No other book examines so many different economic aspects of antebellum immigration.
#1459026 in Books 2006-12-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .75 x 5.43l; .95 #File Name: 0521035155340 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating Look at How Resistance Movements and Rebellions Get StartedBy C.P.M.One of the defining features of Post-World War II history has been the increased number of resistance movements and rebellions against colonial powers or foreign occupiers. While the history of these movements has been well documented; no one has been able to give a solid answer as to how resistance movements and rebellions get started. That is; until now. In this fine work that combines historical rigor with social science inquiry; Mr. Petersen has developed a sound theory of how resistance movements and rebellions get started. Key factors such as resentment formation; focal-point mechanisms; status reward mechanisms; and cultural norms among those with low risk thresholds signal to more risk adverse citizens that an oppressive or foreign institution is weak and ready to fall. For those who have read [author:Malcom Gladwell|13153163]'s book [book:The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference|2612]; you'll recognize this as the theory of tipping games: as more people signal their willingness to resist oppression whether by humming nationalist songs on buses or graffiting public areas with nationalist phrases and slogans; and the more a regime fails to address this; the more people will begin to join them until things reach a tipping point into community based resistance or organized rebellion. However; this book was written a year before Mr. Gladwell's book and looks specifically at the case of Lithuanian resistance to Soviet and Nazi German occupation. It is filled with both intriguing historical facts and social science theories; all of them backed by interviews the author did with 40 people in Lithuania plus his own extensive research on and knowledge of the region. It is absolutely fascinating and I could see how applicable it was to America's occupation of Iraq and how that country fell into chaos in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 invasion based on the theories of this book. However; while this book is fascinating; it can be a tough slog at times. This is a book written by a social scientist for social scientists. The longest chapter; chapter 2; contains the most vital details of the author's theory; but it is also the toughest one to get through. While I think this book is a great read; those with but a passing interest in social science may want to pick up Mr. Gladwell's book instead. However; if you want to get into the nuts and bolts of tipping game theories; I highly recommend this book to you.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Useful; but --By R. L. HuffI have no problem with the author's basic theory; as far as it goes. Resistance networks are like any other in that they overlap in membership. This stands to reason in local areas where the given population for any activity is limited. Families; political parties; occupation networks; fraternal organizations are all dipping into the same human well for everyday purposes as well as extraordinary times.But I don't think this theory adequately explains the combustible nature of Lithuania or the Soviet borderlands in general in their see-saw between Hitler and Stalin. First; these societies were not particularly violent in normal daily life. There is no Balkan or Caucasian cult of personal honor and blood revenge. It was the occupation that created the conditions of violence by kicking over the established states; institutions; and routines that hedged people's behavior. They resisted; in short; because they paradoxically had the freedom and opportunity; as well as the necessity; of resistance.Secondly; the resistance wasn't (and never is) as universal as its participants wish to believe. There are always large segments of the native population who don't want to get involved in resistance violence; whether from principal or timidity. As Alexander Statiev presented in "The Soviet Counter-Insurgency in the Western Borderlands;" much of the partisans' time and effort went into policing the locals and purging their own ranks as in resisting the enemy; with often counter-productive results that the occupiers turned to advantage.As I said; a good work with a good analysis but doesn't go far enough; in my opinion; in analyzing its subject.
