Composite Nation: A History of Immigrant Advocacy in the United States
The story of immigration is central to the making of America, but it rarely includes the contributions of immigrant advocates. Composite Nation addresses this omission by describing over 350 years of activity directed to immigrants’ rights and wellbeing, from mass meetings and marches to lobbying and litigation. Van Ham traces an array of events as far back as the colonial era to show how concern for immigrants combined with struggles for religious freedom, racial equality, and civil liberties to produce a tradition of incalculable impact.