Jia Lynn Yang

A great overview of the immigration battles that took place in the U.S. during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, focusing especially on the 1920s-1960s. Gave a good portrayal of the different personalities and societal movements involved in the discussions, weaving in seemingly disparate information throughout that helped show the different perspectives.

Conclusion seemed a little weak on tying everything up; arguments were made that could have been better supported. A chapter discussing the transition of the immigration system post-1965 that included more hard evidence (as was given throughout the book) could have helped shore that up a bit.

Highly recommended to those interested in U.S. history, nativism, immigration, and mid-century politics.… (altro)

5800 One Mighty and Irresistible Tide The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration, 1924-1965, by Jia Lynn Yang (read 3 Sep 2022) This 2020 book details the effort to allow immigration into the United States untied to the percentage of Americans present in the country, which by the 1924 American law prevented much immigration of non-Europeans. The 1965 law has greatly increased legal immigration, especially of people not from Europe. It obviously was desirable to get away from racially-biased immigration, though whether the great increase in immigration to the country is desirable some will question.… (altro)