The violence and radicalism connected with the Industrial Workers of the World textile strike of 1912 in Lawrence; Massachusetts; left the popular impression that Lawrence was a slum-ridden city inhabited by un-American revolutionaries. Immigrant City is a study of Lawrence which reveals that the city was far different.The book opens with an account of the strike of 1912. It then traces the development of Lawrence from the founding of the city in 1845; when its builders hoped to establish a model mill town; through its years of immigration and growth of 1912. Donald Cole puts the strike in its proper perspective by examining the history of the city; and he emphasizes the immigrant's constant search for security and explores the very important question of whether the immigrant; from his own point of view; found security.The population of Lawrence was almost completely immigrant in nature; in 1910; 90 per cent of its people were either first or second generation Americans; and they represented nearly every nation in the world. The period covered by the book--1845 through 1921--is the great middle period of American immigration; which began with the Irish Famine and ended with the Quota Law of 1921. While Immigrant City concentrates on one American city; it reveals much about American immigration in general and demonstrates clearly that; in spite of the poverty that most immigrants fought; life for the foreign-born in America was not as grim as some writers have suggested.
#94588 in Books 1998-04-06Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x 1.58 x 6.04l; 1.98 #File Name: 0807847232675 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Dense scholarly history of the development of science of politics after 1776By Igor FaynshteynIf you stumbled upon this book because you were looking to read a history book about American Revolution; then this is the wrong book to address that desire. It is not about the events of the Revolutionary War; nor is it about the Declaration of Independence. It is a book focused exclusively on the science of politics that was developing in the years leading up to the war; its development during the war; and particularly its apotheosis after independence was declared. It is about all the debates that took place on all political and legal issues and how they were settled and resolved - if they ever truly were.This is; by historians' consensus; one of the best and most scholarly books ever written about American history. Its scholarship is deep; penetrating and impeccable in all its facets. Gordon Wood undertook this enormous work after receiving his Ph. D. in history from Harvard and this was essentially the continuation of the work he undertook as a graduate student. However; having said that; to a layman this is also its major shortcoming: due to its immense and rigorous scholarship; the book is dense on political science theory; voluminous on quotations (and generally voluminous) and to a large degree dry. To sum it up: it is technically a monograph; and as such; it presents a topical treatment; rather than a narrative that most lay history readers are familiar with.If you are a history buff; or a student doing research; this will be a great and epic read. But if you are looking for a more familiar popular history; rich in narrative and a more fluid prose; then you will be disappointed and would be advised to look elsewhere. Indeed; Gordon Wood has written other more accessible works later in his career; all of which are terrific. With those reservations in mind; I still highly recommend this book.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Still the Definitive Work on how the American System of Government was developedBy gloine36Although this book was written 44 years ago; it is just as relevant today as it was then. How the people of 1787 managed to write a Constitution and create an entirely different type of political system has been one of history’s most amazing stories of all time. Gordon Wood wrote a magnificent book which explained how that event occurred. By studying the writings of the main participants and the hundreds of political pamphlets written in that era he managed to discern the various streams of political thought of that time. Only by understanding how the people of that time thought regarding politics was he able to see how they accomplished this improbable feat. Improbable it was because what they did was completely different than anything done to that point in time. In understanding the context of this book we also need to realize that Wood wrote it during the 1960s at the height of the divide over American political thought in that time. Creation should serve as a metaphor for American political thought. Things were in a dire crisis in the 1780s; yet the country survived by creating a government which has lasted ever since. The events of the 1960s were survivable and of course we know that America overcame them and continued on. Today we see the political strife; yet we should be comforted by understanding that history shows America will overcome this as well. If the people of the 1780s could develop an entirely new government which they felt was the capstone to the American Revolution and inaugurated a new political system; then the people of today will get past the issues that divide them. Thomas Paine wrote; “The independence of America considered merely as a separation from England; would have been a matter but of little importance had it not been accompanied by a revolution in the principles and practise of governments.†Paine was right. Independence was of little consequence because until the creation of the Constitution the thirteen states were merely carrying on a modified form of English constitutional government. That meant that government was a compact between rulers and the ruled or the people. The American system of government created in 1787 was a compact only between the people themselves; not the rulers or any other body. All government stemmed from them. Wood makes this the focal point of the book. The issue of representation was the driving force of the American Revolution. James Otis remarked early on that taxation required representation which the American colonists had none of in Parliament. This was a unique idea and one the British finally answered with the concept of virtual representation. However; the Americans felt this was not the right answer. In creating a political system they sought an answer to the question of how people should be represented. Throughout this book Wood keeps coming back to this issue. At the end of it he answers it but the reader sees in the pages leading up to the answer how the people of that era arrived at the answer which is important. Wood explains that it was the process of answering that question that helped create the American system of government which was radically different than the English system which until that point had been considered by most people to be the proper form of government. This shows just how different American political thought changed from British political thought and for modern students of politics why there is such a substantial difference between American government and European governments. To this day; the issue of representation is one where people can see just how free people are. When all power stems from the people and they are the ones who select their representatives; then they are free. When any part of that is removed from them then they are not free. As a result of the American system; an additional check was created upon government which does not get discussed that much and that is the check of the people themselves. No matter what; if any representative of the government acts in opposition of the will of the people they have the ability to replace that individual at the next election. In this manner the people possess the ability to correct their own mistakes if they make them. Gordon Wood’s career has been one in which he is easily considered one of the top historians of the second half of the 20th century. He along with Edmund Morgan and Bernard Bailyn changed the perceptions people had of the American Revolution and the Constitution. Wood and Bailyn are even described as creating their own branch of historical study into this era although they certainly didn’t set out to do so. That just sort of occurred as a natural result of their studies. Wood won several awards for Creation of the American Republic including the Bancroft Prize. He would later win the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1993 with The Radicalism of the American Revolution. He is the Alva O. Way University Professor and Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University. You can always tell when a book has made an impact upon historians. It is cited repeatedly by many of them which shows it is part of their scholarly learning. This book is required reading for all American history doctoral students who study any part of American history to 1865. It is also mandatory for all American politics doctoral students as well. It can be a bit difficult for many to read who are not acquainted with primary sources or historical inquiry. The book is definitely a deep reading experience and readers will want to read it in sections to allow for some thinking between them. It helps to remember the people of the era in question were addressing the issues confronting them and not any modern issues which were not envisioned by them. I think that is far too often ignored by many who seek answers for today’s issues. They first need to understand the issues of the past which will help them understand why the American system of government was derived. Then they can look to address today’s problems. Wood kept great records of the materials he worked with as any good historian should and that helps studentsunderstand where he got his information from. His comments on his sources are also revealing in that he could not find many of them in contemporary print. This is a strong indicator about why he was able to come to the conclusions he did which differed so much from others. He studied the writings of the revolutionary era; not secondary sources. This should be a lesson to all historians about the importance of primary sources over secondary sources. It should also be a lesson to all about the dangers of relying on other opinions when some of those opinions are from those are uninformed about the past or seeking to gain power by misleading people for their own political gain. Creation is a definite must read and most worthy addition to my library and one which I am already using in my own historical writings. Wood’s work with sources helps identify primary sources to consult for my own use as well.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An extremely well written account of our Nation's legal birthBy Robert KirkI've read of few of Gordon Wood's other books (The American history series published by Oxford) and this book is by far more detailed; well written and difficult to absorb. That's what made it a great challenge and joy to read. The amount of sources mentioned were amazing due to the incredible amount of work that the author put into shaping the story of our country's beginning. It appears he wrote this book for the more advanced student of American history; compared to the Oxford series which was really a great summary of numerous years of history. I specifically enjoyed the many references to John Adams and his correspondence with other decision makers during that time period. In summary; this is an advanced American history book that will stretch you a bit but make you better.
