Experimental Blog #9

Comments on the book "Daily Life in Immigrant America 1870 - 1920" - How the Second Great Wave of Immigrants Made Their Way in America by June Granatir Alexander

This book is, I believe, number 2 in a series of three books on American immigration, the daily life of American immigrants, and many related experiences and social and political events. How interested a reader might be in this book might depend on the history of their particular family origins and the dates or times of their immigration to America.
The author describes how what was known as the "first wave" of "old immigrants" resumed after being interrupted by the American Civil War. This wave of old immigrants came primarily from the countries of Great Britain, Germany, or the German states, and the Scandinavian countries, who, most often, came to take up farming, and moved westward to the midwestern and great plains states, and Ireland, who went, most often, to the cities of the eastern seaboard, the midwest, and elsewhere.
The "second wave" of "new immigrants" came from many countries and ethnic groups of Southern and Eastern Europe, beginning largely after 1870. However, by 1896 they had surpassed the first wave of old immigrants, and would continue to be the most numerous. These people went primarily to the "cities, industrial towns, and mining fields."
Of course, all immigration was interrupted by World War I, and had hardly resumed when it was quite abruptly cut off by the immigration legislation of the 1920's. It must also be mentioned that most immigration from Asia was always restricted by earlier legislation and other agreements between governments.

How much did all of this immigration "remake" America, as this book and others too, have claimed? How much yet remains to be seen? Is this still an open question?


And Comments on "The Seashell on the Mountaintop" - A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius who Discovered a New History of the Earth by Alan Cutler

After the end of the Renaissance and at the begining of the great Scientific Revolution of the 17th century lived Nicolaus Steno, from 1638 to 1686. He has been called the "founder of geology." This book gives highlights of his not very long life, he died at the age of 48, and careers, and some of the consequences and related events in the following century, or so.