The author examines the myth of America as the Promised Land and inquires into how well it allows us to comprehend the experience of the millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. He suggests that the most common interpretation of this myth—America as a land of opportunity for all—is of limited utility. Such an interpretation cannot explain the hardship, discrimination, and outright exclusion experienced by many immigrants, especially those whose religion, politics, or race was suspect. It also fails to account for the millions who came to America not to build a new life but merely to earn enough to resuscitate their “old life” in Europe. However, a more complex and historically nuanced version of the myth, particularly its use in the expulsion of native Americans and the disciplining of recalcitrant members of the “chosen” community, suggests a workable framework within which to study the history of immigrants to America.
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