A Diplomatic History of US Immigration during the 20th Century - (New Approaches to International History) by Benjamin Montoya (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This timely book explores immigration into the United States and the effect it has had on national identity, domestic politics and foreign relations from the early 1900s to the early 2010s. Comparing the immigration experiences of Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Cubans, Central Americans, and Vietnamese, this book highlights how the US viewed each group throughout the American century, the various factors that have shaped US immigration, and the ways in which these debates influenced relations with the wider world. Using a comparative approach, Montoya offers an insight into the themes that have surrounded immigration, its role in forming a national identity and the ways in which changing historical contexts have shaped and re-shaped conversations about immigrants in the United States. This account helps us better understand the implications and importance of immigration throughout the American century, and informs present-day debates surrounding the issue"--

Book Synopsis

This timely book explores immigration into the United States and the effect it has had on national identity, domestic politics and foreign relations from the 1920s to 2006.

Comparing the immigration experiences of Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Cubans, Central Americans and Vietnamese, this book highlights how the US viewed each group throughout the American century, the various factors that have shaped US immigration, and the ways in which these debates influenced relations with the wider world. Using a comparative approach, Montoya offers an insight into the themes that have surrounded immigration, its role in forming a national identity and the ways in which changing historical contexts have shaped and re-shaped conversations about immigrants in the United States.

This account helps us better understand the implications and importance of immigration throughout the American century, and informs present-day debates surrounding the issue.

Review Quotes

If a historian's job is to challenge established narratives, then Benjamin Montoya has certainly delivered. This work offers a groundbreaking reinterpretation of US immigration policies, skillfully weaving together domestic elements-from legislation to citizenship-and the longstanding racial biases in immigration with the intricate dynamics of international relations. The outcome is a compelling and fresh perspective on the making of the USA into "a nation of immigrants." This book deepens our understanding of a pivotal aspect of US society - and politics. It merits a broad readership on both sides of the Atlantic.
Christoph Rass, Professor of Modern History and Historical Migration Research, Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies, Osnabrueck University, Germany

In this thoughtful, analytical, and humane new book, Benjamin Montoya demonstrates how U.S. foreign policy decisions have shaped the migration choices of millions-and vice versa. Drawing on case studies of European, Asian, and Latin American migrants, and spanning more than two centuries of history, this book offers a valuable overview for students and fresh insights for scholars.
Christopher Capozzola, Professor of History, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

About the Author

Benjamin Montoya is an Associate Professor of History at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, USA. He is the author of Risking Immeasurable Harm: Immigration Restriction and U.S.-Mexican Diplomatic Relations, 1924-1932 (2020) and co-editor of Beyond 1917: The United States and the Global Legacies of the Great War (2017).