One constant among the elements of 1914—as of any era—was the disposition of everyone on all sides not to prepare for the harder alternative, not to act upon what they suspected to be true.
Barbara TuchmanRead
Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Immigrants are central to the story of America rather than just a chapter in it.
This quote by Oscar Handlin emphasizes the integral role of immigrants in shaping American history. Rather than viewing them as a separate group, Handlin asserts that immigrants are a fundamental part of the American narrative, highlighting their contributions and impact on the nation’s development.
Themes
ImmigrantsHistoryAmericaIdentityContribution
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on immigration reform, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of immigrant contributions to American society.
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