Born in the USA

The words carved into the Statue of Liberty make a simple promise - America will provide a home for anyone in search of a better life. However, the true story of immigration to America is full of complications and caveats. Born in the USA tracks the history of immigration to the United States, revealing how economic interests and political winds have sculpted Americans' thoughts about who belongs in the USA. From Black enslavement to Chinese exclusion and the modern-day debate over birthright citizenship, Lawrence Goldstone and James Otis Smith reveal the dissonance between the American dream and the American reality.