This book provides a new framework for examining and comprehending the varied historical experiences of ethnic groups in the United States. Thematically organized and comparative in outlook, it explores how historians have grappled with questions that bear upon a key aspect of the American experience: ethnicity. How did the United States come to have such an ethnically diverse population? What contribution, if any, has this ethnic diversity made to the shaping of American culture and institutions? How easily and at what levels have ethnic and racial minorities been incorporated, if at all, into the social and economic structures of the United States? Has incorporation been a uniform process or has it varied from group to group? As well as providing readers with an accessible yet authoritative introduction to the field of American ethnic history, the book serves as a valuable reference tool for more experienced researchers. Key Features: *Adopts a comparative and thematic approach that helps to demystify this complex and controversial subject. *Provides an orderly and readable introduction to the main issues and debates surrounding the topic. *Detailed and broad-ranging discussion of historiography enables readers to find more specialized works on topics in which they are interested.