ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the first volume of this book. The immigrants featured in this volume were key players in a close cultural and economic relationship shared by Britain and America. After the Napoleonic Wars Britain began a century of political and economic dominance with the largest empire the world has ever seen. In terms of economic growth, industrial production and sheer power, there was not a competitor in sight. At the same time the United States was also achieving economic and military power and national confidence. The Monroe Doctrine (1823) confidently asserted that the western hemisphere was off limits to European meddling. In terms of economic growth, the United States was in the process of becoming the world's second industrial nation, even while it offered unprecedented opportunities to farmers. This was the overall context of British immigration during the period covered by this volume.
