Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Donate Shop PBS Search PBS

Episode 2: Becoming American

Becoming American explores the many journeys to becoming American that defined the “Century of Immigration” (1820s – 1924) and transformed the United States from a sleepy agrarian country into a booming industrial power. Stephen Colbert’s Irish great-great-grandfather escaped poverty and religious oppression in Limerick and never looked back, whereas Mario Batali’s great-grandfather, who left the place where his family had lived for centuries, struggled to survive in the quartz mines of Montana. Her Majesty Queen Noor’s Syrian great-grandfather quickly found his footing in New York’s first Arab American community, while Kristi Yamaguchi’s grandfather faced exclusionary laws and racially-defined barriers to citizenship for decades. The obstacles, short-cuts, tragedies and successes encountered or created by the guests’ ancestors from around the world reveal the complexity of our shared history and identity as Americans.

167 Responses to “Episode 2: Becoming American”
  1. finding wife says:

    IF you really need to trap and remove a mama skunk under your house (or wherever it is on your property) PLEASE use a HUMANE trapping company they will NOT kill the skunk they will look for and find the babies and move them to where the mama can find them Skunks usually always build a SECOND den and once your house is made off-limits to them (by screening or closing off holes AFTER all animals have been removed) she will take her babies to the second den,

  2. Makeda Mcbean says:

    Thanks for your response Ashok. No worries about Amazon I am a subscriber to akbebooks, so will look forward to the next in the MBA series being posted there, hopefully sooner rather than later.

  3. Darnell Attkisson says:

    I’m trying to start and jewelry and craft website but I have a hard time coming up with names. Any suggestions? My partner came up with Amy Bear Creations. Amy for my name Bear for her nickname.

  4. Ramon Wechselblatt says:

    I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web site!

  5. compare life insurance rates says:

    Is Grantland the Chuck Klosterman Writing Academy or something? I can’t stand Klosterman, and the other writers there seem to be trying to be him.

  6. Sarah says:

    What a first rate show. I wish all television programing had the quality of this show ! Entertaining, inspiring and educational…well done !!

  7. Bridgeport graduation cap and gown says:

    It would be helpful if there were complementary courses that would allow them to make the transition during their PhD rather than afterwards.

    Bridgeport graduation cap and gown

  8. Goyard Online Sale says:

    Goyard GeYa traverse Qie special shiny and entirely and bright. Object of they all Buy Goyard Online Goyard Outlet Online made with waterproof canvas suitcase, they with hemp, cotton and hemp fiber woven mixture besmear again after the cultivate Gum Goyard Online Sale aldehyde carbohydrate, make originally had Goyard Online Store waterproof faculty, righteous jam-packed poplar wood and beech wood travel dull boxes, more hefty and durable. Increased by metal ironmongery: protect horn, seal and handle, each spot, are all Goyard Bags Online workers guide Mosaic, every particle of force, each Goyard Online Shop pile stroke, each leather fold the side, just as a French handicraft.

  9. Buy Nfl Jersey says:

    In 1986, Marc Jacobs launched the Marc Jacobs fashion line. His designs injected a gist of whimsy and aberration into fancy, trend-setting style. The maker was a hit. It was indeed such a horsewhip that Marc Jacobs won the coveted Perry Ellis Bestowal after Further Look Talent from the CongregationBuy Nfl Jersey of Look Designers of America. In 1997, the Marc Jacobs maker Buy Nfl Jerseyopened its first rely on, located in Mod York’s famed Soho district. This would be Cheap Nfl Jerseyunbiased the catalyst as a remedy for the inclusive burgeoning of the Marc Jacobs brand. Buy Nfl JerseyEventually, Marc Jacobs would open Buy Nfl Jerseystores all across the U.S., including stores in Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. TheBuy Nfl Jersey company would spread abroad as amiably Buy Nfl Jerseyto Paris, London, Madrid, Athens, Milan, and Cheap Nfl Jerseydivers more cities. Marc Jacobs for the nonce has more than 100 stores worldwide.

  10. Gotta excellent 1 about 3 minutes away. It can be in Vernon Hills, IL; it’s called, “Pizza Italia,” and it rocks according to at least one particular Chicago native.

  11. green bay quarterback coach penn state says:

    That made me laugh so much I kept watching it over again and again.

  12. Hey there, Could I copy your picture and employ it on my own webpage?

  13. Magnificent web site. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks in your sweat!

  14. Delta Mccrumb says:

    Why are YOU in control of what I put in MY body WHY??

  15. Jerry Parayno says:

    Hey, I don’t want to just jump in on the conversation like this, but, I’m looking for a locksmith right away. I moved to Boston a few days ago and right now I could use a skilled technician with a good price and they should be Boston based. I got this contact info after doing a quick search on Google, but I just don’t know where to start looking. Do you, by any chance, have any information about this Boston locksmith company? I cannot call them now, and there’s not a single review about them yet, any information about them would help a lot — Boston MA Lock Shop, 304 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115 (857) 284-1772.

  16. benefits of stock options says:

    Hmm Well I was just searching on yahoo and just came across your site, in general I just only visit websites and retrieve my needed info but this time the useful info that you posted in this post urged me to post here and appreciate your diligent work. I just bookmarked your site. Thank you again.

  17. I’m baffled by the information in this blog I found it to be not only extremely motivating but it also made me think. It is hard now a days to find related information to ones search, so I’m happy that I found this article post

  18. I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t forget this website and give it a glance regularly

  19. Carola Sakihara says:

    I like the helpful info you provide on your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here frequently. I am somewhat sure I’ll learn many new stuff right right here! Good luck for the next!

  20. Kırmadan su kaçağı tespiti: usta-su-tesisatcisi.blogspot.com

  21. Su kaçağı bulma: usta-su-tesisatcisi.blogspot.com

  22. lopez wilcox says:

    I am going to definitely be returning for your internet site to learn more articles when i loved any particular one..

  23. I am not skilled, I never played on official battlenet, I am playing in hellgateserver.com, however I extremely enjoyed the read and humor of your article. Rare to find good write-up now days.

  24. Jessica says:

    Well, if I had known this before, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now.

  25. I have been looking the net trying to get information on weight loss and landed on your site. Very interesting. Thanks

  26. I want after i experienced a Pinto Wagon these had been approximately. I’d have loved just one.

  27. RAOUL says:

    You should study geography a little more; afterwards, you will realize that America is NOT a country, but a CONTINENT that goes from Canada to Argentina. The name of the country is United States of America, a nice name and a very descriptive one. Nevertheless, you insist in America which is not even a word in English…
    Regards.

Leave a Reply

Please note that the THIRTEEN editorial staff reserves the right to not post comments it deems to be inappropriate and/or malicious in nature, as well as edit comments for length, clarity and fairness. No solicitations or advertisements will be allowed. Users may link to other Web sites relevant to discussion, but most often links to commercial Web sites will not be permitted.
© 2013 WNET.ORG Properties LLC. All rights reserved.