Week 30
David McCullough emphasized that America's greatest achievements and identity are deeply rooted in the vital work, genius, and courage of immigrants. McCullough frequently stated that "we're all here because we're the descendants of people who came to make a better future." He pointed to monumental feats like the Transcontinental Railroad (completed in 1869) and the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge as milestones that simply "only happened because of immigrants" who did the grueling physical labor. He highlighted immigrant masterminds such as John Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge, and Irving Berlin, who wrote "God Bless America," as examples of how immigrants fundamentally shaped American culture and capability.
REQUIRED READING FOR THE WHOLE YEAR OF COMING TO AMERICA
RECOMMENDED READING
The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West,
Simon & Schuster,
ISBN 978-1501168703