Synopsis

Our American Stories exploring the dynamic and shifting relationship America had with her new immigrants in the 20th century. Becoming American - exploring 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. Making America - tells the story of the peopling of the New World, of how land came to define the settling and identity of America, and of how the guests' ancestors were part of this history. Know Thyself - takes up the search for the guests' ancestries where the historical record leaves off and links their distinctive family histories to the broader history of "the family of man."