Effects of World War I - Book Report/Review Example

David Laskin in The Long Way Home follows the lives of eleven individuals on a journey that starts from Ellis Island to the time they fight in the Great War. The origins include Poland, Norway, Russia, and Italy (Laskin). Their origins are traced, from their native land, to how they arrive in America. Their service in the war and life after the war are all documented. The American immigrants who served in the war during its course suffered both long and short-term consequences. World War I also played an ‘Americanization’ role for the immigrants.

The short-term impacts included tension in America, as some immigrants refused to fight in the war due to conflict of interest. The immigrants could trace their origins to the countries America was asking them to fight. Their refusal to fight their distant relatives got them imprisoned. Such a reaction from the authorities increased tension along with religious and political spheres.In the long run, World War I could be said to have resulted in the diversity of America. Immigrants from different regions earned their citizenship, and America became a diverse population.

The war also created barriers for those who wanted to immigrate to America in the future. Those who wanted to emulate the paths of the immigrant soldiers were treated as suspects dropping the immigration rate.For the immigrants, the War was an ‘Americanization’ program since it was a means for the immigrant to earn citizenship.