The Making of an American Pluralism Buffalo, New York, 1825-60 by David A. Gerber

Abstract

With the publication of David A. Gerber’s The Making of an American Pluralism, an outstanding contribution to Buffalo, New York’s antebellum history has been made. The pluralism which Professor Gerber emphasizes throughout the work rests in the city’s three major ethnic groups: the founding Yankees and their descendents supplemented by Canadians and Britons, collectively styled Americans by the author, and the two largest immigrant groups, the Irish and the Germans. The interaction of these three groups makes for a fascinating story rich in narrative detail and interpretation.