The more I read about immigration history, the more I’m struck by how many things stay the same. Human nature, human migration — and human resistance to outsiders.

Germans from the Rhineland heard about the riches of America through (unreliable) reports. Check.

German migrants were viewed with hostility by authorities in the Netherlands as they journeyed through. Check.

German migrants were disappointed to find that the golden promises were false and ended up crowding into filthy shelters to wait, or begging on the streets. Check.

English authorities feared Catholics and returned the Catholic migrants back to their home country. Check.

English authorities figured out ways to use the German migrants for political purposes. Check.

English transported German migrants out of their immediate territory to get them out of the way. Check.

This week on How We Got Here, on Substack.

https://alisonpeck.substack.com/p/when-queen-mary-bussed-german-migrants

(By the way, that should be “Queen Anne,” not her older sister Queen Mary, in the post header! Not sure why I had Mary on the brain that day …)