Lisa Disch read every chapter—twice. Sometimes more. She corrected errors, made suggestions, and forced me to rethink certain problems. This book is much stronger as a result, and I am especially grateful to her. Lawrie Balfour and Noel Ignatiev also carefully read the entire manuscript and offered excellent advice on revisions, most of which I have tried to take. Mary Dietz, August Nimtz, and David Roediger read an early version of this project and gave me valuable assistance through- out the research and writing process.