Within the next decade, Hispanics will become the largest minority group in the United States. The new immigrants have ignited a vibrant "Latin explosion" in popular culture and deeply affected American society.

Spanning 500 years—from the first New World colonies to our nation's nineteenth-century westward expansion, from the days of gunboat diplomacy to the turn of the millennium—Harvest of Empire features family portraits of real-life immigrants along with sketches of the political events and social conditions that compelled them to leave their homeland. In addition, it gives a fascinating look at how these Latino pioneers have transformed the cultural landscape of the United States.