This book investigates the complex role of Scandinavian immigrants in the American Civil War and their evolving understanding of citizenship within the context of American empire. Anders Bo Rasmussen analyzes thousands of sources in multiple languages to reveal how Scandinavian immigrants, initially enthusiastic supporters of the Republican Party and opponents of slavery, utilized the concept of citizenship to resist the draft and advance a white republic through territorial expansion. The book demonstrates how these immigrants, after emancipation, became reactionary Republicans rather than abolitionists, highlighting the integral role of whiteness and territorial acquisition in American immigration history.

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of Scandinavian Americans' involvement in the Civil War, drawing on a wide array of multilingual sources previously inaccessible to many US historians. It reframes the understanding of citizenship, demonstrating its malleable nature as used by immigrants for personal and political ends. The work highlights the complex interplay of whiteness, territory, and immigration in shaping American history. This approach provides a unique perspective on the Civil War era and its impact on immigrant communities.