America has traditionally been referred to as a “melting pot,” welcoming people from many different countries, races, and religions, all hoping to find freedom, new opportunities, and a better way of life.

The United States is a country of immigrants. It is a place where people from all over the world come to build a better life. Some immigrants bring their families. Some bring a few of their favorite things. Others come alone with nothing but determination. One thing that every immigrant brings with them is their culture. A person’s culture is the customs and beliefs that they hold. A person’s culture is strongly tied to the country where they grew up. It is tied to their relationship with their family. Many people come to America from so many different places all over the world. For this reason, many people call America a “melting pot” of cultures.

The “melting pot” idea compares America to a giant soup pot. Each immigrant is an ingredient added to the pot. Each immigrant adds their own flavor. After each immigrant comes to America, they connect to other people. People learn about each others’ culture. This is the beginning of the soup pot of America melting together.

American immigration began in 1607 with the colony of Jamestown. In 1620, another group of people left England to build a settlement in America. These people called themselves Pilgrims. They wanted to go to a place where they could practice their religion freely. They wanted to be free of the control of the English government. Both of these groups worked hard to build good settlements.

E Pluribus Unum – From Many to One

American history began with waves of immigrants, bringing their own cultures and traditions to a vast new country. No other place in the world has such a diverse population. It is this diversity that makes America what it is and, at the same time, creates the challenges it faces.

But What is American Culture?

Americans come from all over the world. A recent search for “American Culture” on Yahoo! – Regional > Countries > United States > Society and Culture > Cultures and Groups > Cultures > turned up 47 categories! Some of these include:

African
Asian
Arabic
Brazilian
Chinese
Danish
German
Hispanic/Latino
Indian
Iranian
Irish

Italian
Japanese
Korean
Native Americans
Norwegian
Philippine
Polish
Scandinavian
Scottish
Vietnamese
Welsh

Strictly speaking, the only indigenous Americans are the American Indians who were living here long before the first waves of settlers came over from Europe.  When Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, he called these natives “Indians” because he thought he had discovered a western route to India.

Today the trend is toward multiculturalism, not assimilation.  The old “melting pot” metaphor is giving way to new metaphors such as “salad bowl” and “mosaic”, mixtures of various ingredients that keep their individual characteristics.  Immigrant populations within the United States are not being blended together in one “pot”, but rather they are transforming American Society into a truly multicultural mosaic.

 Understanding the national character of the United States begins with the land itself– approximately the size of China, half the size of Russia, and two and one-half times the size of Western Europe.   It is a vast country with an abundance of natural resources.  

From Sea to Shining Sea

The American mosaic is one of different cultures and regional identities, each with unique characteristics and flavors. Americans often think of themselves not only as coming from a particular ethnic heritage, but also of being part of a geographical region.  Understanding these regional characteristics and flavors is an excellent way to get to know Americans.

The East

New England – Early economic and cultural center for almost two centuries.  New Englanders are known for their self-reliance, and distinctive accent, particularly in the North and in Boston. The Middle Atlantic States -known historically for the “muscle” of the American economy, the region became the center for heavy industry.  Settlers were from many different cultural backgrounds, including Dutch, Swedes, English Catholics and Protestants, and Quakers.

The South

Famous for “southern hospitality”, and a very distinctive accent, known as a “southern drawl”, the South is perhaps one of the most colorful and regions in the United States.  English Protestants, many becoming rich by raising tobacco and cotton on large southern plantations, originally settled this region.

The Midwest

This region has been called “America’s cultural crossroads and breadbasket.”   Settlers came primarily from Germany, Sweden, and Norway.  The Mississippi River, lifeline of the region, inspired the world-famous Mark Twain book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The Great Lakes & Great Plains 

The Great Lakes region, named for its many lakes, played the part of the early industrial center in American.  It is the center of the American automobile industry and the development of mass production.    

The Great Plains, so named because it covers over 1,000 miles of plains and prairies, reaches from Oklahoma and Kansas to North Dakota.  Wyatt Earp, and “Wild Bill” Hickok, two legendary lawmen, ruled the frontier towns of Dodge City and Abilene.

The West

The American West is a geographical region, the “last frontier” to be settled in a vast country.  Settlers moved west to find new opportunity, escape religious persecution, and create a new and better way of life.

The American West is also, perhaps a state of mind.  This “Frontier Spirit”, and the move westward had a significant impact on the development of American culture.

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