Cultural Diversity

CLAD Chapter 8Pages 212-233

By, Kathleen Kent

What have immigrants brought to the US?CulturesPolitical

opinionsReligionsEconomic valuesMultiple

tonguesVarious skills

Historical PerspectivesThe US is often

described as a melting pot, salad bowl, or kaleidoscope of cultures.

Europeans came and made the 13 colonies and met the Native Americans.

The colonists imported slaves from Africa.

More Historical PerspectivesSettlers moved towards the interior and met

more native groups in the plains and pueblos.Mid-nineteenth century English speaking

Americans expanded to the Southwest. This is where some Native Americans and their Spanish-speaking heirs had land grants.

Overall, the US has been based on the idea of continuous assimilation of newcomers. This often means easy changes such as language and clothes. But it also means difficult changes, such as discarding traditions.

Contributions of Specific CulturesWhat is important to remember is that even before

the European people came to the “New World” to attempt to replicate their lives in the Old World there was also many cultures and civilizations who had already inhabited this continent .

Native Americans developed cities, roads, agricultural systems (such as irrigation), medicinal products.

African Americans brought with them their dance, music, literature, religion, writers, rappers, poets, and many scientific and technological advances (examples are the boat propeller and the reaper).

Contributions of Specific Cultures (continued)Hispanic/Latinos contributed

many foundations in agriculture, mining, and within the cattle industry. They also had an influence in politics, literature, poetry and the arts.

Asian Americans have influenced economics and the international trade industry.

Arab Americans have a great ability to assimilate and have influence and focus on family and education.

ExploitationEuropean settlers have

exploited other cultures since their arriving in the New World.

Native Americans, Hispanics, indentured servants, Chinese, and African Americans were just a few of the cultures and people who were taken advantage of during the development of the US.

The Impact of a Changing PopulationIn 2010 one in three Americans is either

African American, Hispanic, or Asian American. We need to change the idea of what an “American” looks like to fit our ever developing culture.

Poverty among Minority GroupsPoverty as a whole has many subsets that

help keep those in that situation in a continuous loop. Some of these difficulties are underemployment, homelessness, single-parent homes, educational deprivation, racism, discrimination, and other instabilities.

The Education of MinoritiesIt has been almost half a

century since the Brown v. Board of Education and yet a child who is Black, Latino, or Native American still is less likely to succeed in school.

In inner city schools there are more first-year teachers, higher enrollments, fewer library resources, and less parental involvement, just to name a few of the disparages.

Second-Language-Speaking Minority PopulationsOne in five

Americans speaks a language other than English at home.

Almost 3 million school-age children speak Spanish as a native language, this is 76.9% of the English learners in the US.

Causes of ImmigrationDislocated by wars

FamineCivil StrifeEconomic Changes

Causes of Immigration (cont.)PersecutionSocial UpheavalsOverpopulationPolitical FactorsReligious FactorsFamily Unification

MigrationPeople typically migrate

for one of two reasons; the promise of economic freedom or crowding.

This began with the gold rush and has continued since then.

According to the census American's keep moving, but the Hispanics are the most mobile culture.

Immigration LawsRestrictive

immigration policies began in 1882 with the Chinese Exclusion Act, this was the beginning of quotas and immigration policies.

U.S. Immigration Foreign Policies1600-1865 New

settlers were a source of labor

1865-1920 Industrial capitalism

1924 Immigration Act

1965 Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments

1980 The Refugee Act

Legal StatusDocumented immigrants=legal residents who

have entered the US officially and are protected by legal immigration status.

Refugees=people being considered documented immigrants who are receiving transitional support services and assistance through the US government.

Undocumented immigrants=residents without any documentation who live in fear of being identified and deported.

Thank You!