This document provides an overview of multiculturalism in the United States. It discusses how the US has become a highly diverse nation through immigration from many parts of the world. It also examines the concepts of the "melting pot" and "salad bowl" in describing cultural diversity in American society. The document then profiles the various ethnic and racial groups that comprise the population of the US, including Native Americans, European colonists, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans, and others.

1. MULTICULTURALISM IN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Paper 2: Cultural Studies
Unit 3: Ethnicity and Identity
20 Aug 2014
Rinu Krishna K.
MPhil 2014-15
Institute of English

2. Introduction
Multiculturalism is the cultural diversity of communities
within a given society and the policies that promote this
diversity. It is the co-existence of diverse cultures, peacefully
and equitably in a single country, and is manifested in
customary behaviours, cultural assumptions and values,
patterns of thinking, and communication styles.
As a philosophy, multiculturalism began as part of the
pragmatism movement at the end of the nineteenth century in
Europe and the United States, then as political and cultural
pluralism at the turn of the twentieth. It was partly in response
to a new wave of European imperialism in sub-Saharan Africa
and the massive immigration of Southern and Eastern
Europeans to the United States and Latin America.
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3. Introduction
United States is one of the worlds most
ethnically diverse and multicultural
nations.
US has developed as a country through the
many vast races and ethnic backgrounds
that have come to these shores and made it
their home. Most Americans have Irish,
German, Russian, Scottish, English, Polish,
Serbian, French, Italian, Croatian,
Scandinavian, Asian and African
descendants.
In the US, multiculturalism has promoted
the socio-economic life of the American
society.
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4. The United States of America/
United States (US)/America
 Discovered by Columbus in 1492
 Named after the Italian explorer Amerigo
Vespucci
 Located in North America bordering the
Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
 Neighbouring countries are Canada and
Mexico
 Mountains in the west, a broad central plain
and low mountains in the east
 A constitutional federal republic with a
strong democratic tradition – 50 states and a
federal district
 Capital –Washington DC
 Largest city – New York
 318 Million people
 One of the worlds most ethnically diverse
and multicultural nations.
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5. The United States of America
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6. Who are Americans?
Citizens of USA – Americans do not equate their
nationality with ethnicity but with citizenship.
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7. Brief History of American Ancestors
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8. The Native Americans
Indigenous people of the Americas
 Pre Columbian inhabitants of North,
South and Central America – the Paleo
Indians.
 They migrated from Eurasia (Siberia) via
Beringia, at least 13500 years ago.
 They diversified into many hundreds of
culturally distinct nations and tribes.
 The Mesoamerican civilization and
culture
 Farmers, hunters and gatherers.
 Indigenous languages
 Democracy
 ‘Red Indians’
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9. The Native Americans
Culture and achievements
 Mesoamerican civilizations
 Accomplishments in civic and monumental architecture
 Discoveries in astronomy and mathematics
 Distinct religion and mythology
 Complex social hierarchies
 The Iroquois League of Nations
 Writing systems
 Advanced methods of agriculture and farming.
 Music – flutes, drums and fiddles
 Art – pottery, painting, jewelry, beadwork and sculpture
Tenochtitlan – Aztecs largest city
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10. The European Colonization
Early Conquests and Colonies
 Spanish expedition by Christopher Columbus (1492,
Bahamas)
 Portuguese (Amerigo Vespucci, 1499) in the 15th
Century
 English (John Cabot, 1497, New Foundland) in the 15th
Century
 French (Verrazzano, 1524, east coast) in the 16th Century
 Russian, Sweden, Dutch and Denmark colonies
Results
 Trade with Indians
 Christianity
 Diseases and indigenous population loss
 Indentured servants from Europe, Africa &
Asia
 The Atlantic slave trade
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11. The late 19th Century and the 20th Century
Industrialism, World Wars & the
American Dream
 Industrial Revolution
 Civil War and the Abolition of
slavery
 The Gilded age
 The World Wars
 The Cold War
 American Imperialism
 Counter Culture Revolution
 Women’s rights & the Sexual
Revolution
 The American dream
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12. The Melting Pot / The Salad Bowl
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13. The Melting Pot
USA officially recognizes six ethnic and racial categories:
 White American (racial majority) – from Europe &
Middle East
 Native American and Alaska Native – North,
Central & South America
 African American (racial minority) – from Sub-
Saharan Africa
 Asian American – Far East & Indian Subcontinent
 Native Hawaiian - Pacific Islanders (Polynasia,
Melanesia and Micronesia)
 Some Other Race – Multi racial ancestry
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14. The Melting Pot
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15. The Melting Pot
a fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities
 Americanization
 Miscegenation
 Nativism
 The Racial Masquerade
 Cultural Pluralism
 The Salad Bowl
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16. American Multiculturalism
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17. American Multiculturalism
 is not a policy established by the
Federal law.
 One America in the 21st Century
 accepted as an official policy
 Has its side-effects
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18. American Multiculturalism
White American Culture
 High Culture
 Hippies
 American English
 Apple Pie
 Superman
 Hollywood
 Rock Music
 Madonna
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19. American Multiculturalism
African American Culture
 Harlem Renaissance
 Jazz Age
 Cultural movement of the
1960s & 70s
 Language
 Literature
 ‘Cool’
 Oprah
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20. American Multiculturalism
Asian American Culture
 Immigrants & refugees
 Heterogeneous
 Holistic
 Family Solidarity
 Kung Fu
 Sushi
 Literature & Popular
Culture
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21. American Multiculturalism
Latin American Culture
 Lazania and Tortillas
 Rodeo
 Tango, Samba, Cha cha
 Muralism
 Literature
 Film
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22. American Multiculturalism
Native American Culture
 Indian Country
 Native American Renaissance
 Tonto & The Lone Ranger
 “Dances with the Wolves”
 “Love Medicine”
 World Eskimo Indian Olympics
 The National Museum of the American
Indian
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23. American Diversity
 Sexual diversity
 Religious differences
 Age
 Physical Abilities
 Rural & Metro
 Political beliefs
 Military & Civil differences
 Linguistic
 Utility Differences
 Life stage differences
 Lifestyle and affluence
 Core values
 Diversity within diversity
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24. American Identity
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25. American Identity
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26. American Multiculturalism
A Topic of debate
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27. Americans
 They are the citizens of America
 Americans come in all colours, have all types of religions, and speak many languages from all over the world.
 Americans are extremely independent, individualistic, and like to be different from each other.
 Americans believe in freedom of choice.
 Americans need a lot of “elbow room”; they like personal space around them.
 Many people, especially teenagers, wear strange clothes, and many have tattoos and body piercings.
 Americans follow the rule of law.
 Discriminating against or making any insulting statement about someone else’s religion or ethnicity is against the
law and could be punishable as a hate crime.
 In most states, it is illegal to buy cigarettes /alcohol if you are under the age of 18 and often you can only smoke
in certain places.
 Americans are extremely informal and call most people by their first name or nickname.
 Americans smile a lot and talk easily to strangers, sharing personal stories.
 Americans don’t push or stand too close to anyone in line. They always wait their turn.
 Polite Americans eat with one hand while the other one is under the table on their laps.
 Americans have parties for many reasons. Sometimes they are held for friends to get together and to meet new
people.
 Never ask Americans a direct question about their religion, age, money, salary, weight, or dress/suit size.
 Men should not make any “sexist” remarks to or about women—anything that would make women unequal to
men.
 It is normal for American women to have male friends who are just friends (and vice versa).
 American parents speak to their children as adults and teach them how to be responsible for their actions.
 Americans love their pets, sometimes more than they love people.
 Domestic violence is against the law. It is illegal to hit anyone: a spouse, a parent, a child, and even a pet.
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28. THANK YOU
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29. Bibliography
 Lobo, Susan. Native American Voices. A Reader. Longman.
Print.
 Dr. A. Sivaramasubramonia Aiyer Memorial Committee.
Literary Studies. Coleridge’s Concept of Culture. Print.
 Cohen, Henry. The American Experience: Approaches to
the study of the United States. University of Pennsylvania.
Print.
 Page, Evelyn. American Genesis. Print
 Taylor, Jared. Multiculturalism and American Future. You
Tube. Internet.
 Colebuck, Claire. New Literary Histories. Second Edition.
Print.
 Wikipedia. Internet.
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