Ethnic minority groups assimilate by adopting the cultural norms of the dominant group and abandoning their own differences. This can occur through a "melting pot" process or by choice to avoid discrimination. While many groups assimilated over time, such as the Italians and French, others resisted strongly initially, like the Cherokee who were forced to attend boarding schools to become detached from their culture. The Irish and Germans also assimilated more slowly due to maintaining their languages longer in America.

1. Assimilation

2. What is Assimilation (Majority-Conformity)?
• Ethnic minority group
members who no longer
possess any marked
cultural, social, or personal
differences from the people in
dominant group.
• Melting pot theory: idea that
people of different races will
"melt together" into a
harmonious whole with a
common culture.

3. The English
• During the 18th century most people in
power were of English decent.
• Had biggest influence on new nations
culture.

4. Why people assimilate?
• Longing for (internal & external) self-
justification.
• To avoid:
~Social discrimination
~Stereotyping
~Ethnic humor

5. Who resisted assimilation??

6. •
The Cherokees
Out of all the tribes, they
resisted assimilation the
longest.
• Indian children were
forced to attend boarding
school where they were
stripped of their long
hair, and forbidden to
speak their own
languages.
• When they returned
home, their parents did
not recognize them.

7. The Irish
• Did not blend into the melting pot, and this
stirred America.
• Irish were hated because of this, and because of
their and their Catholicism.
• Today Catholicism is very popular and accepted.

8. The Germ
• One of the largest groups of immigrants, most settled
in Pennsylvania and other mid Atlantic states.
• Assimilated slower because their language was
spoken vastly in America.
• From 1850-1970 German was the second most
spoken language in the US.

9. Easily Assimilated
The Italians
• First generation Italian Americans retained much of their language and
customs.
But…
• Second generation became more “Americanized” ( this produced a strain
between the 2 generations).
The French
• Made a conscious decision to assimilate to American culture.
• In the 17th century Huguenots (French Protestants) fled to escape religious
persecution.
• Encountered distrust and violence from the English.
• Quickly changed their names, language and customs to avoid a hostile
society.