The United States is a nation of, largely, assimilated immigrants that spans back over 200 years. Or at least it used to be. Today an American is an American that retains their cultural identity to their homeland. America is a nation of multiple cultures and races thrown together haphazardly but still one whole. The term salad bowl would seem fitting would it not? We used to be considered a melting pot, a blend of multiple cultures and races that were American. America is a melting pot because we are Americans, not matter where we came from, we are here now in the United States, and that is our culture. A Brief History of United States Immigration Immigration in America is often broken down into distinct “waves”. These waves were the greatest influxes of immigration into the United States. The first settlements consisted of people from Spain, (in Florida) England, (in Virginal and Massachusetts), and others from France, Sweden, the Netherlands and sadly the slaves from Africa (Matthews, 2013). These people were the foundations of a nation that from its beginning was already multicultural, but still considered American. The second wave of immigration was in the 1800’s. 4 million Irish immigrants and 6 million German immigrants flocked to the eastern shores of the United States to escape from bad economies, hunger, and war. Tapering off during the Civil War another influx in the second wave of immigration happened after its conclusion. Hailing from Sweden, Norway and Denmark, these immigrants once again sought American shores to escape hard times in their home countries, this time shrinking land holds being the reason. After the discovery of gold in 1849 yet another influx of immigration boomed. With though... ... middle of paper ... ...at came here, not only stayed here, but fermented and fostered the belief that they were Americans. Think about the slaves that are now Americans today. The English that fought a revolution became the Americans we are today. The Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Latin’s, Poles, and Slavs, that despite being treated unjustly, assimilated into our culture and became Americans. From the beginning we were a melting pot, and amidst terms like multiculturalism and salad bowl we remain... American. References: Ernsberger Jr., R. (2013, August). Roger Daniels, Immigration Historian. American History , pp. p28-29. Foner, N. (2009). The American Melting Pot is a Rich Stew. Phi Kappa Phi Forum , 7-10. Kurtz, S. (2013, 05 20). National Review. Acculturation Without Assimilation , pp. 19-20. Matthews, A. (2013, May/June). Coming In Waves. Cobblestone , pp. p2-5. 4p.
In the excerpt from “From the Melting Pot to the Tossed Salad Metaphor: Why Coercive Assimilation Lacks the Flavors Americans Crave” Gloor evaluates several metaphors used to describe the diversity of America, beginning with the most common ideas of the United States being considered either melting pot or a salad bowl. After analyzing both metaphors, it becomes evident that while these ideas sound great, in reality, they are not only a flawed depiction of what America is like but altogether undesirable considering the implications of a “melting pot” or “tossed salad” society. In the text, Gloor brings up a third and new metaphor that symbolizes America as an ethnic stew, but in reality, the stew theory is more accurately wishful thinking than it is an actualized reality. Gloor’s writing piece not only exposes the flaws of the melting pot and tossed salad metaphors, but exemplifies the complexity of our society due to the several moderate inaccuracies of the ethnic stew theory.
The term melting-pot has been used since the 1700s. It has always been a metaphor to describe immigrants coming to America. The melting pot is a fusion of cultures and ethnicities into one larger culture. Americans did not like the idea of immigration to their country, viewing their country as beautiful the way it was. Many thought America would be ruined if too many people immigrated and left their cultural mark on the country. The melting-pot concept on immigration seems to highlight historically how America came to be, but for more current immigration, Americans views are more negative. American attitude towards immigrants in the 1900s was not very favorable. Since they feared them, immigrants were often treated horribly by Americans. Robert H. Clancy says, “Vigorous complaint and more or less bitter persecution have been aimed at newcomers to our shores. Also the congressional reports of about 1840 are full of abuse of English, Scotch, Welsh immigrants as paupers, criminals, and so forth.” (Clancy,
In the years from 1860 through 1890, the prospect of a better life attracted nearly ten million immigrants who settled in cities around the United States. The growing number of industries produced demands for thousands of new workers and immigrants were seeking more economic opportunities. Most immigrants settled near each other’s own nationality and/or original village when in America.
Since its creation, the United States of America has been labeled as a melting pot.
The diversity of the United States began before the vast majority of Irish and German immigration, however without the attractiveness of the United States such ethnic groups, America would have never become the land of immigrants.
...d not assimilate to accepted American culture. However, by the time society learned which ethnicities were ‘unassimilable’, the cultures had already begun to take root in America. At first America had a knee-jerk reaction to this realization and began passing more resolutions preventing ‘non-whites’ from entering the United States. However, as America experienced the increase in cultural communities in reaction to prejudice formed by immigration laws, the government learned that only through a loosening of immigration law and lessening of prejudice would America become a true melting pot. The mid-1900s saw this manifestation in America, as immigration laws allowed more people from around the world to immigrate. As prejudice lessened, the cultural communities sprinkled throughout America that created a mosaic became less prevalent and have begun to form a melting pot.
prosperous from its diversity, epitomizes the "American Melting Pot". It is complicated to relate such different backgrounds, but with an overview of history, culture, religion, and integration on a small scale, a reader is capable of applying the values to the American culture as a whole.
This meant dropping their old way and adopting the American ways of life. This included the way they dressed, spoke, acted in public, and then in extreme cases their religion. The old immigrants wanted the new to drop the old way completely. This was seen severely in California with the Asian population. When they entered the U.S. they were looked down upon because of they way the dresses, acted, and they way the practice their religion.ea wanted the Asian immigrants to adopted their customs. This forced change was harder for the older generation then it was for the younger and middle generations. The results these people clinging to their identity caused ethnical communities within the big cities, for example Chinatown, Little Italy,and Little Germany in New York City. These fractions within the city have caused America to become more of a salad bowl in the modern times the the melting pot of the old
America was widely known as a “melting pot” of sorts for many generations. The country earned its title by accepting immigrants of various cultures and molding, or melting, them into the American lifestyle. However, the “melting pot” idea of America is starting to dissipate. According to a Newsweek Poll on the public, “only 20 percent still think America is a melting pot” (Morganthau and Wolfberg, par.4). As more Americans push away immigrants and create stereotypes against said immigrants, America continues to lose its title as a “melting pot.” There is ethnic friction in America and people have begun to have a hard time assimilating (Morganthau and Wolfberg, par.18). .America is beginning to place a negative outlook on its culture. Authors Jack Shaheen, Richard Rodriguez, Peter Marin and Zora Neale Hurtson all shape American culture in a detrimental way.
Oftenly, America is referred to as a giant melting pot, which is a metaphor for the idea that one society includes a diverse group
The United States has been, and is, a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. As
If this country were a melting pot with immigrants from all over bringing over their culture, this country would be very difficult to live in. You could have people like the bushmen living right next door to upper class Americans that just don’t want people who walk around pretty much nude right next to them. That then has people of different groups striving for their cultural identity to be shown because they aren’t fitting into the Eurocentric ideal of an “American” culture. Saying that this country is like a tossed salad though is a lot different and a lot more realistic.
Many people know that the United States of America is a country that was discovered by immigrants and was founded on the principles of freedom and liberty for everyone. Albeit, some exercised their freedom to such an extent that it limited, or took away, the freedom of others, now more than ever the United States professes to stand by these principles. Because of this, many people have wanted to come this country in search for better opportunity, protection, and prosperity. A virtue for those coming to country was the freedom they had to religious belief and expression. Subsequently, this created a certain diversity in the United States, which would lead to what would called the “Melting Pot.” It is a good thing because people not only get
Being the melting pot of the world is what made America the great country that it is today. In today’s America though, that phrase has been pushed out of its vocabulary. The country went from letting everyone one in to almost kicking its own citizens out. People are even leaving the country on their own free will now because they hate the political and economic systems we have in place. Steadily increasing amounts of regulations have torn apart families and made it extremely difficult to become an American citizen. Overall, things need to change so America can be seen as the melting pot of the world
The age old question that many ask today is “what is an American?” America is continued to be called the “melting pot” of the world. This statement refers to the combination of different cultures and ethnicities throughout the United States. The diversity of America should not take away from the history and foundation it was found upon. ...