The Diversity of americans

E pluribus unum Out of many, one To Americans this reminds us that many diverse citizens of the United States have joined together to create a single, strong nation. For all our differences we are linked by shared values and experiences

A Nation of Immigrants The first Europeans to settle permanently in North America arrived from Spain during the 1500’s They occupied territory in Florida, California and the Southwest.

A Nation of Immigrants Beginning in the 1600’s people from France and England came to North America. The French settled primarily in Canada and around the Mississippi River The English settled mainly along the east coast.

A Nation of Immigrants In the late 1600’s and the 1700’s immigrants from Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, and Sweden joined these English settlers.

A nation of immigrants After the United States won its independence, it became knows throughout Europe as a land of promise. Population grew from 600,000 in 1830 to over 2,000,000 in 1850. From 1860 to 1890 more than 10 million Europeans, many from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden streamed into this country.

A Nation of Immigrants Another flood of immigrants reached our shores between 1890 and 1924. Most of them came from Southern and Eastern Europe, from countries such as Italy, Greece, Poland, and Russia.

A Nation of Immigrants From 1890-1924 this era, the “New World” (North America) experienced a flood of cultures from the “Old World” (Europe) that is referred to as “The Great Convergence.”

Push and Pull Factors of Immigration Push Factors of Migration Pull Factors of Migration War Weather/Climate Disease/Plagues Available Land Lack of Jobs Job Opportunities Famine Freedom from Persecution Political Persecution

Culture in America Culture – a way of life for a group of people that share similar beliefs and customs. Melting pot view of culture – the mixing or blending of cultures into one unique american culture. Salad bowl view of culture – various cultures act as salad ingredients, and do not merge into a single culture but keep their own distinctive cultural identity.

Major Population shifts in the United states Rural to urban Shift to the sunbelt (south and west migration) Urban/suburban shift