Chapter 8, Section 1 A Heritage of Diversity and Exchange

diversity Diversity means a wide variety of cultures. When the United States and Canada became separate countries in 1783, the new boundaries did not divide the cultural regions that already existed.

cultural exchange Cultural exchange is the process by which different peoples share ideas and customs. For example, Native Americans shared more than just skills, they told stories that explained their way of life. When the Europeans arrived, their culture completely changed the Natives’ cultures.

However… Native Americans also contributed to a new European way of life (especially their foods). African rhythms would permanently alter European music, making a new “American” sound.

diffusion and acculturation From Chapter 4: Diffusion is the movement of customs and ideas between cultures. Acculturation is the process of borrowing ideas and customs and adapting them to your culture.

ethnic group An ethnic group is made up of people who share a common language, history, and culture. A group of Russian and Ukrainian settlers helped the Canadian Prairie Provinces become one of the leading wheat-growing regions in the world.

cultural patterns Although they were both British colonies, the U.S. and Canada have encouraged immigration from other ethnic groups to increase their work force.

political asylum Political asylum is a person’s right to ask a foreign country for protection against persecution from his or her own country.

fitting in

maintaining traditions In 1976, thousands of Vietnamese immigrants came to Oklahoma City. Their neighborhood is called “Little Saigon.”

cultural ties

literacy Literacy is the ability to read and write. The United States and Canada have highly literate populations. We read the same books, listen to the same music, and watch the same movies and television shows.

standard of living The standard of living is a measure of the necessities, freedoms, and comfort that people have access to.

travel and tourism Millions of Canadians travel to the U.S. each year, with a large number visiting Florida.

Chapter 8, Section 2 The United States: A Nation of Immigrants

Ellis Island “…This is the only country where you’re not a stranger, because we are all strangers. It’s only a matter of time who got here first.” ~Lazarus Salamon, Hungarian immigrant

steady growth In 1790, the population of the United States was 4 million. Today, it’s 315 million.

First Contact Europeans and Native Americans

Conflict As Europeans moved west, they forced Native Americans into a series of wars for control of the continent.

reservations Reservations are federal lands set aside for Native Americans.

treaties Treaties are formal agreements. From 1778 to 1871, the United States signed hundreds of treaties with the American Indians. Most of them were broken.

The American Indian Movement In the 1960s, Native Americans began working for better living conditions and equal rights. They formed the American Indian Movement. Dennis Banks, left, was and is one of their leaders.

waves of immigrants

influences on our culture

influences from our culture

Chapter 8, Section 3 The Canadian Mosaic

a different way Canadians favor multiculturalism, rather than blending all the cultures together like the U.S.

“Je me souviens” French Canadians in Quebec are concerned about preserving their heritage. Many want Quebec to become a separate country. Their rallying cry is “Je me souviens” - “I remember.”

First Nations The Assembly of First Nations is an organization to preserve the culture of Canada’s indigenous, or native, people.

The Inuit The Inuit have lived in the Arctic for centuries. They have always been self-sufficient, but modern technology is causing them to lose their traditional skills.

Asian immigration Since 2002, more than half of Canada’s immigrants have come from Asia.

Most Canadians feel that the United States has too much influence on their culture. They encourage people to express their ethnic heritage and to “Be Canadian.”

Canadian culture