Resumen American Civilization Unit 1 PDF

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Unit 1:The American context.1) ETHNIC CULTUREFIRST CULTURE: DIVERSE ETHNIC CULTURE Founded on indigenous native American civilizations European colonial settlements African-American slavery later waves of immigration C OLONIAL PERIOD US colonial settlements composed of British arrivals shared N. Am...

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Unit 1:The American context. 1) ETHNIC CULTURE FIRST CULTURE: DIVERSE ETHNIC CULTURE -

Founded on indigenous native American civilizations European colonial settlements African-American slavery later waves of immigration

COLONIAL PERIOD  

US colonial settlements composed of British arrivals shared N. America with indigenous Native American communities. Until 1776 -> 50% from British Isles Later -> Other white Anglo American, Protestant dominant culture Promote nation´s - Political principles based on: Democracy Grass-roots sovereignty (independence of people) Skepticism about government - Social values conditioned by: A belief in individualism Protestant work ethic (working hard in this life to be rewarded here and in the next) Rule of law (respect for and acceptance of legal rules applicable to all individuals irrespective of status and wealth)

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Religious - Constitutional

-> Institutions (Impact still felt)

AFTER COLONIAL PERIOD 19th C : American independence from Britain: 2/3 of episodic US immigration from north-western Europe. Asian (particularly Chinese) Later newcomers from southern, eastern Europe. (neither Anglo/protestant) -> Alters USA demographic composition. 20 th C: Large variety of other nationalities from worldwide emigrating to USA 21 th C: Large groups from Asia/ South, Central America/ Caribbean. Effects of colonial settlement: Importation of African slaves substantial: high number of very different groups. -> American history: special, distinct, ethnically based identity. Nation of immigrants and their descendants.2008-13% foreign born 1906-15% TODAY Biggest minority immigrant: Latino (Florida, Texas, New Mexico, California, NY, LA) Estimations: 2042 white will be less than 50%. 2050 non-whites 54% Caused by: immigration, higher birth rates, ethnic minorities, intermingling of races, ageing white population with lower birth rates. CRITICS ARGUE: - Heart of USA: under the effects of the original European settlers - Anglo-Protestant culture, institutions still central to nation and civic identity. - Country remains a fundamentally Protestant society with large number of evangelical churches  Features influence contemporary social, economic and political life.

IMMIGRANTS AND IMPORTED BLACK AFRICAN SLAVES: -

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Affected public life at different times in US history Difficulties of integration: *Language problems *Social position *Cultural practices Racial tensions between settled groups (Native Americans, African Americans, immigrants) -> Nativism: discrimination towards others by indigenous population -> Racism: frequently in institutionalized form

ETHNIC DIVERSITY Advantages: - Reduced the dominance of the original Anglo-American Protestant culture (growing social pluralism) - USA has historically managed to integrate its immigrants successfully, newcomers adapted. Disadvantages: - Continue disfigure American society in both covert and over forms - Attitudes to immigration remain volatile POLL: -

5% beliefs that race relations bad shape 3/10 themselves acknowledged feelings or racial prejudice. Still divided by race Black/white different opinions about degree, extent of racism in country.

CONCLUSION: - Diverse ethnic groups have to coexist, struggle for individual expressions. - Must live together in spite of tensions between them - Always possibility of political, social instability. - Rejections of immigrants/rejection of Americanization (adapt to US culture) - Non-distinctively American -> occur in nations that have diverse population.

2) R ELIGIOUS CULTURE SECOND MAYOR AMERICAN CULTURE

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Religious settlers Roots in the many faiths *colonists *slaves *immigrants Escaped religious persecutions in their homelands Communities often based on non-conformist belief Provided to new nation: Institutional / moral bedrock Immigrants strongly identified with their home faiths -> preserved them in new country Non-religious settlers Traveled for adventure New experiences Escape EU habits Material gain Acquisition of land

Periods religiosity very low ->Periodic Great Awakenings, missionary activities needed to restore faiths. However religious belief, observation, diversity faiths -> defining features of US society Private matter: Constitutionally separate from state BUT informs aspects of: - Social - Economic - Political life CRITICS: Influence of religion hot debated - Education - Politics - Ethics Desire to keep religion out of politics. Others question if it is realistic to deny religion a full, active part in public life.

3) POLITICAL -LEGAL CULTURE THIRD MAYOR AMERICAN CULTURE BASED ON: Political-legal elements SHAPED BY - Central place of law and the Constitution in American life - Restrictions that the Constitution places upon politics - The fact that American believe in minimal government, especially at the federal level - The perceived need to produce consensual (widely agreed national policies) THE CONSTITUTION: Central to structure -> has to be interpreted by judiciary (esp. US Supreme Court Washington DC) -> determines if actions of Gov. are constitutional or not POLITICAL SYSTEM: Has layers of institutional checks, balances at various state, federal levels  These feature help to solidify society  Move towards consensus or centrist policies  Idealized “America”: Federal + state political bodies + respect for law = minimize conflict USA/ AMERICANNESS: has to be revised, reinvented: reflects tension materialistic practical reality -> idealistic abstract image of nation. (2008 election campaign: hope, change, traditional values…) RACIAL/ETHNIC DIFFERENCES: Still problematic. Argued: - Political/legal system hard-nosed manipulation of group and ideological interests - Occasional corruption, incompetence in political/legal systems - Claims to liberty, freedom -> Not always respected in reality. RESPONSES TO PLURALISM: Consensus politics based on political, judicial compromise. Democratic Party 60% support (2008-53%) Republican Party 40% support (2008-46%) Differences in party policies on minorities (economy, education, employment, religion, social issues-> diverse role in US society) 22%liberal - 44% moderate - 34% conservative Support, opposition: *abortion *death penalty *gun control AMERICAN POLITICS (FEDERAL NATURE OF US GOV) INFLUENCED BY: Local Regional State interests than national matters. Promote own constituency legislation (response to local, regional pressures) Persuade Americans to vote simultaneously for political rep. from different parties who support specific issues. Low turnout of registered voters: 54% *suggest alienation from political process *feel power is in hands of political elite at state/Washington levels *politicians do not consider the concerns of ordinary voters

4) ECONOMIC CULTURE FOURTH MAYOR US CULTURE: idealistic/abstract materialistic/practical BELIEF IN -

individualism free-enterprise system -> deliver goods, services demanded by consumer market

HISTORICALLY fight for economic, social survival -> as a result exploitation of others competitive nature -> disparities of wealth, social inequalities, varying life opportunities. 2008 -

28 million dependent upon gov. food stamps (card debits) for daily needs 48 million could not afford health care insurance

SYSTEM/INFERIOR PRODUCTS May deliver what market requires but also inferior products *bad service *incompetence *corruption *little variety *real choice for consumers Skeptical of Big Business/ Big Gov -> Debates often ignore: *economic cooperation *charitable org *volunteerism in US society. -> not acknowledge influence, substantial public-sector structure in national economy.

5) AMERICANNESS AND NATIONAL IDENTITY CULTURES: => ethnic religious political-legal economic

INFLUENCE: education social services the media arts, sports, leisure

DILEMMA: how to balance need for civic unity against reality of ethnic diversity to avoid dangers of fragmentation AMERICANIZATION assimilation of different ethnic groups into a shared, Anglo-American-Based identity. (Melting pot) (Assimilation=absolute national unity) seen as pressurizing immigrants to assimilate US culture = loss of ethnic identity (integration occurs at levels of partial blending) NATIONAL IDENTITY/PERIODS 50s ethnic differences loses urgency, 60s revived, esp. with growth of Latino´s AMERICAN VALUES (REP. CONS) / ETHNIC-MINORITY GROUP INTERESTS (REP. LIB) American ideal of e pluribus unum is abstract concept: does not reflect reality, cannot be practically achieved Emphases on ethnicity, difference arguable weaken possibility of achieving set of values -> could rep. “American Way of Life”. Some feel US society is at risk -> competing cultures, interest groups claim rights. -> has weakened sense of American identity. 70s – 2000s: reaction against liberal policies-> discriminate in areas as education/employment. Conservatives -> Trad. Values-> opposed to lib. Policies (abortion, gun control, school education, same-sex marriage, religion, death penalty, immigration) CRITICS US should more realistically regarded *ethnically As a mosaic, salad bowl, pizza, rather than a *culturally melting pot -> Variety incorporated into a *ideologically larger American whole.  Suggest acceptance of cultural, ethnic pluralism in American society.  Heterogeneity continue despite pressures in support of homogenization.  Can lead to: *hybrid cultural id *breakdown of strong national links. -

While extremes of opinion in US society -> ideals not always achieved(still conflicts, anxieties)

ARGUE Tension between pluralism and acceptance of diversity under umbrella US id. Achieved within defining national structures. Levels of integration (citizenship for immigrants, education, home-ownership,…) could then be achievable. -> 2000 census: integration has grown, sense of civic commonality, US nationalism increased. LIBS : multicultural, -ethnic society should be ultimate goal. (Terms White/Latino will lose meaning -

-> will define as multiracial)

 Development: umbrella for civic institutions, national id, fragmentation, separatism.

LATINO 80S some reject Americanization Bilingualism (English/Spanish) California, South West (Florida, Texas,..) Suggests 1 nation with 2 cultures. Others Do integrate (Irish, Jews, Chinese, Italian, … lived separate, subjected to suspicion, hostility) Attitudes to immigration (legal, illegal) has become increasingly negative in recent -

years. FLAG AND OTHER ID (Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, Star-Spangled Banner) Flag = central image of Americaness -> tried to construct sense of national id. Pledge of allegiance to the flag Declaration of Independence (rights stemming Constitution(Bill of Rights) Liberty Bell Abraham Lincoln´s Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address To provide common cultural signs which promote loyalty of what American citizenship (America, -ness) might be. (individualism, independence, liberty, freedom, populism, sense id, respect for law)

=> ideas of Puritans, EU Enlightment -> influenced framers of DoI, US const. => layers often clash with reality (like other nations who need to erect new nat. id while preserving some aspects of their origins)

DEGREE PROPAGATION OF VALUES: SIGNIFICANT Attractive, valid for many people Revealed in crisis, normality Americans refuse to accept fixed fate, settled location  Seek new jobs, new horizons, new beginnings -> in a hunt for selffulfillment/self definition (huge sales of self-improvement books popular) Also seek roots, stability in lives, institutions, national id. Historical rejection of EU habits, others respect and desire formalities, hierarchy, order, conformity. Stress individualism but also communalism, voluntary activities, charitable organizations -> Also feature of US life. Bureaucracies: corporate, political, social, economic, employment -> tension ideal aspirations and everyday fact of life. CONCLUSION

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No set of traits shared by all Americans. Diversity, individual differences, departures from consensual norms limit possibilities -> result in contradictions, tensions rather than unified beliefs. Universal characteristics, present in other societies (not distinctively American) 4 mayor cultures + subcultures -> produced Americanness, Distinctive US image Recognized intl. , influenced globalized culture. (Hollywood, TV, Music, Art, Newspapers, Chain stores, brand names, financial institutions, religion, popular culture.

6) S OCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE -

US cultures NOT static. May influence other societies, external pressures (conditions by globalization) can modify American cultures. Economic system, inevitably integrationist forces as they cater for US market.

AMERICAN SOCIAL ORG. /INSTITUTIONS : -

Constructed over 300 years( part of USA, other nations) -> very complex, diverse, dynamic society. Federal/state gov.: involved with public business BUT also smaller social, cultural activities (sport, local communities, neighborhoods, religion, theater -> individualism than public institutions)

CRITICS: - Localized life, behavior of people in small-town America which typically defines soc. (centralized instit., big cities) - Gains identity from mixture of local, national: they influence, conflict each other. AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE: - Defined by how citizen function, respond to local, national instit, (+ve/-ve) - Large variety means different way of life, values = diversity, particular characteristics of American society. CONCLUSION: - Contemporary US owes much to past. - Social structures adaptable (=framework for new situation, present roles ≠original) - Evolved over time, influenced by elite, gov. policies. - Process of change, adaptation continues -> reflects concern, anxiety US life - Soci. Structures: contribute to culture of varied, often conflicting habits, ideals.

7) AMERICAN ATTITUDES TO US SOCIETY NOT REMOTE ABSTRACTIONS - Affect ind. In daily life - Have many shared common concerns (despite diversity*origins*values) - Identify in public, opinion polls -> traditionally: skeptical about accuracy of polls -> now: regarded as significant indicators *economy *politics *crime

*ethnicity *religion *morality

*immigration *race…

POLLS 2004/2008 2004: Primary concerns: 1) economy 2) unemployment 3) jobs, foreign competition 4) education Also: 1)medicare (+65) 2) Medicaid (-65) 3) cost drugs 4) Soc. Sec (for unemployed, poor, old, disabled) 5) abortion 6) same-sex marriage Concerns: climbed up: 1)corruption 2) immigration declined: 1) gun control 2) cost prescription drugs 3) death penalty 4) crime (90s -> decrease crime rate) 2008: (CBS,NYT) 1) economy/jobs (credit crisis) (23%) 2) war Iraq (20%) 3) Health care (7%) 4) terrorism (5%) 5) immigration (4%) 6) budget deficit / natural debt (3%) 7) gas/heating crisis (energy crisis) (3%) 70%-80% various degrees of dissatisfaction with way things were going in USA 66%-73% country on wrong track (echoed during presi, election)  Instructive: Americans: *alleged optimism * faith in society *belief in individual ability to achieve American Dream  Degree of powerlessness (Political, economic, bureaucratic, corporate, institutional forces) ATTITUDES - National ID /immigration= shifting due to: *ethnic composition * original settlements, later immigration *trace roots to EU Ancestral ID: 1) German 2) Irish 3) British 4) US (Irish-American) - NOT denial of roots -> sense of commonality, patriotism, American nationalism - Reason weaken bounds: natural forces of integration: 1) intermarriage 2) education 3) upward mobility POLLS: CBS/NYT. 2042: non white majority population -> increase birth rates -> Tensions 2004: - 45% thought legal immigration should be reduced - 16% should be increased 2007: -55% thought immigrants are threat to trad. US values, customs -69% take jobs away from US workers – 55% skilled workers harmed by immigration -70% same with unskilled 45% consumers are harmed  Suggest: - see legal immigration as a problem – should be stopped – still considerable nativist/xenophobic current in US society – at odds with values of coutry´s political/economical leadership  Gov: says skilled/unskilled = necessary to support *economy * ageing population CRITICS: - meaning, definition of unified *civic *national US ID remains elusive - Debate about essence of US ID is needed CONCLUSION:

Opposed and partisan positions between unifiers and pluralists/multiculturalists: still operate Americans generally believe in the validity of their values-> continue to question what is meant by these values, how consensual they are => What it means to be American...