A DIVERSE STATE CHAPTER 10, LESSON 3 BY SOHAN DESAI AND BRANDON CHO

A POPULATION BOOMING More than 35 million people live in California today. Part of California’s population booming is a result of people migrating from other places in the United States, and another part of why California’s population is booming is due to increases in the birth rate and to immigration. California is a multicultural state.

IMMIGRANTS AROUND THE WORLD Many immigrants have come from Mexico, Central America, South America, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, China, South Korea, Kenya, and Nigeria. Many immigrants in California are legal immigrants. Some people find a way to enter California illegally.

MANY HERITAGES COMING TO CALIFORNIA A heritage includes the traditions, beliefs, and ways of life that have been handed down from the past. In Los Angeles and San Diego, Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican heritage. In Sonora, people from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales hold a Celtic Celebration. In Yuba City, the Punjabi American Festival celebrates the heritage and contributions of people from the Punjab region of India. There is a day called Watts Towers Day of the Drum, which focuses on one musical instrument. That instrument is the drum.

ETHNIC GROUPS An ethnic group is a group of people from the same country, of the same race, or with a shared culture. Each ethnic group has brought some of its own culture to California. Because so many people in California have come from other places, the state’s population includes many different ethnic groups.

CITIZENSHIP All people born in the United States are citizens. Immigrants to the United States may follow certain steps to become citizens. In 1940 the United States Congress decided that a day should be set aside to honor the country’s new citizens. At first it was called I Am an American Day. In 1952 the name was changed to Citizen Day. September 17 was chosen as Citizenship Day because the United States Constitution was signed on that day in 1787.

KOREA Many immigrants came from South Korea. North Koreans can’t get out of North Korea because it is on the North Korean Constitution. In the beginning North Korea and South Korea were together as one Korea. They had separated from a war and made a line that divided them. For every first birthday they do a big celebration, when the baby picks up an item from six items. This celebration, the baby will wear traditional clothes called Hanbok.

INDIA Many immigrants also came from India. India’s capital is New Dehli. There are many different holiday’s for India. One of their holidays is Diwali. Diwali is India’s New Years. For this holiday we will put candles outside each door of our house for seven days. We are also not allowed to use the stove for seven days.

VOCAB Multicultural- Having many different cultures. Ethnic Group- A group of people from the same country, of the same race, or with shared cultures. Heritage- Traditions, beliefs, and ways of life that have been handed down from the past.

QUESTIONS Q: About how many people live in California today? Q: Where does a big celebration of Cinco de Mayo take place? Q: What day focuses on one musical instrument?

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