CLAD Chapter 8 Pages By, Kathleen Kent

What have immigrants brought to the US? Cultures Political opinions Religions Economic values Multiple tongues Various skills

Historical Perspectives The US is often described as a melting pot, salad bowl, or kaleidoscope of cultures. Europeans came and made the 13 colonies and met the Native Americans. The colonists imported slaves from Africa.

More Historical Perspectives Settlers moved towards the interior and met more native groups in the plains and pueblos. Mid-nineteenth century English speaking Americans expanded to the Southwest. This is where some Native Americans and their Spanish-speaking heirs had land grants. Overall, the US has been based on the idea of continuous assimilation of newcomers. This often means easy changes such as language and clothes. But it also means difficult changes, such as discarding traditions.

Contributions of Specific Cultures What is important to remember is that even before the European people came to the “New World” to attempt to replicate their lives in the Old World there was also many cultures and civilizations who had already inhabited this continent. Native Americans developed cities, roads, agricultural systems (such as irrigation), medicinal products. African Americans brought with them their dance, music, literature, religion, writers, rappers, poets, and many scientific and technological advances (examples are the boat propeller and the reaper).

Contributions of Specific Cultures (continued) Hispanic/Latinos contributed many foundations in agriculture, mining, and within the cattle industry. They also had an influence in politics, literature, poetry and the arts. Asian Americans have influenced economics and the international trade industry. Arab Americans have a great ability to assimilate and have influence and focus on family and education.

Exploitation European settlers have exploited other cultures since their arriving in the New World. Native Americans, Hispanics, indentured servants, Chinese, and African Americans were just a few of the cultures and people who were taken advantage of during the development of the US.

The Impact of a Changing Population In 2010 one in three Americans is either African American, Hispanic, or Asian American. We need to change the idea of what an “American” looks like to fit our ever developing culture.

Poverty among Minority Groups Poverty as a whole has many subsets that help keep those in that situation in a continuous loop. Some of these difficulties are underemployment, homelessness, single-parent homes, educational deprivation, racism, discrimination, and other instabilities.

The Education of Minorities It has been almost half a century since the Brown v. Board of Education and yet a child who is Black, Latino, or Native American still is less likely to succeed in school. In inner city schools there are more first-year teachers, higher enrollments, fewer library resources, and less parental involvement, just to name a few of the disparages.

Second-Language-Speaking Minority Populations One in five Americans speaks a language other than English at home. Almost 3 million school- age children speak Spanish as a native language, this is 76.9% of the English learners in the US.

Causes of Immigration Dislocated by wars Famine Civil Strife Economic Changes

Causes of Immigration (cont.) Persecution Social Upheavals Overpopulation Political Factors Religious Factors Family Unification

Migration People typically migrate for one of two reasons; the promise of economic freedom or crowding. This began with the gold rush and has continued since then. According to the census American's keep moving, but the Hispanics are the most mobile culture.

Immigration Laws Restrictive immigration policies began in 1882 with the Chinese Exclusion Act, this was the beginning of quotas and immigration policies.

U.S. Immigration Foreign Policies New settlers were a source of labor Industrial capitalism 1924 Immigration Act 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments 1980 The Refugee Act

Legal Status Documented immigrants=legal residents who have entered the US officially and are protected by legal immigration status. Refugees=people being considered documented immigrants who are receiving transitional support services and assistance through the US government. Undocumented immigrants=residents without any documentation who live in fear of being identified and deported.

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