America: A Cultural Mosaic Chapter 1 Section 2 America: A Cultural Mosaic

Objectives Explain what is meant by the American identity. Discuss the contributions of European, Hispanic, African, Asian, and Native Americans to American Society. Describe the U.S population today.

Key Terms Immigrants – people who move from one country to make their homes in another. Discrimination – the unfair treatment of a group of people compared with another group.

Racism – the belief that members of one’s own race are superior to those of other races Exclusion Laws – prohibited any further immigration from China and Japan. Census – a population survey that is taken every ten years.

Main Idea Americans are part of a mosaic in which each piece is an essential part of American society.

Target Reading Skill Rereading is a strategy that can help you understand unfamiliar words and ideas. If a certain passage is not clear when you read it the first time, reread it to look for connections between words and sentences.

Reading Check(s) Why is it inaccurate to say that America is a melting pot? Were European immigrants of the 1800s more alike or more different? Explain. What are some examples of Hispanic culture in the United States today?

How have African Americans worked toward achieving equality in American society? What was the result of the repeal of the Asian exclusion laws? How did contact with European settlers affect Native Americans by the 1800s. How did the U.S population change between 1990 and 2000? What might be the social effects of these changes?

Section 2 Assessment Key Terms Use each of the key terms in a sentence that explains its meaning. Immigrants, discrimination, racism, exclusion laws, census

Comprehension and Critical Thinking Target Reading Skill What word or ideas in this section were you able to clarify by rereading? Comprehension and Critical Thinking 2. A) How is American culture like a mosaic? B) Does your community reflect the American mosaic? Explain.

3. A) What are two important facts about each group described in this section? B) Stereotypes are overly simplified images of certain groups. Choose a stereotype and explain why it is inaccurate.

4. A) What did the 2000 census reveal about diversity? B) Name some effects of increasing diversity. C) What might be the disadvantages of a society that is not diverse?

Writing Activity Write a journal entry from the point of view of someone belonging to one of the groups described in this section. Discuss the challenges you and the members of your group face and how you might meet these challenges.