Assimilation

What is Assimilation (Majority-Conformity)?

• Ethnic minority group members who no longer possess any marked cultural, social, or personal differences from the people in dominant group.

• Melting pot theory: idea that people of different races will "melt together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture.

The English

• During the 18th century most people in power were of English decent.

• Had biggest influence on new nations culture.

Why people assimilate?

• Longing for (internal & external) self-justification.

• To avoid:~Social discrimination~Stereotyping~Ethnic humor

Who resisted assimilation??

The Cherokees • Out of all the tribes, they

resisted assimilation the longest.

• Indian children were forced to attend boarding school where they were stripped of their long hair, and forbidden to speak their own languages.

• When they returned home, their parents did not recognize them.

The Irish• Did not blend into the melting pot, and this

stirred America. • Irish were hated because of this, and

because of their and their Catholicism.• Today Catholicism is very popular and

accepted.

The Germans• One of the largest groups of immigrants, most settled

in Pennsylvania and other mid Atlantic states. • Assimilated slower because their language was

spoken vastly in America.• From 1850-1970 German was the second most

spoken language in the US.

Easily AssimilatedThe Italians• First generation Italian Americans retained much of their language and

customs. But…• Second generation became more “Americanized” ( this produced a strain

between the 2 generations).The French• Made a conscious decision to assimilate to American culture. • In the 17th century Huguenots (French Protestants) fled to escape religious

persecution.• Encountered distrust and violence from the English.• Quickly changed their names, language and customs to avoid a hostile

society.