American Culture and Diversity: A Comprehensive Overview | Môn Văn hóa Mỹ 1 - Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ, Đại học Huế

IMMIGRATION AND DIVERSITY Assimilation Melting pot Salad bowl
- In the late 1700s, the assimilation -
It has various racial and ethnic Different racial and ethnic groups maintain
process was more like a melting pot, groups have been combined and their own traditions and culture, and live
because most immigrants who came assimilated into one culture. Everyone together in a harmony.
during this time were similar to those assimilates, you cannot tell who were The green color represents the dominant
who had already here (Western their ancestors.
color. Other colors are blended into the
European countries). They spoke the -
Bi-cultural: some part they want to salad bowl, you can still see the
same language, they followed the same be an actual American, some part they distinctiveness between other color
religion, they also had money -> easy to want to retain their original culture. (culture)
assimilate to the existed culture. Citizenship classes WASPs Political bosses -
English instruction classes offered -
Are considered the ones that define -
Political bosses are people at high
by Americans to the new immigrants to the American culture, the dominant position politicians in large cities of the
teach them American beliefs, value: culture (greater number in population, north western US. These bosses are more
freedom, self-reliance, competition. have political power, they have money). open-minded with different culture
Were the Citizenship classes useful for -
Characteristic of WASPs: They brought from other homeland. In exchange new immigrants?
were white, they were Anglo Saxon, they for the help, these bosses expected -
Those classes weren’t useful. were protestants.
immigrants to vote for them in election.
Because new immigrants felt that -
May Flower ship: set the -
Their actions only benefit for
American teachers disapproved of their foundation for immigrants.
themselves and destroy the US values.
homeland traditions. Moreover, taking Those people who first came to America However, they helped the new immigrants
those courses didn’t give them enough (1620) were Protestants. At that time in adapt them.
things for their lives such as England, there were intense between the
employment, food and place to live. politics and religion, and
Protestant was forbitten in England. Why did many Americans
Therefore, they want freedom to practice disapprove “political bosses”?
their religion so they have to go to - It was because those bosses were often
different places. The journey for freedom corrupt. They stole money from the and belief.
government and engaged other illegal
practices. The bosses bought vote from the immigrants Slavery Civil war Segregation -
Support: The southern states of - Civil War is a war between the How was the situation of Black America
the US, in which black slavery became the Northern and the Southern of the US after the Civil War?
basis of the economy. Economy depends when the South, led by Lincoln, left the -
Most black people remained in the
on farming and stuff, therefore they need Union and tried to form a new nation of South and they were treated unfairly.
people to do the work -> slavery was their own based on slavery. - The North They didn’t have the right to vote, their supported
won the war, and black slavery ended in children were not allowed to go to school -
Against: The northern states of the the US and black people were freed.
and most former slaves and their families
US where black slavery is against the
were caught in the cycle of poverty for
law. Because the minority in the generations.
northern think slavery and freedom -
There are different rules for the
couldn’t exist together in a free country
white and the black. The black had to give
like the US. While the majority doesn’t
the seats to the white if they don’t have.
care about the right for black people who
are being slaved, but they think black
slavery will affect their economy.
The civil right movement 1954 Abraham Lincoln 1950-1960s
- The US Supreme Court declared that - He is the 16th president of the United
- 2 major civil rights laws were passed racially segregated public schools didn’t States. His opinion about black slavery was
which removed racial segregation from provide equal opportunities for Black freedom and equality should be applied to
public facilities in the South, and also people and were illegal.
all people, no matter what race they are.
removed the barriers preventing black
Therefore, if slavery spread westward, the
people from voting in the region.
freedom and equality will be threaten. (support black) Mosaic Race relations/
- A picture made of many tiny pieces of Discriminations
different colors. If look closely, the -
Income of black people are low. -
individuals of different colors and ethnic Many black people are trapped in
groups are still distinct and recognizable, poverty, unemployment, violence and
but together they can despair in the inner city.
create a picturet hat is uniquely “E -
Over 40% of black children have America .
Pluribus Unum – Out of only one parent. many, one”.
(comparison table by Ms. Hong Ngoc)
TRADITIONS AND ADAPTING CULTURES
(for some idiot reasons I cant make the headline fit above the content of this chapter, so
the following tables are the Traditions and Adapting Cultures chapter). Basic value Materialism Diversity-
- 3 American values: individual - The term refers to placing a high -
The language and the foundation
freedom, equality of opportunity value on material possessions, but for the political and economic systems
and material wealth. The costs for most Americans find this offensive. developed in the US are provided by these are: self-reliance, several cultures.
competition and hard work. (these -
In the past, accepting the diversity
6 values are those that became
Idealism and reality - was the only practical choice, even if the
“traditional” American values).
American values such as equality of people were not enthusiastic about it.
opportunity and self-reliance are However, in time, many Americans
ideals that may not necessarily realized the strength in their country’s
describe the reality of American life diversity. -> today, there is more
-> e.g.: Equality of opportunity is an recognition of the value of cultural
ideal that is not always put into pluralism than at any other time in the
practice. Those who are born into history of the US. rich families have more
opportunities than those who are born into poorer families.
Inheriting money does give a person a decided advantage. Many black
Americans have fewer opportunities
than the average white American, and many women have fewer opportunities than men.
The land of opportunity - The land of plenty Nobility ban
Attracting immigrants from all - Because America has an -
Nobility is banned because the over the world.
incredibly abundant natural resources reason people who originally came to
- 3 traditional reasons why where million could come to seek their America to run away, to escape the control
immigrants are drawn to America: fortunes.
from the kings, governments, priests and
the chance for individual freedom, What has been the most important churches, noblemen and aristocrats (quý
equality of opportunity and material reason why immigrants came to the tộc).
wealth. To achieve these they have to US? Why? -
When they declared their freedom pay the price with: -
Is to raise their standard of living. from the British colonies, this means they
self-reliance, competition and hard Because America has enormous are no longer controlled by the kings. work.
number of natural resources, therefore -
In 1776, the British colonial settlers
even though they will not be rich declared their independence from England
overnight, their standard of living will and established a new nation, the USA.
be improved better than the former one. Power in the hands of the people, they
Even if the economic success is no were now free from the king’s power.
certain, they could be fairly certain that -
In 1789, they wrote the Constitution
their children would have the for their new nations.
opportunity for a better life. Freedom (1) Self-reliance (1) Material possessions (3) (the cost of freedom reliance, - The ) competition an
Americans mean the desire and the price of having individual
- This is a measure for social status in
ability of all indi viduals to control freedom is selfand hard work. the US. Materi al their own lives without any -
Because they must be self to important factorp ossession is to
interference from other such as the keep their freedom. If rely too - much reliant because most America in ns the US.
government, noble class or any on the support from families, material organization.
government or any organization, wealth has they may lose their freed th om
e to do traditionally been a widely accepted
what they want. (this is difficult measure of social status value to understand of 18 ). or 21, p mo eop st
le are Because they don’t have such things as -
By the age supposed to be social classes, they consider the quality
financial and emotional independent and quantity of a person’s material
from their parents, as early as
possible. Meaning they should take wealth as a substitute.
care of themselves, solve their
problems and stand on their own two feet . Competition (2) Hard work (3) p24
Value of equality/ Equality of (the cost of equality of oppo ) -
(the cost of material possessions - ) opportunity (2)
Competition is the cost of eq o u f
ality Even though America has rich
- equality of opportunity. It opportunity. Life is a race person an d a resources, most of them are
means that everyone has an equal in that race have to run in order to
undeveloped. Therefore, people have
chance to be succeed. They have succeed, a person must compete
to work hard to convert it into material
a equal chance to enter the race with others. It’s everyone duty to
that can be possessed, allow them to
and win. It makes sure that the try because everyone has an equal live comfortably.
race to success is a fair one and chance to succeed in Americ a. - - They saw material possessions
even if you were not born in a Learning to compete successfully is
as the natural reward for their d har works.
wealthy family, or have different part of growing up in the US, and
religion, race doesn’t affect the competition is encouraged by What
are on “Material
chance. This American concept of schools and community group s.
"fair play" is an important aspect - Positive effect: everyone is pushed
“Hard Work”?
of the belief in equality of to compete with each other using controversies opportunity.
their energy and intelligence against Wealth” and others to be succeed. > service and + People who like to compete -
In the past, only hard working people no longer need to
and are more successful than others
can acquire them material success. - - are honored as the Shifted from industrial .
information -> work hard so that + People who don’t like to
they can acquire material wealth. ệc nặng, làm
compete and are not successful are c nhiều tiền
often dishonored by being called
- quá khứ thì chỉ cầ nhiều giờ là n làm vi ợ ều yếu tố LOSERS.
đã kiếm đư rồi, nhưng hiện tạ ảnh hưởng như skills n i q th uì ả cô còn nngh a đ vi ể iệc, ữ tăn g hiệu c WINNERS ợ nhiều tiền ều.
kiếm đư nhưng không cần làm nhi
- Negative effect: competition causes in the life of an pressu Ame re
rican in childhood and continue k. The until retiremen co t n fr stan om t em wor otional p o ressu n re th p em. W
laces a h en people retire, feel strain unwanted and useless in th a so ey ciety
may that gives so much prestige to those who compete well. don’t have -> older people in the US as they have in oth mu er ch less hono comp r and retitiv esp e so ec ciety. GOVERNMENT Suspicion of
Voting for the president - Bill of Rights (p28)
governmental power - The Presidential elections are held
national government is divided into every 4 years, on the first Tuesday - The Constitution included a
three separate branches. This in November.
Bill of Rights, which is designed
division of governmental power is - The civilian vote
for to protect specific individual
based on the belief that if any one representatives (đại biểu) who called rights and freedoms from
part or branch of government has electors (cử tri), and it is these government interference.
all, or even most of the power, it electors who actually vote for the - The government may not
will become a threat to the president on the behalf of the interfere with an individual's
freedom of individual citizens. civilian.
freedom of speech or freedom of - popular vote: dân bầu religious worship.
- electoral vote: elector bầu (1)
Legislative or lawmaking branch Executive branch
The judicial branch (nhánh
(nhánh lập pháp) - The (nhánh hành pháp) - tư pháp)
Congress (quốc hội): has 2
The president (or chief Supreme Court ( - tòa án tối houses: executive)
Lower national courtscao)
+ The Senate (thượng viện): two -
Supported by vice president and - Senators from each state the cabinet.
regardless of its size. Has the total -
Elected every 4 years.
of 100 senators for the whole the -> carry out the laws
U.S. Elected every 6 years.
+ House of Representatives
(1) Phân ra 2 thế này vì có những
(hạ viện): has total of 435
bang population nhỏ thì sẽ gây bất
Representatives divided among the công bằng, phân ra thế sẽ giúp 50 states by population.
protect every state has their voice. -> settles disputes about the exact
Elected every 2 years).
meaning of the law through court
cases . (gỉai quyết các tranh chấp). -> make laws Check and balance The relationship
between Veto (bác bỏ)
legislative and executive branches -
Leader of both legislative and
executive branches (who are the - If the president sign bills
- If one of the 3 branches starts to president and 2 houses of Congress passed by Congress -> they will
abuse its power, the other 2 may respectively) are politically become laws.
join together and stop it using this independent from each other, -
If the president veto (bác bỏ)/
system, checks and balances. - because they are all chosen in refuses to sign a legislative bill
The Constitution is most careful in separate elections.
passed by Congress, the bill dies
balancing the powers of the -> the election of the Congress
legislative and executive branches,
unless 2/3 of both the House and
doesn’t decide who will be elected
because these 2 (the Congress and
Senate vote to override the veto. -
president. The presidential election
the President) are the most
On the other hand, a treaty with a
doesn’t decide who will be elected to
powerful of the 3 branches. - In
foreign government signed by the either house of the Congress.
most activities of the government
president dies if the Senate refuses - It is quite possible in the
(make laws, declare war, conclude
to ratify (phê chuẩn) it (votes to
treaties with foreign countries), the American system to have the leader accept it).
Constitution gives each 2 branches of one political party win the
enough power to prevent the other presidency while the other major from acting on its own.
political party win most of the seats in Congress. EDUCATION
1825 – public schools Common schools - Those
National blessings - The - Reaffirmed the principle of
who favored these public schools intendency of public education to equality:
believed that these institutions encourage people to seek a higher
+ Making schools open to all classes would help reduce social class status in life was in harmony with,
of Americans (elementary and distinctions in the United States by not in conflict with, the customs of secondary schools).
educating children of all social American society. - The ideal of
+ Financing the schools with tax classes in the same.
equal opportunity for all regardless
money collected from all citizens -> of family background. free Educational ladder -
“Work your way to the top” - Private school - American view on the public
Educational ladder is a reflection Religious school: school system.
of equality and opportunity. + Associated with particular -
Kindergarten (age of 5) -> Every American have to go the churches and receive financial
elementary school (6 years) -> same route to the top following the support from them (parents must
middle school (2 years) -> high under ladder no matter who they also pay tuition though). +
school (4 years) -> bachelor -> are, and
how far Purpose: to give religious
master -> PHD -> post doctor. can they wn ability
go instruction to children, which -
“Elementary -> high school” depend one system that iso n
their cannot be done in public schools.
are free, but public universities o .
And students have the same social
charge tuition and have competitive - There is open to all. class background (Catholic).
- Elite private schools:
entrance requirements (SAT, essay, + Mainly upper-class GPA, interview). children.
- The bachelor's degree can be
+ High tuition costs that only
followed by professional studies, wealthier families can afford them. which lead to degrees in such + Purpose: children ass will ociate with
professions as law and medicine, and class children and other uppermaintain the
graduate studies, which lead to class position upperheld by their parents +
master's and doctoral degrees. getting a good education + opportunity.
Inequality of education -
Financial aid program - Community college -
Elite private schools do conflict
The tuition fees will increase
Those who can’t afford uni or with the American ideal of annually.
college will go to commu college. equality of opportunity.
-> These aid under the form of After 2 year, they will get a
- Because of the way that schools
loans and scholarship available for diploma (chứng chỉ) (haven’t had are funded, the quality of
both public and private schools. - the bachelor degree yet).
education that American students
Middle-class family that suffers - These two-year programs often
receive in public schools varies
the most from the rising tuition feed into the state university systems greatly:
costs. The family income may be and offer educational opportunities
+ Most of the money for schools
too high to qualify for financial
comes from (property) taxes ->
aid, but not high enough to afford. to those who cannot afford to attend
School districts that have wealthy a university.
families have more tax money to
spend on education -> better facility and quality.