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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.