Nation of Immigrants

The United States is a country of immigrants. Since its early days, the country has admitted more than 50 million newcomers, a larger number of immigrants than any country in history. Most people came, and still come today, for wealth, land, and freedom.

In the past, the majority of Americans considered themselves WASPs – white Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Many immigrants tried to preserve the traditions, religion, and language of their particular culture, but if they did not want to feel separate from the dominant WASP culture, they learned English and adopted English customs.

Today America is again faced with an assimilation problem. The majority of the newest immigrants come from Mexico, Latin America, or Asia. Among these newcomers, the Asians seem most willing to assimilate. They encourage their children to speak accentless English and play American games. Mexican-Americans, now comprising about one-fifth of California’s total population, are not so easily assimilated. They generally have a strong sense of their own culture and often marry among themselves.

Since the 1060s, with changes in the ethnic composition, American’s attitudes towards ethnic and religious differences have altered. Pressure on immigrants to Americanize and altogether forget their background has relaxed. High political offices are held by non-whites and non-Protestants. Americans are aware that the national ethnic, religious identity – WASP – which once unified the country under certain shared values, has disappeared. In a country where currently 6 per cent of the population is foreign-born, where more than 10 per cent speaks a language other than English at home, diversity is a major characteristic. The well-known picture of America as a melting pot where all groups come together, creating a new, distinct American type, is not an adequate metaphor. On the whole, a more accurate picture of American society today, one that conveys its astonishing variety of cultures, each preserving its own distinctiveness, is vegetable soup.

Americans continue to debate the issue of immigration. Many Americans fear that immigrants may lower the quality of life in America by taking away American’s jobs and by importing the same social and economic ills that exist in the countries they left. Further more, they argue that tightening restrictions is a necessary measure to preserve America’s national identity. On the other hand, many Americans more optimistically emphasize the cultural wealth and diversity which immigrants have been bringing to the nation since its conception.

6. Put 10 questions on the text and ask them the class.

7. Write a 100-word summary of the text.

Discussion

Work In groups.

• Study the case and do the task that follows.

Case study A NEWSWEEK POLL ON IMMIGRATION

The Gallup Organization interviewed 751 adults by telephone. ‘Don’t knows” not shown.

1 Do you think the number of immigrants now entering the US from each of the following areas is too many, too few or about right?

	Too Many	Too Few	About Right
European countries	26%	11%	50%
Latin America	53%	5%	30%
African countries	31%	12%	37%
Asian countries	49%	6%	33%

2 Do you feel that English only should be used in all public schools, public signs, government forms and official messages in the United States. Or do you support thr use of a second language in some areas to help immigrants participate in education, business, public affairs and daily life?

English only 47% Second language 49%

3 Some people say the government should make it much more difficult for illegal aliens to get work in the US by penalizing companies that knowingly hire them. Others oppose such a penalty because it would restrict US businesses too much and limit opportunities for legal immigrants – especially Hispanics. Which view comes close to your own?

Penalize companies 61% Oppose penalties 28%

4 Some people propose that the federal government issue identity cards to all citizens and legal immigrants to distinguish them from those who are in the country illegally. Others oppose this plan on the grounds that it would give the federal government too much knowledge and control over all Americans. Which view comes closest to your own?