II. Cultures and Lifestyles
• A. Diverse Traditions
– 1. The United States has been called “a nation of
immigrants”.
• a) Always attracted immigrants.
• b) 1700s and 1800s = British, Irish, Scottish, slaves from
Africa.
• c) 1800s to the 1920s = southern, central, and eastern
Europe.
• d) During this time also Mexican, Chinese, Japanese,
and Canadian.bb
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 2. Diverse backgrounds of so many people led to
restrictions on immigration.
• a) In 1882, Congress passed a law that banned, or
legally blocked, all immigration from China.
– 3. A change in the immigration laws in 1965 led to
an increase of people moving to the U.S.
• a) People from Latin America, Canada, and Asia.
– 4. Current immigration trends are changing the
makeup of the American population.
• a) 2/3s of the population can track their heritage to
Europe.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
• b) 15% = Latinos (Hispanics) , 12% = African Americans,
4% = Asians, 1% = Native Americans.
– 5. Languages reflect the diversity of the people.
• a) English is primary, with Spanish being a strong
secondary language.
– 6. Diversity also extends to religion.
• a) Protestants then Catholics followed by Jews and
Muslims.
• b) Some people practice Hinduism and Buddhism.
• B. Literature and the Arts
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 1. American artists, writers, and musicians have
developed distinctly American styles.
• a) Native Americans =wood masks, pottery, etc.
– 2. Two themes are common in American
literature.
• a) Rich diversity of the people in the U.S.
• b) Landscape and history of particular regions.
– 3. Americans have created several new music
styles.
• a) Country music evolved, or developed from folk
music.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
• b) African Americans developed jazz and blues, later
blues evolved into rock and roll in the 1950s.
• c) More recently, rap and hip-hop have gained
popularity.
– 4. In the early 1900s, movies started attracting
large audiences.
• a) Today the movie industry generates, or makes,
enormous profits and continues to entertain audiences
around the world.
• b) Television also became popular in the 1950s.
• C. Life in the United States
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 1. At one time, most Americans lived in rural areas.
• a) Today the United States is a nation of urban dwellers.
• b) Many people, however, have moved from the cities to
the suburbs, or smaller communities surrounding a larger
city.
• c) Since the 1970s, the fastest growing region is the South
and Southwest. (Sunbelt)
– 2. Lifestyles vary across the U.S.
• a) Americans live in different types of homes, from one
story houses in the suburbs to high-rise apartments in cities.
• b) About 2/3s of families own their own homes.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 3. Many Americans watch movies and television, but
they also exercise and play sports.
• a) Millions of young Americans participate in sports
leagues.
• b) U.S. holidays are Thanksgiving and the 4th of July.
• D. Canada, a Mix of Cultures
– 1. About ¼ of Canadians are from French ancestry.
• a) Most of these people live in the province of Quebec.
– 2. Another ¼ of Canadians are from British ancestry.
• a) Most of these people live in the province of Ontario, the
Atlantic provinces, and British Columbia.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 3. Canada is also home to people of Asian, African,
and Latin American backgrounds.
• a) Indigenous Canadians, similar to Native Americans,
number more than a million.
• b) Indigenous refers to people who are descended from an
area’s first inhabitance.
– 4. Canada is a bilingual country, which means it has
two official languages.
• a) French and English.
• b) French speakers are worried that their French heritage
will not survive in a predominantly English speaking country.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 5. One culture issue that Canada has solved concerns
the Inuits.
• a) The Inuits are a native people that live in the north of
Canada.
• b) Wanted self-rule but still remain part of Canada.
• c) In 1999, the Canadian government created the province
of Nunavut for them.
• d) The Inuit govern Nunavut, but still rely on the Canadian
government for some services.
• E. Art and Literature
– 1. The first Canadian artists were indigenous people.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
• a) Figures from stone and wood, made pottery, and
weavings.
• b) Today’s Canadian artists are influenced by both
Europe and indigenous people.
• c) Today, pop and rock music are popular in Canada.
• d) Movies are popular with several movies and TV
shows filming in British Columbia.
• F. Life in Canada
– 1. Canadians are mobile people.
– 2. Certain foods are regular favorites.
• a) Seafood, Italian, Eastern European, and Asian foods.
II. Cultures and Lifestyles
– 3. Hockey and lacrosse are very popular.
• a) Hunting and fishing are popular pastimes.
– 4. Founding of Canada is celebrated on July 1st.
• a) Thanksgiving is celebrated in October.