
Come up with 10 words that come to
mind when you think of who an
American is.
 Civics
 Tolerance
 Citizen
 Ism’s
 Government
 Multiculturalis
 Rights
 Democracy
 Diversity
m
 Ethnicity/cult
ural identity
 Nationality
American society has undergone many
changes in the past, and these changes
continue today
 E pluribus unium –out of many, one


Land bridge
› 70 000 years ago

Early Immigrants
› 1600s – France & England
› Late 1600 & 1700s – Germany, Netherlands, Ireland,
Scotland & Sweden

After Independence
› 600 000 in 1830s to 2 million by 1850
› 1860-1890 more than 10 million

A Shift
› 22 million between 1890-1924 from southern & eastern
Europe
› Last 50 years, from Latin America & Asia

Enslaved Africans
› Western & Central Africa
› Between 1619 & 1808 500 000 enslaved persons
Ethnic groups
 Religious Diversity

› Freedom to practice
› Freedom to not practice

Many traditions
› “Old country” traditions

Mid 1850s moved from rural areas to
urban areas
› Factories with higher pay
African Americans moved North
 Americans earn high degrees


Values – broad ideas about what is
good or desirable and are shared by a
people in a society
› Basics: freedom, equality, opportunity, justice
democracy, unity, respect & tolerance
› “Life, liberty, & pursuit of happiness”

Institutions
› Family, religion, education, social institutions,
& government
Picture of you
Picture of your family
Hobbies
Describe how you see
yourself (what kind of
person are you?).
 What do you know
about yourself (what are
your values?)
 What are your strengths
and why?
 What motto do you
have?




List some of your
passions. What are the
activities, subjects, and
areas you enjoy or in
which you succeed?
 List your favorite types of
music (or groups),
television shows, movies
or movie categories,
classes/school subjects,
books/characters,
interesting sports to
watch/play, favorite
foods, animals,
celebrities, inventions,
fashion items, etc.

US Citizen
Natural Born
Naturalized
Process
1) Legally live in US
for 5 years
Soil Born-
Born in the US
or US soil
Blood Born-
Parent is a US
citizen when
born
2) Interview with CIS
3) Pass citizenship
exam
4) Oath of
allegiance
Melting
Tossed
Pot
Salad

Assimilation- the process of losing your
identity in order to fit in
› The Melting Pot theory requires that
immigrants assimilate in order to become
“American”

Volunteerism: willing to do w/out pay

Patriotism: love for your country

Multiculturalism: various backgrounds

Racism: discrimination based on race

Sexism: discrimination based on gender

Ageism: discrimination based on age

Activism: enacting change or involvement

* Do you think ism’s promote or prevent toleration in the
United States?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aY
nNrTnXhk
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbfk
4rNazIo

Effects
Causes
-Parental
involvement
-Intrinsic
motivation
-Stable
environment
Event
Obtaining a High
School and Post
high School
education
-More job
opportunities
-Higher Income
-Better quality of
life
Follows the law
 Informed of current events
 Votes
 Volunteers

Free to make political and economic
choices
 Don’t have to live in fear of the
government
 Have the ability to live with free speech,
religion and press without punishment






Obey the Law
Pay taxes
Defend the nation
Serve in Court
Attend School




Be informed and
vote
Participate in your
community &
government
Respect the rights &
property of others
Respect different
opinions & ways of
life






Unemployment: People who do not have a job,
can’t contribute to the economy to pay taxes, and
rely on government assistance.
Baby Boomers: People born in the 1940s early 1950s.
They are now 65-75 years old, and many are retiring
at the same time.
Achievement Gap: Some groups of people have
greater difficulty being successful than others.
Substance Abuse: Abusing drugs or alcohol.
Immigration (illegal): how is this issue affecting states
socially and economically?
Waste Disposal: Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) Where
do we dispose of our waste in our country?

Tolerance: accepting differences

Affirmative action: benefiting groups previously
discriminated against

Earning capacity: potential to make money “the more
you learn, the more you earn!”

Literacy: ability to read

Civil Disobedience: opposing laws/rules seen as unjust,
but not using violence. (Dr. King, Gandhi)

What impact will there be on the nation if citizens do not
show effective citizenship? (10.04)

How can an individual’s choices affect the liberty and
happiness of others? (10.06)

How do the freedoms experienced in America compare to
freedoms enjoyed in other countries? (10.06)