United States culture in the context of "Mid-Atlantic States"

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⭐ Core Definition: United States culture

The culture of the United States encompasses various social behaviors, institutions, and norms, including forms of speech, literature, music, visual arts, performing arts, food, sports, religion, law, technology, as well as other customs, beliefs, and forms of knowledge. American culture has been shaped by the history of the United States, its geography, and various internal and external forces and migrations.

America's foundations were initially Western-based, and primarily English-influenced, but also with prominent French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Scottish, Welsh, Cypriot, Jewish, Polish, Scandinavian, Spanish and Portuguese regional influences. However, non-Western influences, including African and Indigenous cultures, and more recently, Asian cultures, have firmly established themselves in the fabric of American culture as well. Since the United States was established in 1776, its culture has been influenced by successive waves of immigrants, and the resulting "melting pot" of cultures has been a distinguishing feature of its society. Americans pioneered or made great strides in musical genres such as heavy metal, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country, hip hop, and rock 'n' roll. The "big four sports" are American football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. In terms of religion, the majority of Americans are Protestant or Catholic, with a growing irreligious population. American cuisine includes popular tastes such as hot dogs, milkshakes, and barbecue, as well as many other class and regional preferences. The most commonly used language is English; while no law designates it official, a 2025 executive order declares English the official language. Distinct cultural regions include New England, Mid-Atlantic, the South, Midwest, Southwest, Mountain West, and Pacific Northwest.

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United States culture in the context of Americanization (immigration)

Americanization is the process of an immigrant to the United States becoming a person who shares American culture, values, beliefs, and customs by assimilating into the American nation. This process typically involves learning the American English language and adjusting to American culture, values, and customs. It can be considered another form of, or an American subset of Anglicization.

The Americanization movement was a nationwide organized effort in the 1910s to bring millions of recent immigrants into the American cultural system. 30+ states passed laws requiring Americanization programs; in hundreds of cities the chamber of commerce organized classes in English language and American civics; many factories cooperated. Over 3000 school boards, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, operated after-school and Saturday classes. Labor unions, especially the coal miners, (United Mine Workers of America) helped their members take out citizenship papers. In the cities, the YMCA and YWCA were especially active, as were the organization of descendants of the founding generation such as the Daughters of the American Revolution. The movement climaxed during World War I, as eligible young immigrant men were drafted into the Army, and the nation made every effort to integrate the European ethnic groups into the national identity.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Americanization (immigration)
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Social behavior → Social norm → Languages of the United States → American literature → Music of the United States → Visual art of the United States → Theater in the United States → American cuisine → Sports in the United States → Religion in the United States → Law of the United States → Science and technology in the United States → History of the United States → Geography of the United States → History of immigration to the United States → Western culture → Culture of England → Culture of France → Culture of Germany → Culture of Greece → Culture of Ireland → Culture of Italy → Scottish culture → Welsh culture → Cypriot culture → Jewish culture → Culture of Poland → Scandinavian culture → Culture of Spain → Culture of Portugal → Culture of Africa → Native American cultures in the United States → Culture of Asia → American Revolution → Melting pot → Society of the United States → Genre → Heavy metal music → Rhythm and blues → Jazz → Gospel music → Country music → Hip hop music → Rock and roll → Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada → American football → Baseball → Basketball → Ice hockey → Protestantism → Catholic Church → Irreligion in the United States → Hot dog → Milkshake → Barbecue in the United States → American cuisine → Executive Order 14224 → Regions of the United States → New England → Mid-Atlantic States → Southern United States → Midwestern United States → Southwest United States → Mountain states → Pacific Northwest →