American History and Culture 101

[Spiritus Naturae]

As a "wanna-be" historian and forever college student in pursuit of a degree in said subject, I thought it might be interesting to throw out a little something I have been giving thought to lately. It's nothing earth shattering or new just something I've been giving some thought to in light of recent events involving the immigration debate and the changes here locally in the area where I live. It would seem that history and culture tend to go hand in hand, wouldn't you say?

Does the United States of America have it's own distinct culture? Are we or were we ever a "melting pot"?

I have been told by some that what makes up "American Culture" is the variety of other distinct cultures living and thriving within it's borders...does that make sense? That doesn't sound like a "Culture" to me.

Any thoughts?

[Ryokan]

As a "wanna-be" historian and forever college student in pursuit of a degree in said subject, I thought it might be interesting to throw out a little something I have been giving thought to lately. It's nothing earth shattering or new just something I've been giving some thought to in light of recent events involving the immigration debate and the changes here locally in the area where I live. It would seem that history and culture tend to go hand in hand, wouldn't you say?

Does the United States of America have it's own distinct culture? Are we or were we ever a "melting pot"?

I have been told by some that what makes up "American Culture" is the variety of other distinct cultures living and thriving within it's borders...does that make sense? That doesn't sound like a "Culture" to me.

Any thoughts? It depends on how you define culture. Are their certain ideas, sensibilities, and values shared by Americans of all stripes that make us distinct from other nations? Yes. Are their a variety of ideas sensibilities, and values within the group that holds the first values that vary based on race, ethnicity, and geography? Yes.

Is America a melting pot? Kinda. I believe the culture our country started with is pretty similiar to the one we have now. America can add from other component immigrant cultures, but it usually just assimiliates them.