The American Identity

The Europeans

About 3 quarters of all US citizens are descended wholly and directly from people born in Europe. Because of the low level of immigration from Europe in the past seventy years the white Americans, considered as a group, are collectively more remote from their European origins than at any time since mass migration from Europe began in the 19^th century. But this does not mean that they have all lost all contact with their European past. Surveys show that about half have no consciousness of being connected by descent with any country in particular. Some of these know that they are of mixed descent, others have no contact with any countries across the Atlantic, or no knowledge of their origins. Of those who consider themselves to have an identifiable origin in some particular country the biggest single national group, even now, feel 'British' – just over a tenth of the whole population. Almost as many feel 'German'. There also people who feel “Dutch”, “Swedish”, etc.

People who are still strongly identified with a national origin other than northwestern European are commonly called 'ethnics' – though the term cannot be rigidly defined. There has been so much marriage outside the ethnic groups that not every person with a Greek surname can properly be regarded as an ethnic Greek. Ethnics may keep some qualities which distinguish them from 'Wasps', and be none the less American for this distinctiveness.

In general ethnic groups have little wish to influence the relations of the USA with their old countries. (But there are some exceptions: there 6 million Jewish-American citizens who express their support for their national homeland. Irish people feel involved with the troubles of their old country.)

The USA has few people with direct ancestral links with Spain or France. You remember that France established its French-speaking base in Canada, and Quebec's links with France are still strong.

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 762