Americans are nationals and citizens of the United States of
America.[48][49] Although nationals and citizens make up the majority
of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents
may also claim American nationality.[50][51][52] The United States is
home to people of many ethnic origins. As a result, American culture
and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with
citizenship and permanent allegiance.[53][54][55]The majority of
Americans or their ancestors immigrated to America or are descended
from people who were brought as slaves within the past five centuries,
with the exception of the Native American population and people from
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine Islands,[56] who became
American through expansion of the country in the 19th century,[57]
additionally America expanded into American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Northern Mariana Islands in the 20th
century.[58][49]Despite its multi-ethnic composition,[59][60] the
culture of the United States held in common by most Americans can also
be referred to as mainstream American culture, a Western culture
largely derived from the traditions of Northern and Western European
colonists, settlers, and immigrants.[59] It also includes influences
of African-American culture.[61] Westward expansion integrated the
Creoles and Cajuns of Louisiana and the Hispanos of the Southwest and
brought close contact with the culture of Mexico. Large-scale
immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Southern
and Eastern Europe introduced a variety of elements. Immigration from
Asia, Africa, and Latin America has also had impact. A cultural
melting pot, or pluralistic salad bowl, describes the way in which
generations of Americans have celebrated and exchanged distinctive
cultural characteristics.[59]
America.[48][49] Although nationals and citizens make up the majority
of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents
may also claim American nationality.[50][51][52] The United States is
home to people of many ethnic origins. As a result, American culture
and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with
citizenship and permanent allegiance.[53][54][55]The majority of
Americans or their ancestors immigrated to America or are descended
from people who were brought as slaves within the past five centuries,
with the exception of the Native American population and people from
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine Islands,[56] who became
American through expansion of the country in the 19th century,[57]
additionally America expanded into American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Northern Mariana Islands in the 20th
century.[58][49]Despite its multi-ethnic composition,[59][60] the
culture of the United States held in common by most Americans can also
be referred to as mainstream American culture, a Western culture
largely derived from the traditions of Northern and Western European
colonists, settlers, and immigrants.[59] It also includes influences
of African-American culture.[61] Westward expansion integrated the
Creoles and Cajuns of Louisiana and the Hispanos of the Southwest and
brought close contact with the culture of Mexico. Large-scale
immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Southern
and Eastern Europe introduced a variety of elements. Immigration from
Asia, Africa, and Latin America has also had impact. A cultural
melting pot, or pluralistic salad bowl, describes the way in which
generations of Americans have celebrated and exchanged distinctive
cultural characteristics.[59]
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