America's National Identity

Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,0, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: A Survey of American History, language: English, abstract: Unlike other western countries the USA are a country that accommodates not only one ethnic group but an immense number of different nationalities. America is a multicultural society and is considered to be the world's largest immigration country. Hence, its racial make-up is very heterogeneous and its composition is permanently changing. The American society is known for its varying cultural scenes because of the different ancestries of its inhabitants. That is why the US is often confronted with questions concerning their national identity. The main consideration of this term paper deals with the unanswered question of America's national identity. First of all the issues of immigration and heterogeneity are examined in order to explain why it is difficult to find a national identity in America. Further, different concepts of national identity are explained, among them the Melting Pot, Americanization, Anglo-Saxon Racism and Cultural Pluralism. These concept are investigated in terms of their general statements, current occurrence and if they are suitable for a common national identity.