Cultural Diversity In American History

Throughout American history there have been few recurring themes that have ultimately proven to be constant and never changing. The few that have remained consistent are American Identity, Culture and American Diversity. The theme of American Identity exclaims the views of the national character of America as well as the exceptionalism of American viewpoints which recognize contextual differences of what it means to be an American. The Cultural theme focuses on the diversity of individuals, groups, and subgroups (especially as it relates to the relationships amongst the different groups, the roles of gender, class, ethnicity, and race in and throughout US history) and the violence experienced amongst said people.
With this paper my aim is to …show more content…
“When we first had sight of this countrey, some thought the first land we saw to bee the continent: but after we entred into the Haven, we saw before us another mighty long Sea: for there lyeth along the coast a tracte of Islands, two hundreth miles in length, adjoyning to the Ocean sea, and betweene the Islands, two or three entrances: when you are entred betweene them (these Islands being very narrow for the most part, as in most places sixe miles broad, in some places lesse, in fewe more) then there appeareth another great Sea, containing in bredth in some places, forty, and in some fifty, in some twenty miles over, before you come unto the continent: and in this inclosed Sea there are above an hundreth Islands of divers bignesses, whereof one is sixteene miles long, at which we were finding it a most pleasant and fertile ground, replenished with goodly Cedars, and divers other sweete woods, full of Corrants, of flaxe, and many other notable commodities…” (Barlowe ¶ …show more content…
Although economically and culturally equality and equity have always been denied and out of reach, to a degree for some, and freely given or taken by others, there still remain cultural ideologies that are ever present. Even when the settlers came, alongside with Native Americans, the colonists were able to flourish and each cultural identity still remained. Furthermore, the social hierarchy has culminated into how we perceive and understand the revolution and colonization as not only an era but as what became a way of life. For many, from various backgrounds, who had bled, sweated, and toiled on the hallowed grounds it could be perceived that their aspirations were to lay a foundation which would lend to their descendant’s prosperity. While the cultures differed prior to, during and after the colonization there was one constant that each group subgroup and individual yearned, strived and hoped for, "opportunity". America which was first referred to as the New World, offered not only opportunity, but also hope for change and prosperity. For those with wealth, America was a way to gain even more. For those without wealth it was viewed as a chance for a fresh start in hopes of establishing themselves and building a solid foundation for themselves, their children and their descendants even if it was