美国文化与社会

Terms and Definitions (5 points each):WASPWhite Anglo-Saxon Protestant, commonly abbreviated to the acronym WASP, is a sociol ogical and cultural ethnonym that originated in the United States and Canada.The term originated in reference to white North Americans of British d escent, who were Protestant in religious affiliation. It initially applied to people with histories in the upper class Northeastern establishment, who were alleged to form a powerful elite.The original WASP establishment created and dominated the social structure of the United States and its significant institutions when the country's social structure took shape in the 17th century until the 20th century.ExodusThe action and the phenomenon of l eaving one’s native country to settl e abr oad.American Exceptionalism （美国例外论）American exceptionalism refers to the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other countries. In this view, America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation," and devel oping a uniquely American ideol ogy, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire. This observation can be traced to Alexis d e Tocqueville, the first writer to describe the United States as "exceptional" in 1831 and 1840. Historian Gord on Wood has argued, "Our beliefs in liberty, equality, constitutionalism, and the well-being.第二个答案：Every American who ever lived, with the exception of one group, was either an immigrant himself or a descendant of immigrants。

American exceptionalism refers to the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other countries. America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation," and developing a uniquely American ideol ogy, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire.Homestead Act （宅基地法）The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln, provided that any adult citizen, or intend ed citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government coul d claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to “improve” t he plot by building a dwelling and cultivating the land. After 5 years on the land, the original filer was entitled to the property, free and clear, except for a small registration fee. Title coul d also be acquired after only a 6-month residency and trivial improvements, provided the claimant paid the government $1.25 per acre. After the Civil War, Union soldierscoul d deduct the time they had served from the resid ency requirements.Immigration QuotasThe so-called quota immigration, the United States immigration law refers to immigrants each year to obtain immigration permit number set has certain places, thereby limiting immigration to increase blindly. In fact this is a planned migration patterns. The United States immigration numbers, as l ong as the immigration law control limits, can get a visa, but more than the prescribed quota restrictions, it must be according to the application of time sequence queue, until the quota.American Nativism （本土主义）Nativism is an ideol ogy that combines xenophobia with ultrapatriotic nationalism. The xenophobia appears as a fear of or disdain for peopl e or ideas that are seen as foreign, strange, or subversive.This finds expression in a form of nationalism that doubts the suitability for citizenship (or even resid ency) of those suspected of being unabl e or unwilling to function as l oyal and patriotic Americans.ConsumerismConsumerism is the promotion of the consumer’s interest. Consumerism is a social and economic ord er based on fostering a d esire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen. Vebl en's subject of examination, the newly emergent middle class arising at the turn of the twentieth century, comes to full fruition by the end of the twentieth century through the process of globalization The term "consumerism" is also used to refer to the consumerist movement, consumer protection or consumer activism,In economics, consumerism refers to economic policies placing emphasis on consumption.Cultural pluralism （文化多元性）Cultural pluralism is a concept that is often heard in discussions about the Americanization of immigrants. Cultural pluralism emphasizes the mutual respect between the various groups in a society for one another’s cultures, a respect that all ows minorities to express their own culture without suffering prejudice or hostility. In addition, cultural pluralism involves the mutual exchange of cultural content and assumes that ethnic groups have the right to preserve their cultural heritages and also to contribute to American civic life.Forty-ninersThe gol d-seekers, called “Forty-niners”, often faces substantial hardships on the trip. Whil emost of the newly arrived were Americans, the Gol d Rush attracted tens of thousands from latin American, Europen, Austraila, and China.The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial. San Francisco grew from a small settl ement to a boomtown, and roads, churches, schools and other towns were built throughout California.Constitution was written and California became a state in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850. The Gold rush also had negative effects: Native Americans were attacked and pushed off traditional lands and gol d mining caused environmental harm.Chinese Exclusion ActAfter the United States acquired California in 1848, a large number of Chinese emigrated to the Pacific Coast, where they provided cheap labor for the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Anti-Chinese feeling steadily increased during the 1860s and 1870s as American workers found themselves competing unsuccessfully with Chinese laborers for jobs. The U.S. government responded by passing the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. The act prohibited Chinese immigration for ten years.The law was repeal ed during Worl d War II.Littl e Rock Nine（由于民权运动黑白学生之间的斗争）The Littl e Rock Nine was a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School，another name was “littl e rock central high”，in the school there were 9 black student，the white stud ent couldn’t accept it。