Assimilation

Definition

Assimilation is the process by which immigrants or minority groups adopt the cultural traits, values, and behaviors of the dominant or mainstream culture, often to the point of blending indistinguishably into that culture. It involves the gradual absorption and integration of individuals or groups into the prevailing social structure of a society.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Assimilation was a key goal of the U.S. government's policies towards Native American tribes, aiming to force them to abandon their traditional cultures and adopt Euro-American ways of life.
2. The Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North during the early 20th century led to increased pressure for assimilation, as they sought to integrate into northern cities.
3. New waves of European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries faced intense social and political pressure to assimilate, including learning English and adopting American customs.
4. Assimilation was seen as a means of reducing ethnic and cultural diversity, promoting a homogeneous national identity, and preventing potential social unrest or conflict.
5. Critics of assimilation argue that it can lead to the erasure of minority cultures and the loss of important traditions, languages, and ways of life.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of assimilation was applied to Native American tribes in the United States.
  • The U.S. government's policies towards Native American tribes during the 19th and early 20th centuries were largely focused on forced assimilation. The goal was to compel Native Americans to abandon their traditional cultures, languages, and ways of life, and instead adopt the dominant Euro-American culture and societal norms. This was achieved through measures such as the establishment of boarding schools, the allotment of tribal lands, and the suppression of Native American religious and cultural practices. The assimilation of Native Americans was seen as a way to eliminate perceived threats to the expansion of the United States and to create a more homogeneous national identity.
• Describe how the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North during the early 20th century influenced the pressure for assimilation.
  • The Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban centers of the North during the early 20th century led to increased social and political pressure for assimilation. As African Americans sought to integrate into northern cities, they faced discrimination, segregation, and expectations to conform to the dominant white, middle-class culture. This pressure for assimilation manifested in various ways, such as the expectation to learn English, adopt American customs, and abandon traditional cultural practices. The goal was to reduce ethnic and cultural diversity and promote a more homogeneous national identity, which was seen as a means of preventing potential social unrest or conflict.
• Analyze the arguments made by critics of assimilation and how they relate to the preservation of minority cultures and traditions.
  • Critics of assimilation argue that the process can lead to the erasure of minority cultures and the loss of important traditions, languages, and ways of life. They contend that assimilation forces individuals and groups to abandon their unique cultural identities in order to conform to the dominant culture, resulting in the diminishment or even complete disappearance of diverse cultural practices and perspectives. Critics emphasize the importance of preserving the rich tapestry of cultural diversity within a society, as it fosters mutual understanding, respect, and the continued evolution of cultural traditions. They argue that a pluralistic approach, which allows for the coexistence and development of multiple cultures within a shared social framework, is a more desirable alternative to the homogenizing effects of assimilation.

Related terms

Acculturation: The process by which an individual or group adopts, acquires, and adapts to the cultural traits or social patterns of another group, often without fully losing their own distinct cultural identity.

Pluralism: A social system in which different cultural, ethnic, racial, or religious groups maintain an active participation in and development of their traditional cultures within the context of a shared overarching culture.

Melting Pot: A metaphor for a diverse society becoming integrated, where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions come together to form a unified whole, losing their distinct identities in the process.