Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

United States Assimilation

Almost all citizens of the United States, at one point in their ancestry, were immigrants. Immigrants looking to become citizens of the United States strive to become a part of America’s society. This process is called assimilation. The process of assimilation has looked different for different groups of immigrants throughout American history. The difference between the Irish and Mexican assimilation experiences is interesting and complex. You must consider many factors in order to answer the question: What are the most important factors that determine how fast an immigrant group assimilates into American culture? One discipline is not enough to fully understand the processes. Historians will look at the historical context of each group’s immigration story. Geographers look at when certain people moved and where they moved. They also look at when individuals move out of ethnic neighborhoods and into more white areas in the United States. Sociologists look at the relationships formed, both with individuals from the same group and with individuals from different groups. A combination of the three disciplines uncovers five main issues. These issues are the location of immigrants over time, relationships between immigrants and Americans, the changing immigration laws and policies, the question of race, and how their culture intertwined in the culture of the United States. The most important factors that determine how fast an immigrant population assimilates into American culture are race, United States laws and policies, and relationships formed in the United States.