Ame 4

The Penetration of Anglo-Saxton Values in America

Overview

In most cases, the relationship between ethnic groups involves features of domination and subordination; this implies that one group gets to impose control over the other. In the U.S., cultural domination is often challenging due to the presence of many diverse migrating communities. However, each ethnic group in America conforms to the values of the Anglo-Saxton culture (Aguirre and Turner, p. 61). Therefore, the Anglo-Saxton culture and institutions often dictate and define the outcome of other minority ethnic groups. Many of America's core values come from English Protestantism. The British emphasized values such as hard work, loyalty and duty, honor, bravery, truth, and efficient use of time. Such values penetrated every facet of the American Society from the early ages through their core, religious, political, educational, and economic institutional structures.

The Anglo –Saxon core values penetrated every facet of the American Society through;

Educational Institutional Structures

In the early days, before the Revolution, schools were private based and only available to the wealthy and the majority of Anglo-Saxton citizens. Education hence based on the beliefs and principles of the early English settlers. Children, therefore, got to learn only the core values, culture, economic and political ways of the English settlers. The later introduction of public schools adopted this private system of learning and further led to the Americanization of the minor ethnic groups (Aguirre and Turner, p. 65). Hence, many public schools adopted the Anglo-Saxton curriculum, which promoted their core values in American Society.

Religious Institutions Structures

The English settlers migrated in large numbers to America and dominated over other minority ethnic groups. They brought with them Anglican and Congregational Protestantism (Aguirre and Turner, p. 66). Due to their dominance, the settlers viewed other religious denominations as suspicious and only recognized and imposed on their religious practices. However, with increasing numbers of non-English Protestants in America, the English settlers were left with no choice but to tolerate religious pluralism. However, even with the acceptance of religious diversities, the English religious traditions still dictated other religion's affairs, a concept that still raises conflicts today.

Political Institutions Structures

The Anglo-Saxton core values invaded the American Society through various political structures. For instance, the United States government structure reflects the interaction between British political traditions of the 17th Century and the French Social Philosophy of the 18th Century (Aguirre and Turner, p. 65). Therefore, these ruling systems imposed their core values, such as freedom and leadership, on every ethnic group in America. Therefore, the Americans, including other immigrant groups, were forced to conform to Anglo-Saxton regulations leading to its further penetration into Society.

Economic Institutional Structures

The early English settlers invaded America mainly due to economic reasons. They were interested in attaining raw materials for their English commerce and sought new markets for their goods (Aguirre and Turner, p. 64). With their dominance over other sub-ethnic groups, the English settlers found ways to control and develop America, thereby adding to their prosperity in America. Such actions forced other people to work for them and adapt to their ways to earn a living.

The primary systems of symbols in America's values, language and laws originate from the early English settlers. However, with changing circumstances, such distinct cultural elements have blended with those of other cultures. Nonetheless, the Anglo-Saxton core values are still noticeable in American Society as they continue to define how members of diverse cultural groups must behave, think, and speak.

Work Cited

Aguirre, Adalberto and H. Turner Jonathan. "American ethnicity: The dynamics and consequences of discrimination" 7th Edition. University of Michigan: McGraw-Hill (2004): 61-70.