The USA: A Nation of Immigrants

INTRODUCTION
All Americans living in the United States now, except Native Americans, are immigrants or descendants of
immigrants. The USA used to be called a “melting pot”: a place where different cultures mixed and became
American. But today, it is more of a mosaic: ethnic groups try to keep alive their own identities and traditions.

 THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICANS (AMERINDIANS)

The Amerindians arrived on the North American continent 15.000 years ago. They came from Asia.
Many of them died from diseases after their contact with Europeans or were massacred. As a
result, some tribes lost 90% of their population. They also lost their culture, their language and
their religious customs. Their lands were confiscated and some tribes were deported or forced to
live on arid land – reservations. There are two million Indians today. They are now referred to as
Native Americans.

 THE ENGLISH
The English founded the first thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast during the 17 th and 18th
centuries. Their descendants are referred to as WASP’s (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants). In 1620,
a hundred English men and women – the Pilgrims – went to America in order to find religious
freedom given that they were persecuted. They sailed across the Atlantic on a ship, the
Mayflower. When they arrived, they settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, it was winter and
extremely cold. Half of them died. The others survived thanks to Amerindians who helped them
plant corn. After their first harvest, the Pilgrims had a feast to give thanks to God. Thanksgiving,
which commemorates this event, has become a national holiday, celebrated by all Americans on
the fourth Thursday of November.

 THE FIRST BLACKS

The first black were slaves. They were from Africa: this is why the Blacks are now called African
Americans. They were sold to Southern planters as early as the 17 th century to work on cotton and
tobacco fields.
Slavery was abolished in 1865 after the Civil War. It was only a hundred years later, thanks to the
Civil Right Movement led by Martin Luther King that Blacks and Whites obtained equal rights.

 THE EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS

They left their countries so as to flee from political, economic or religious persecution. The first
waves came in the late 1840s, during the Gold Rush, or during the Great Famine of Ireland. Many
came from Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia as most of them were destitute. Between
1880 and 1930, over 27 million immigrants, mainly Italians, Russians, Greeks and Jews from
Eastern Europe, came to the United States. Until 1954, many of them passed through Ellis Island
which is now a national monument.

 THE HISPANICS
The Hispanics (or Latinos) are immigrants from Central and South American and the Caribbean.
Many arrived in 1960s. The Hispanic community is now as large as the Black community. That is
why there are so many newspapers, TV channels and radios programmes in Spanish throughout
the United States. And in some cities, such as Miami, it is more common to hear Spanish than
English on the street.
 GENERAL COMPREHENSION

I) Vocabulary:
A) Match the words with the French equivalent
1-Maladie; 2-Maïs; 3-Fuir; 4-Pauvre; 5-A travers; 6-Moisson; 7-Naviguer; 8- S’installer

diseases corn flee from destitute throughout harvest sail settle

in
B) Look at the words in bold (=en gras). Classify the expressions in the grid

Expression of time Expression of Expression of Expression of

purpose cause consequence
Until during To given that as That is why as a
so as to result
in order to

II) Fill in the grid with the information from the text

The Amerindians The Blacks The Hispanics

Where they came from From asia From africa From southern america
and caribbean
When they arrived 15000 years ago During the 17 and 18th Most of them In 1960
century
How many there are 2 millions
today
What they are also Native americans or Africans americans latinos
called amerindians

DETAILED COMPREHENSION

III) Right or Wrong? Quote the text

A) The first Native Americans came from Europe □ Right =□ Wrong

Quote:

B) The descendants of the first English settlers are called Native Americans □ Right =□ Wrong
Quote:

C) Thanksgiving is celebrated on the Fourth of July □ Right =□ Wrong

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D) Most of the European immigrants were wealthy (=rich) □ Right =□ Wrong

Quote:

E) It is rare to hear Spanish in Miami □ Right =□ Wrong

Quote: