Understanding American Culture: A Modern Guide for International Visitors

Basic social manners, such as smiling and engaging in small talk, serve as non-verbal signals of politeness and friendliness. In the United States, social norms include a range of behaviors and expectations that facilitate interactions and develop connections among individuals. This dual responsibility includes ensuring safety and security, promoting economic opportunities, and fostering social cohesion. The concept of happiness, as understood by the founders and echoed throughout history, involves both individual and collective dimensions. The World Happiness Report consistently places the United States among the world’s happiest countries, with its 2023 ranking at 15th globally. Memorial Day is a time for Americans to pause and acknowledge the debt of gratitude owed to these heroes, ensuring that their legacy of courage and sacrifice endures for generations to come.

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Since then, cultural geographers have produced evidence to support many of Tocqueville’s observations, noting that as various cultural groups arrived in North America, they tended to settle where their own people had already settled. Rather, at least four cultures sprang from British roots, and altogether there may be as many as eleven national cultures in the U.S. today. Moreover, the country has changed dramatically since the time of its founding, becoming a major world power only in the last 75 years. In what follows, I summarize Althen’s description of typical American values and assumptions, sometimes extending his examples with my own. These traditions and customs may not be 100% uniquely American, but they’re certainly aspects of American culture that don’t happen all around the world.

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The colony of Maryland, founded by the Catholic Lord Baltimore in 1634, came closest to applying freedom of religion. Civil and religious restrictions were most strictly applied by the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which saw various banishments applied to enforce conformity, including the branding iron, the whipping post, the bilboes and the hangman’s noose. Examples are popular culture obsessions with confession and forgiveness, which extends from reality television to twelve-step meetings. According to a 2002 study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, the U.S. was the only developed nation in the survey where a majority of citizens reported that religion played a “very important” role in their lives, an opinion similar to that found in Latin America. Gun ownership is much more prevalent among men than among women, with men being approximately four times more likely than women to report owning guns.

From the early settlements of European colonists to the present day, religion has left an indelible mark on American society. Broadway musicals, including Hamilton, The Lion King, and Chicago, transport audiences to fantastical worlds of song and dance, showcasing the talent — jealous! LGBTQ+ representation has also played a significant role in shaping American music and dance, with contributions to disco, house music, and voguing. Latin music, including salsa, merengue, and reggaeton, is an explosion of rhythms and passionate energy, while Asian-American artists contribute to the musical landscape with genres like K-pop, Bollywood, and fusion styles.

Most religions maintain the same values of respect and kindness towards one another. It is okay for a person to decline to shake hands or touch them because of religious or cultural reasons. There are some general cultural norms and practices that may be different from what you are used to in your home country. Veterans Day, celebrated on the third Monday of November, honors those who served the country, while George Washington and other historical figures have shaped American history.

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More than 300 languages are spoken in the United States, and while there is no official language per se, around 90% of the population understands the English language. It is a culture that nourishes competition and political correctness, and also tries to enforce the freedom of speech. American culture is not only defined by its fast-paced lifestyle, fashion, and “to-go” coffee cups. Defining American culture in simple terms is not as easy as it may seem. They can also help us understand why certain regions of the country are for or against gun control, environmental regulation, or the regulation of financial institutions, and so on, or for or against particular Congressional legislation. These divisions can help us understand regional differences in basic sentiments such trust vs. distrust of government.

These acts of remembrance, such as placing flowers and flags on graves, symbolize gratitude for the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for their country. Memorial Day in American culture serves as a dignified occasion to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The American Dream represents the belief that every individual, regardless of their origin or social class, can attain their own version of success within a society that develops rising flexibility for all. Many people feel a disconnect, unsure how to grasp the full spectrum of this diverse and ever-evolving identity. Check out one of our cultural exchange programs to begin your American journey and let us know what observations you’d add to the list. In any culture—and especially in the U.S. where individuality is valued so highly—the norms outlined above are simply generalizations that many choose not to follow.

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Their communities established the framework for religious tolerance and pluralism that would become fundamental principles of American democracy. These early settlers brought with them Protestant Christian beliefs that would lay the foundation for much of America´s religious identity. The roots of American religious influence trace back to the arrival of Pilgrims and Puritans seeking religious freedom in the New World.

This multiculturalism can be comforting for international visitors; it can also make it hard to identify the cultural practices of “typical Americans”. Most people in the U.S. are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants from all around the world. Gaming is one of the most popular leisure activities in the US with nearly 150 million people playing video games.

White Americans (non-Hispanic/Latino and Hispanic/Latino) are the racial majority and have a 72% share of the U.S. population, according to the 2010 U.S. census. Today, Catholics are the largest religious denomination in the U.S. chicken road 2 game and outnumber Protestants in the Southwest and California. Chinatowns can be found in many cities across the country and Asian cuisine has become a common staple in mainstream America. Music styles such as jazz, blues, rap, rock and roll, and numerous folk songs such as Blue Tail Fly (Jimmy Crack Corn) originated within the realms of African American culture and were later adopted by the mainstream.

Geographical and cultural diversity of America

The economy of south England in 17th century was organized mainly around the production of grain and wool. While the Puritans were artisans, farmers, and craftsmen from the east of England, the Tidewater Virginians had been English “gentlemen” in south England. This migration was from the south of England, and these newcomers settled in what is today southeast Virginia, in the area known as the Tidewater. Eventually, historical circumstances would even sweep the religious authoritarianism away, leaving behind a legacy self-government, local control, and direct democracy. They only accepted people into their communities that were willing to conform to their Puritan brand of Calvinism; dissenters were punished or exiled.

Several American Protestant religious groups and women’s groups, such as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, supported the movement. A 2011 Charities Aid Foundation study found that Americans were the first most willing to help a stranger and donate time and money in the world at 60%. Along with mass-marketed informal wear in general, blue jeans are arguably one of US culture’s primary contributions to global fashion. Always a mainstay of Great Lakes and New England-area culture, the sport gained tenuous footholds in regions like the American South since the early 1990s, as the National Hockey League pursued a policy of expansion. Though baseball is no longer the most popular sport, it is still referred to as “the national pastime”.

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In the North, it energized multiple social reform movements, including abolitionism; in the South, Methodists and Baptists proselytized among slave populations. According to the United Nations, the U.S. has the highest number of immigrant population in the world, with 50,661,149 people. Asian Americans are the country’s fourth-largest group, composing 5.9% of the U.S. population, while the country’s 3.7 million Native Americans account for about 1%. The average workweek in the U.S. for those employed full-time was 42.9 hours long with 30% of the population working more than 40 hours a week. The upper middle class, or the “working rich”, commonly identify education and being cultured as prime values, similar to the upper class.

• Because of this emphasis on equality, Americans tend to disregard social status in everyday interactions, and only acknowledge these differences in subtle ways.
• Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, most notably the English who colonized the country beginning in the early 1600s, according to the Library of Congress.
• From coast to coast, Americans gather to celebrate festivals and holidays, bringing people together to honor traditions, express identity and have fun.
• A 2011 Charities Aid Foundation study found that Americans were the first most willing to help a stranger and donate time and money in the world at 60%.
• Given the passage of time and the huge influx of immigrants, it might not seem believable that these founding nations would have maintained their distinct cultural identities.

A closer look at American cultural diversity

In other countries, maintaining eye contact could be a sign of disrespect. It is a way of interacting with people that tries to deliver a message quickly. Understanding these key aspects of U.S. culture can help you adjust and feel more comfortable. There are many cultural groups from all over the world. With its warm and sunny climate, diverse job market, and thriving cultural scene, Los Angeles offers a quality of life that attracts residents and visitors alike. Comprised of five districts at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean, its heart beats with the rhythm of Manhattan, a busy center of commerce, finance, and culture.

And before I get in the yummy side of culture, I’d like to insist on the fact that America has a true gastronomy, despite what many people think! Immigration and multiculturalism have influenced American art and architecture, from European classical traditions to African, Asian, and indigenous aesthetics. San Francisco’s Victorian architecture, with its colorful facades and intricate detailing, showcases the city’s rich history and cultural heritage. Across the country, regional diversity in American culture is reflected in its art and architecture. The colonization of America by European powers brought about profound cultural transformations as indigenous peoples were displaced, enslaved, or assimilated into colonial societies.

United States Traditions & Customs That Confuse the Rest of the World

• Several American Protestant religious groups and women’s groups, such as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, supported the movement.
• These unusual USA traditions often confuse visitors from other parts of the world.
• And because there were few newcomers, the black population of the Tidewater was “relatively homogenous and strongly influenced by the English culture it was embedded within” (Woodard, p. 87).
• The term Western culture often refers broadly to the cultures of the United States and Europe, according to ScienceDaily.
• Many churches and organizations provide food and other needs to families who do not have a lot of money.
• Today, America stands as one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with a vibrant array of religious traditions coexisting, most of the time peacefully and respectfully.

You may be surprised to see people wearing athletic clothing or even pajamas in public spaces like grocery stores. For casual social events among friends, arriving 5-15 minutes late is generally acceptable, but it’s best to communicate if you’ll be very late. People in America tend to be informal in their interactions, often calling people by their first names even in professional settings. Hugs are generally reserved for people you know well, but it’s ok to copy the gesture extended to you depending on your level of comfort.

From San Francisco to New York, people from different cultures have influenced everything from food, like hot dogs, to music and religion. Truly many things define American culture, but the real beauty is in its diversity and contradictions, and all the different people and cultures that make it a unique country. More than 300 million people live in The United States, making it the third-largest country in the world, and also one of the most culturally diverse (racially and ethnically) countries. Over time, these many multicultural traditions have blended and adapted to become the face of culture in the USA. America is home to people from all around the world, so when you study at a US university, you’ll likely encounter unique cultures, traditions, arts, sports, and more. People from other cultures who hold higher social positions sometimes feel that Americans do not treat them with enough respect.

They were also deeply religious and brought a utopian vision of a society that would bring about God’s kingdom on earth, governed by a particular Puritan interpretation of the Bible. These included many of the customs and values they had been accustomed to in East Anglia. As a result, the basic attitudes, behaviors, and values of each group were profoundly different.

Yet, beyond July 4th, Americans also commemorate other patriotic occasions, such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day, paying tribute to the sacrifices of those who have served their country. Other iconic ingredients, such as avocados, rice, and beans, speak to the diverse cultural influences that shape American cooking. Tomatoes, introduced to America by European settlers, have become a cornerstone of dishes like pizza, pasta sauce, and salsa, symbolizing the fusion of Old and New World culinary traditions. Iconic ingredients play a vital role in American cuisine, each carrying its own cultural significance and historical legacy. On the East Coast, seafood takes center stage, with dishes like clam chowder, lobster rolls, and crab cakes. Across the United States, regional and state variations in dishes offer a tantalizing glimpse into the diverse culinary traditions that define American cuisine.

In this section, I want to show why the idea of a dominant American culture is more complicated than it is often taken to be. In Part 2, we will see that a closer look at the American political scene, may force us to conclude that even when Americans endorse the same values, they may actually have different things in mind. There may be a good deal of truth to Althen’s claim; however, a closer look into American history reveals considerable regional variation in Americans’ understanding of even the most fundamental ideals, e.g., ideas about the freedom of the individual. As Althen expresses it, “Americans usually assume that conflicts or disagreements are best settled by means of forthright discussions among the people involved. They feel people should express their opinions explicitly and frankly.