preview

Americanization Of The American Dream

Good Essays

Americanization in Education The history of Americanization is long and complex, with beginnings in the late 19th century and the dawn of the 20th century. According to Galindo (2011), “Americanization was an umbrella term that encompassed different groups and programs as well as the different approaches adopted by these groups.” Massive amounts of immigrants were pouring into America via New York City, inspired by visions of freedom and the American Dream, as well as a desire by many to escape the oppressive regimes of their native country, and to flee famine or economic hardship. America truly was, and still is a land of opportunity. Americanization had its beginnings in late night adult classes that took place in factories and shops, as well as Americanization programs for children in public schools in cities like Chicago and Cleveland. The purpose of those classes was to teach English, American history, and the skills that would lead to the greatest thing about America: a democratic citizenship. After World War I and World War II, Americanization tended to focus more on creating civic nationalism and a patriotic plurality. From the 1950s and onwards, classrooms deviated away from directly “Americanizing” students and focused more on teaching them the basics of education such as reading, writing, math, and science. However, Americanization is still happening on many levels of education in America today. Many minorities and ethnicities have felt the full effects of

Get Access