Coming to America: Chapter 4-5

 In the beginning of chapter 4, the text refers to the first census and how three-fourths of the population were white and from England and more than two-fifths were from Britain. As mentioned in class, the Natives were not included in the census which really messed up the actual  number of  people in the "New World".

Many other ethnicities were coming to America, like the German, aka Dutch, Scotch Irish, Scots, Irish, Welsh, French, Spanish, Swedes and Jews. Most of these groups were able to keep their language and established their own communities throughout the states.  The Germans were skilled miners, whom many of which were either Protestant, Catholic or Jewish. The Scotch Irish refer to the Presbyterians from the Scottish lowlands who settled in Northern Ireland.  The Scots are those who came directly from Scotland. The Irish were in American during many of the earlier years. Many of the Jews established synagogues in five states. Many of the other ethnicities also arrived in specific ports or areas when coming to America. I think these "community" settings helped these people adjust to their new life in America and being away from home.

in the fifth chapter, it describes the time near the end of the seventeenth century where the population of non-English decent dropped increasingly at this time while people of English decent were higher. The dominance of the English culture was heavier now than ever before. This was also the beginning of Indian segregation  with Indian reservations, many of the colonists called these reservations "Indian plantations", "Indian villages" or "praying towns".

Discrimination against other ethnicities were also against the Germans and well as the Blacks also. I think that from the slavery, many Europeans still felt superior than other groups including other "white" groups. At the beginning of this chapter it asks the question of "what is an American" and provides an answer by Michael-Guillaume-Jean de Crevecoeur. But i think this question doesn't have an answer that is specific based upon someone's ethnicity or color. I think an American is someone who lives in America or calls America one of their home because many people now have multiple places that they call home. There are many other things that make people apart of America and giving a definition may exclude a part of a person.