Introduction of American immigrants

The population of the United States exceeded 300 million in June+10/October 65438+July 65438.

As the third most populous country in the world, next to China and India, the growth pattern of American population is quite different from that of China and India, and the important factor of American population growth is immigration. In the past six years, the population of the United States has increased by 20 million, of which 60% is natural growth at home and 40% is immigrants.

In addition, in the United States, the fertility rate of ethnic minorities is much higher than that of non-Hispanic whites.

According to American statistics, ethnic minorities currently account for 1/3 of the American population, and will account for 40% of the American population in 10 years. The speed of this demographic change is quite amazing.

The United States is an immigrant country in history. In a sense, everyone is an immigrant except the native Indians. However, after the founding of the United States, the so-called "WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Puritans)" mainstream culture was formed and became the main color of American culture. In recent years, in many parts of the United States, ethnic minorities have become the majority of the population, and the "wasp culture" has begun to be impacted.

Historically, the United States used to be proud of its "melting pot", but this phenomenon seems to have occurred in the era when European immigrants dominated. Later, the sources of American immigrants became increasingly diversified, and the United States seemed to be a mosaic of culture. Many ethnic minorities live together and form a unique cultural community. Some people worry that over time, the United States will become a Balkan-style land of ethnic division and conflict.

The immigration growth pattern of American population has led to the evolution of American population structure and cultural combination, which has aroused considerable concern and controversy in American society. Huntington put forward the famous theory of "clash of civilizations" in recent years, pointing out that the cultural identity crisis of "who are we" in the United States is based on the above phenomenon.

American society has a contradictory and dilemma attitude towards population change and immigration. America is a country of immigrants. Immigration is the vitality of American society, and accepting immigrants is also a traditional American value. If immigration is restricted, the population structure of the United States will age and many things will be ignored. The problem of cultural assimilation is also very difficult. Forced assimilation violates the value of individual freedom, and may also cause cultural resistance or rebound. If left unchecked, the "mosaic" phenomenon will spread and strengthen. In addition, new immigrants often do not enjoy equal treatment in social security, which may become the flashpoint of social contradictions in the United States.

Immigration is the foundation of America. It is not only the vitality of American society, but also the focus of contradictions in American society.

The immigration problem in the United States is not only a political issue, but also a complex economic issue. The social chaos after the hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and the riots around Paris, France, have caused people to think about the immigration problems of these rich countries. The political bill issued by immigrants is often "anti-racial discrimination", and the economic appeal is nothing more than making the wallet swell as soon as possible. The former involves the social integration of immigrants and complex religious values, while the latter involves the balance of economic development and the redistribution of wealth.