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European Americans: A Foundational Legacy

An exploration of the demographic, historical, and cultural significance of Americans of European ancestry.

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Defining European Americans

Demographic Significance

European Americans constitute the largest panethnic group in the United States, comprising individuals with ancestry tracing back to the diverse nations of Europe. This demographic encompasses both descendants of the earliest European settlers and those who arrived through more recent waves of immigration.

Census Data

According to the 2020 United States Census, 58.8% of the White alone population and 56.1% of the White alone or in combination category reported detailed European write-in responses. This highlights the substantial presence and self-identification of European ancestry within the U.S. population.

Historical Context

European Americans have been the dominant demographic group since the 17th century. Early European presence included Spanish settlements in Florida and Russian settlements in Alaska, followed by significant British colonization efforts, laying the groundwork for the nation's cultural and societal framework.

Terminology and Usage

Preferred Nomenclature

While "European American" is a recognized term, survey data from 1995 indicated that "White" was the preferred self-identifier for a majority (61.66%), with "European American" chosen by a smaller percentage (2.35%). The term is often used interchangeably with "Caucasian American" and "White American."

Nuances in Labeling

The broad categorization of "White" or "European" has faced criticism for potentially obscuring the distinct cultural heritages of various European ethnic groups. Scholars suggest that such broad labels can contribute to a homogenization, termed "wonder-breading," that diminishes the recognition of individual ethnic identities.

Census Reporting

The U.S. Census Bureau collects data on ancestry, allowing for detailed reporting. However, a significant portion of the population identifies simply as "American" or chooses not to specify ancestry, reflecting complex patterns of assimilation and identity formation over generations.

Early European Exploration and Settlement

Initial European Presence

The earliest continuous European presence in what is now the contiguous United States was established by the Spanish, notably with the founding of St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565. Russian settlements were established in Alaska.

British Colonization

The first English child born in the Americas, Virginia Dare, was born in 1587 in the Roanoke Colony. Subsequent British colonization efforts, beginning in 1607, established a significant and lasting European presence, profoundly shaping the nation's development.

Other European Explorers

Explorers such as Giovanni da Verrazzano (Italian) and Jacques Cartier (French) also contributed to the early European exploration of North America, mapping coastlines and establishing claims for their respective nations.

Diverse European Subgroups

Categorization of Ancestry

European Americans are often categorized into subgroups based on their geographic origins in Europe. These classifications, while sometimes imprecise due to regional variations and intermarriage, are widely used for cultural and ethnic identification.

Regional Groupings

Key subgroups include:

  • Northwestern European Americans: Including British, German, Irish, Dutch, French, and Nordic ancestries.
  • Eastern European Americans: Encompassing Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, and Baltic ancestries.
  • Southern European Americans: Comprising Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, and Balkan ancestries.

Historical Immigration Waves

The patterns of European immigration have shifted over time. "Old Immigration" (pre-1881) was dominated by Northwestern Europeans, while "New Immigration" (post-1881) saw a significant increase from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe.

Historical Immigration Trends

Early Immigration (Pre-1790)

By 1790, approximately 3.9 million people resided in the newly formed United States, with the majority tracing their ancestry to Great Britain (including English, Scottish, Welsh, and Scotch-Irish). German, French, Dutch, and smaller groups also contributed significantly.

Estimated European Immigration Before 1790
Origin Immigrants Ancestry (1790)
England 230,000 1,900,000
France 150,000 500,000
Ulster Scotch-Irish 135,000 320,000
Germany 103,000 280,000
Scotland 48,500 160,000
Ireland 8,000 200,000
Netherlands 6,000 100,000
Wales 4,000 120,000
Sweden and Other 500 20,000
Total British 417,500 2,500,000+
United States Total 950,000 3,929,214

Major Immigration Waves (1820-1970)

The period from 1820 onwards saw massive influxes of European immigrants. Northwestern European countries, particularly Germany, Ireland, and Great Britain, were primary sources initially. Post-1880, immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, including Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, increased substantially.

European Immigration to the U.S. (Selected Periods)
Years Arrivals Years Arrivals Years Arrivals
1841โ€“1850 1,597,502 1901โ€“1910 8,136,016 1931โ€“1940 348,289
1881โ€“1890 4,731,607 1911โ€“1920 4,376,564 1951โ€“1960 1,328,293
1891โ€“1900 3,558,793 1921โ€“1930 2,477,853 1961โ€“1970 1,129,670
Total Arrivals (1820-1970): 35,679,763

Shifting Demographics

While European-born population as a percentage of the total foreign-born population has declined significantly since the mid-20th century (from 75.0% in 1960 to 10.9% in 2016), European Americans remain a foundational demographic group, with their ancestry deeply embedded in the nation's fabric.

Cultural Contributions

Foundational Influences

The culture of the United States is profoundly shaped by European influences, particularly from the United Kingdom and Ireland. This includes the English language, legal systems (common law and French philosophy), and democratic governance structures.

Folkways and Traditions

Scholars like David Hackett Fischer highlight how distinct British folkways, brought by settlers from different regions of the UK, established enduring cultural patterns in American society, contributing to its political, economic, and social character.

Evolving Identity

While assimilation has led many to express ethnic ties symbolically, there has been a resurgence of interest in specific European ethnic identities since the 1960s, reflecting a move towards cultural pluralism alongside the broader American identity.

Legal and Governance Frameworks

Roots in European Legal Systems

The American legal system is deeply rooted in European traditions. It draws significantly from English common law and incorporates principles of separation of powers and federalism influenced by French political philosophy.

Immigration Policy

Historical immigration legislation, such as the National Origins Act of 1924, reflected prevailing attitudes towards different European groups, using census data to favor Northwestern Europeans and limit immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Culinary Heritage

Iconic American Dishes

Many dishes considered quintessentially American have European origins, brought by immigrants. Examples include apple pie (New England, from English influence), hamburgers (German immigrants), hot dogs (German immigrants), pizza (Italian immigrants), and fried chicken (Scottish immigrants).

Thanksgiving Traditions

The Thanksgiving holiday, with its roots in harvest feasts shared between early English settlers and Native Americans, has become a significant cultural event, symbolizing gratitude and communal gathering, with traditions like roast turkey becoming deeply associated with American identity.

Sporting Traditions

Baseball

Baseball's origins can be traced to English immigrants who brought early forms of bat-and-ball games to North America. The first recorded instances of "base-ball" date back to mid-18th century England.

American Football

American football evolved from modified versions of rugby football played in England and Canadian football, with significant innovations occurring in American universities during the 19th century.

Golf

Golf originated in 15th-century Scotland. The first golf course in America was established in 1888 by Scottish immigrant John Reid, marking the beginning of golf's popularity in North America.

Musical Influences

Patriotic Music

American patriotic songs often have European roots. "The Star-Spangled Banner" uses a melody from an 18th-century English song, and "Hail, Columbia" served as an early presidential inauguration song. John Philip Sousa, a prominent composer, contributed significantly to American patriotic marches.

Hymns and Spirituals

Hymns like "Amazing Grace," written by British clergyman John Newton, have become iconic in American culture, adopted for various secular uses and marketing campaigns, demonstrating the enduring influence of European religious music.

Genetic Ancestry and Admixture

European Ancestry Dominance

Genetic studies indicate that European Americans predominantly possess Native European ancestry. Studies using databases like 23andMe suggest a mean proportion of around 98.6% Native European ancestry for self-identified European Americans.

Minor Admixture

While European ancestry is dominant, some European Americans exhibit varying degrees of Native American and African ancestry. This admixture is more pronounced in certain regions, particularly in the Southern United States.

Regional Variations

Scandinavian ancestry, for instance, is notably concentrated in states like Minnesota and the Dakotas, comprising a significant proportion of ancestry in those regions, whereas British/Irish ancestry is widespread across all states.

Notes on Data

Data Interpretation

Census data on ancestry can be complex. Responses vary based on how individuals interpret questions, the importance they place on specific ethnic origins, and the generational distance from immigrant ancestors. The category "American" or "United States" as an ancestry response is also notable.

Limitations

Scholars note that broad ethnic categories can obscure the diversity within European populations. Furthermore, the fluidity of ethnic identity means that self-reported ancestry may not always align with precise genetic origins or historical classifications.

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References

References

  1.  Germany in this time period consisted of a large number of separate countries, the largest of which was Prussia.
  2.  The Other category probably contains mostly English ancestry settlers. However, the loss of several states' census records makes closer estimates difficult. The summaries of the 1790 and 1800 censuses from all states surveyed.
  3.  Excludes Flemish.[54]
  4.  Excludes Moravian.[54]
  5.  Excludes Bavarian, Prussian, Saxon, and West German.[54]
  6.  Excludes Northern Irish and Celtic.[54]
  7.  Excludes Sicilian.[54]
  8.  Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, "The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns", Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-6.
  9.  Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, "Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites", Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82รขย€ย“86.
  10.  EUROPEAN COLONIZATION OF NORTH AMERICA
  11.  United States History - The First Europeans
  12.  Kirk, Russell. The Heritage Lecture Series. "America Should Strengthen its European Cultural Roots." Washington D.C:1949
  13.  Separation of powers#Checks and balances
A full list of references for this article are available at the European Americans Wikipedia page

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