Chapter One (Section Three)

Chapter One (Section Three)Chapter One (Section Three)

““The American People Today”The American People Today”

Welcome to America!!Welcome to America!!

314 Million Strong!!!314 Million Strong!!!

The CensusThe Census

A census is an official, periodic counting of the population.

In the United States, a census is conducted every 10 years.

The CensusThe Census A census

– determines each states population and uses that information to apportion representation to the House of Representatives.

– Tracks where people are living and where areas are growing or shrinking.

– Collects demographics, that is human characteristics such as: religion, ethnicity, number of children, even number of pets!

Census information is public and can be found at www.census.gov

Population GrowthPopulation Growth

A country’s population can grow in three ways:

1. Natural Increase– Birthrate– Deathrate

2. Adding Territory

3. Immigration– Since 1820, more than 60 million

immigrants have come from all over the world to call the US home.

E Pluribus UnumE Pluribus Unum

As stated on all US coins, E Pluribus Unum, Latin for “out of many, one” embodies the idea that our country, though diverse and ever-changing, is still one unified nation.

Our 60 million immigrants, and their descendants, make up our rich, diverse population today…

Population ChangesPopulation Changes

Our population is ever-changing due to the following factors:

– Changing Households (divorce, marriage, fewer kids)

– Changing Women’s Roles (more women work today)

– An Older Population (people are healthier than ever… in 2000, there were 65,000 Centenarians!

– A More Diverse Population (many Americans today have a mixed heritage)

– A More Educated Population

A Population on the MoveA Population on the Move

The rise of industry caused people to migrate to cities in the early 1800s.

Migrate means a movement of a large number of people from region to region.

Today, more people live in cities and suburbs rather than rural areas.

As well, today more jobs focus on service professions rather than industrial professions.

A Population on the MoveA Population on the Move

In the 1920s, the invention of the automobile allowed people to work and live in different places.

Because people worked in the cities and moved to places where they could afford more land, larger homes and found quiet neighborhoods, the suburbs began to flourish.

A Population on the MoveA Population on the Move

Climate can also impact where people choose to live and work.

The “Sunbelt” , ranging from North Carolina to Florida, became a popular place for people to move because of the different types of jobs available and warmer climate.

Many of the cities in the “Sunbelt” have explosive populations to include the nation’s fastest growing city – Dallas, Texas.

A Population on the MoveA Population on the Move

The most populous city in America continues to be New York, NY.

SO… who are Americans?SO… who are Americans?

White (Anglo) AmericansWhite (Anglo) Americans

An estimated 211 million “white” (or Anglo/European) Americans live in the U.S.

+/- 68%…

African AmericansAfrican Americans

An estimated 35 million African - Americans live in the U.S.

+/- 13%…

Hispanic AmericansHispanic Americans

An estimated 35 million Hispanic - Americans live in the U.S.

This group is the fastest growing group in the U.S…

+/- 13%…

Asian AmericansAsian Americans

An estimated 10 million Asian - Americans live in the U.S.

+/- 3%…

Native AmericansNative Americans

An estimated 2.5 million Native - Americans live in the U.S…

+/- 1%…

Other Statistics…Other Statistics…

ReligionReligion

Over 50% (158 million) of American citizens are Christians.

Judaism and Islam follow with 1% and .5%…

Age & GenderAge & Gender

The “median age” of the American population is 35 years old…

Women now are the “majority” in the U.S. (50.9% vs. 49.1%)

Unity Among CitizensUnity Among CitizensE Pluribus UnumE Pluribus Unum

How do the following help to unify us as a nation?– Founding Documents– Patriotism– Active Citizenship