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Historical Background

Epilogue— The United States—An Amalgam

During the colonial period of U.S. history, most of the nations of Western Europe planted their seeds in the fresh soil that was to nourish the growth of the United States of America. Spain spread her blood, language, and traditions from Florida to California. France sowed a rich heritage throughout the length of the Mississippi Valley. Holland and Sweden transplanted roots to the banks of the Hudson and the Delaware. In the course of time, the offshoots of all these plantings were grafted onto the oak-solid trunks of the British colonies on the Atlantic shore. From the beginning, the hybrid was nurtured by immigrants of various races and religions from scores of other lands.

The amalgamation of such rich and diverse national, cultural, and racial elements into a free and democratic society has created the United States of America—a harmonious blending of cultures, languages, and traditions that mirrors the hopes and aspirations of all mankind.