Ancestry
is another termwe can use to classify our
cultural makeup, and is determined by the country of origin
of our families. We commonly refer to this as our cultural
roots. German is themost common ancestry for people in
our state, and Irish and Italian follow closely behind.
African American, Polish and English also account for a
large percentage of our state’s ancestry. You can findmore
in-depth information about the population of Pennsylvania,
and of other states and our country, on the U.S. Census
Bureau website at
Having such a variety can cause problems. Some
people believe that their religious, racial, or ethnic group is
superior. This is known as
ethnocentrism
. WilliamPenn’s
original colony of Pennsylvania was founded upon tolerance
and the belief that all people were free and equal.
Tolerance
is when you respect the rights, opinions, and
customs of different ethnic and religious groups. Allowing
others to freely worship and practice one’s religious beliefs
is one formof tolerance.
Our state’s original charter was completely opposed to
ethnocentrismor any formof intolerance.
Prejudice
is
when you treat a person or group as inferior because of
their differences.
Stereotyping
is when people classify a
whole race or ethnic group as possessing negative
characteristics. Prejudice and stereotyping are negative
behaviors, and are the cause of many of the problems we
have faced.
Pennsylvania’s cultural identity is amelting pot of our
religious, racial, and ethnic diversity. We need to show
respect and tolerance of our diverse customs and beliefs
without losing our right to agree or disagree with a person or
group of people. And we need to celebrate these traditions
that make Pennsylvania’s history and culture special.
L
ET
’
S
R
EVIEW
1.What is the difference between an emigrant and an immigrant?
2.What was the Protestant Reformation?
3. How did the Protestant Reformation contribute to the development of early Pennsylvania?
4.What was the significance of the law passed in 1780 in Pennsylvania?
5. How did the Scots-Irish contribute to the settling of early Pennsylvania?
6.What is an indentured servant?
7.Why was the Pennsylvania colony considered to be a haven for emigrants?
8.Write a sentence describing the historical move of each religious or ethnic group to our state.
A. Quakers B. African-Americans C. Catholics D. Jews
9. Identify four features of culture.
10.Howmany states have a greater population than Pennsylvania?
11.To the nearest millionth, howmany people live in Pennsylvania?
12.What is the population density of Pennsylvania?
13.Describe how our state is urban and rural.
14.The people fromwhoman individual has descended are known as?
15.The belief that one ethnic group is superior to another group is known as?
This farmer is painting a hex sign on his barn. These colorful
designs are often painted on the barns of the PennsylvaniaDutch.
Pennsylvania Becomes A Religious and Cultural Haven
39
