The ethnic dimension in American history

Because of their ethnic heritage and ideological values, Americans tend to believe that the United States is more beset by ethnic conflict than is true of other nations. But ethnic politics in America is part of a global phenomenon. The United States is clearly not the only country with ethnic issues. What sets America apart is its ethnic diversity. It is a nation of minorities. Within its boundaries can be found nearly every major racial, religious, national, and language group on the planet. Along with material plenty and economic success, ethnic pluralism is one of the organizing principles of American history and remains today a dominant theme in the way most Americans interpret their world.