ABSTRACT
The most famous European observer of the American society was Alexis of Tocqueville who wrote a precise and profound analysis of the political and social system during his visit to the United States in the middle of the 19th century. The four corners marking the major principles of ethnic and social cohesion constitute a dynamic movement towards building a new identity as American citizens. These include: belief in a meritocratic reward system; pragmatism in response to pluralism of values; checks and balances in power relationships; and religious vision. The majority of US Americans are either descendants from immigrants or immigrants themselves. The American culture has been mainly shaped by the various cultures of European immigrants and to a lesser degree by African Americans, native Indians, and Asian immigrants. The new immigrants demand to be part of the social system from the beginning and want to have an equal share of the resources.
