Most Americans are generous, honest, and kind. When tragedy strikes, our first thoughts are usually of what we can do. During a storm we'll watch out for our neighbors; when someone is sick, we'll bring food or offer to contribute in other ways. Our hearts are touched by stories of personal loss we read about in the news; if we can, we'll make a donation to help an individual we don't know and will never meet. When the scope of a loss is great, we support aid organizations that are assisting those we see in need.
We are a complex people living in a vast, sprawling land with a wide range of climates and temperatures. We have mountain ranges, valleys, forests, woodlands, rivers and lakes, inland seas, plains, canyons, plateaus, deserts, varied coastlines, and marshy tropical areas.
According to the U.S. Census, the population in 1776 was 2.5 million people. As of January 1, 2025, it is nearly 350 million. There are a lot of us. And we live in many different kinds of places, from big, dense cities to sparsely populated wilderness areas, and everything in between. With our huge geography and regional cultures, different areas can feel like mini-countries. It's no wonder we don't always see things the same way.
Americans are often viewed by others as more outgoing, independent, and direct than those in other cultures. Qualities seen as typical of our culture also include informality, curiosity, optimism, and individualism.
Our culture is unique in that many of us descend from people who came from all over the world and worked hard to build new lives and be Americans. With each new group, aspects of the culture, customs, languages, and recipes they brought with them blended into our culture. Indeed, much of the food we all enjoy today reflects our varied population and roots.
Despite our differences, when it comes to the basics, we are more alike than we may think. In today's world, learning more about each other and what moves us may be the best gift we can give ourselves.
