One of the primary visual factors that helped shape
American society in the postwar era was the increasing
pace of new arrivals from abroad. As restrictions on immigration
were loosened after World War II, millions of
immigrants began to arrive from all over the world. Although
the majority came from Latin America, substantial
numbers came from China, Vietnam, and the countries
of southern Asia. By 2003, people of Hispanic origin
surpassed African Americans as the largest minority in
the country. Although illegal immigration—especially
from Mexico and the Caribbean islands—became a controversial
issue in American politics, there was little
doubt that the face of America was changing rapidly.
Whether the country’s traditional role as a “melting
pot”—integrating new arrivals into the mainstream of
American society—can continue to function remains to
be seen.
World History
