The United States exerts major cultural influence on a global scale.[465][466] The country is also home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, traditions, and values.[467][468] Aside from the Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Native Alaskan populations, nearly all Americans or their ancestors immigrated or were imported as slaves within the past five centuries.[469] Mainstream American culture is a Western culture largely derived from the traditions of European immigrants with influences from many other sources, such as traditions brought by slaves from Africa.[467][470] More recent immigration from Asia and especially Latin America has added to a cultural mix that has been described as a homogenizing melting pot, with immigrants contributing to, and often assimilating into, mainstream American culture.[467] Nevertheless, there is a high degree of social inequality related to race[471] and wealth.[472]
Americans have traditionally been characterized by a strong work ethic, competitiveness, and individualism,[473] as well as a unifying belief in an "American creed" emphasizing liberty, equality, private property, democracy, rule of law, and a preference for limited government.[474] Americans are extremely charitable by global standards: according to a 2006 British study, Americans gave 1.67% of GDP to charity, more than any other nation studied.[475][476][477]
The American Dream, or the perception that Americans enjoy high social mobility, plays a key role in attracting immigrants.[478] Whether this perception is accurate has been a topic of debate.[479][480][481] While mainstream culture holds that the United States is a classless society,[482] scholars identify significant differences between the country's social classes, affecting socialization, language, and values.[483] Americans tend to greatly value socioeconomic achievement, but being ordinary or average is also generally seen as a positive attribute.[484]