Abstract：This thesis aims to probe into the formation and development of American dominant culture, White Anglo-Saxon Protestant culture. White Anglo-Saxon Protestant culture influences the American middle class in various aspects, from the Protestant faith, academic environment, politics, economic power, its etiquette, view of marriage to the use of the English language. American dominant culture, beliefs in Protestantism, speaking English, characteristics of the middle class, and Western European style, is closely related to its unique cultural development process. This paper will also compare some similarities and differences between American and Chinese dominant cultures to make people more clearly understand and know the mainstream culture of the United States.

Key words: America; dominant culture; formation and development

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction-1

2. The features of American dominant culture-1

2.1 History of the WASP-1

2.2 The features of the WASP culture-1

  2.2.1 Protestantism-2

  2.2.2 Academia for culture-2

  2.2.3 WASP political hegemony and republicanism-3

  2.2.4 Socialite WASP and propriety-3

  2.2.5 WASP economic powerhouse and middle class congestion-3

  2.2.6 WASP sexuality and marriage-4

  2.2.7 English as WASP language-4

3. The formation and development of the WASP culture-4

3.1 The rise of WASP culture-4

3.2 The American independence-5

3.3 Social Darwinism-5

4. Differences between American and Chinese dominant culture-6

4.1 The Chinese dominant culture-6

4.2 The comparison of American and Chinese dominant cultures-6

  4.2.1 Similaritiess between American and Chinese dominant cultures-7

  4.2.2 Differences between the WASP and the Han cultures-8

5. Conclusion-9

References-11

Acknowledgements-12