The
culture of the United States is primarily
Western, but is influenced by
African,
Native American,
Asian,
Polynesian, and
Latin American cultures. A strand of what may be described as American culture started its formation over 10,000 years ago with the migration of
Paleo-Indians from
Asia, Oceania, and Europe, into the region that is today the
continental United States. The United States of America has its own unique social and cultural characteristics such as
dialect,
music,
arts,
social habits,
cuisine, and
folklore. The
United States of America is an ethnically and racially
diverse country as a result of large-scale migration from many ethnically and racially different countries throughout its history. Differing birth and death rates among natives, settlers, and immigrants are also a factor.