American life and culture was born from many other cultures around the world. When immigrants migrated to the "Land of Opportunity," they brought with them pieces of their own heritage: foods, religions, holidays, festivals, music, and art, to name just a few. Through time, these customs have developed into what we now know as American life. In addition, cultures and customs differ across the regions of the U.S.A, from New England to the Midwest to the Pacific. The U.S.A has also had a great impact on global culture, and this book explores such American cultural phenomena as Hollywood movies, network television and rock music, as well as looking at U.S. contributions in areas such as dance and contemporary art and architecture. The mosaic of American culture comes to life in this expansive yet detailed study of what makes the United States a complex blend of customs and traditions.Each volume in this comprehensive two-volume study offers chapters that detail how American life was born and how it has grown, covering the history of customs as well as how traditions are now celebrated in New England, the South, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southwest, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Narrative chapters include the following:Volume 1 covers: Customs and Society: The Land, the People, the Past, the Present; Religion and Thought; Gender, Marriage, Family, and Education; and Holidays and Leisure. Volume 2 covers: Culture: Cuisine and Fashion; Literature; Media and Cinema; Performing Arts; Art, Architecture, and Housing.