MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING, HE CANNOT LIVE ALONE. AT THE CRITICAL MOMENTS OF HIS EXISTENCE HE NEEDS THE SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT OF A GROUP. THE QUESTION ARISES AS TO WHETHER IT SHALL BE ONE SINGLE GROUP IMPOSED UPON HIM, OR WHETHER HE SHALL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM INDIVIDUAL INCLINATIONS. THIS QUESTION OF UNITY OR UNIFORMITY HAS BEEN ANSWERED IN AMERICAN HISTORY BY A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY, AND IT IS PROBABLE THAT PLURALISM WILL CONTINUE TO RETAIN ITS VALUE FOR A FREE AMERICA IN THE FUTURE. IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN PLURALISTIC NATURE, KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS, OF RELIGIOUS IDEAS, AND OF MINORITY GROUPS IS NECESSARY. AMERICAN HISTORY REVEALS THE IMMIGRATION OF MANY DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS TO THE NEW WORLD. MIGRATION WITHIN THE COUNTRY CAUSED MEN TO DRAW TOGETHER IN GROUPS ACCORDING TO PLACE OF BIRTH AND FAMILY BACKGROUND, COLOR, AND/OR RELIGIOUS CREED AND PRACTICES. THIS GROUPING SERVED AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN ORGANIZING THE COMPLEX AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE THREE BASIC RELIGIOUS FAITHS--PROTESTANTISM OR SECTARIANISM, CATHOLICISM, AND JUDAISM--HAVE SERVED AS CUSTODIAMS OF TRADITION AND OF ETHICAL VALUES. DIFFERENT MINORITY GROUPS, SUCH AS NEGROES, INDIANS AND ORIENTALS, LEND DIVERSITY AND ENRICHMENT TO AMERICAN CULTURE SO THAT EVERYONE PROFITS FROM THE COMBINED HERITAGES OF THE POPULATION. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF ETHNIC GROUPS CAN ALSO GENERATE PREJUDICE UNLESS EVERY GROUP HELPS TO CREATE THE GENERAL CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH ALL MAY THRIVE.