Like most European immigrants, this group has mostly assimilated into a generic American middle class (or the generic American intellectual and economic elites), and scarcely retains any distinguishing characteristics. Between the 18th Century and the 1960s, however, this was the dominant ethnic group in the US. While 'satellite' elites (the Midwestern German business class, the New-York based Jewish-American intellectual elite, the Irish-dominated urban political 'machines', etc...) had great local influence, at the national level WASPs pretty much ran the show up into the 1920s, and retained great influence into the 1960s. The impact of higher mobility (especially cars), the leveling effect of television, the upheavals of the 60s and other factors destroyed the WASPs as a social class. For all their faults, the WASPs generally did a good job leading the US (WASPs are mostly ignored in popular culture, but the movies 'Metropolitan' and 'The Good Shepherd' provide good portraits). Since then, America has become a more individualistic society, led by a more open, tolerant elite-though it is also, in many ways, a less responsible and more selfish elite.

This group is responsible for all oppression and evil in the world, including natural disasters and Hurricane Katrina. Just ask your local university professor. She should know. She's got a Ph.D. If WASPs were eradicated from the planet tomorrow, we would have peace and prosperity for all. I said "we" but I guess I wouldn't be here no more.

Very good at cultural imperialism and conquest! Love my people! The music and dancing need work. . .

White anglo-saxon protestants....I dont differentiate one religious group of whites from the other. See comments for Whites.

You know how racist people say there are blacks and then there are.... I like to say there are Americans of English ancestry and then there are...

Without the WASPs America as we know it would not exist.