Geography of the USA
1. Geography of the USA
The United States is a country in the Western Hemisphere. Most of the country is in the central part of North America. It is boarded by Canada on the north and Mexico on the south. Due to its geographical position 48 states are conterminous, or enclosed within one common boundary. The other 2states, Hawaii (in the Pacific Ocean) and Alaska (in the far northwestern part of North America), are located apart from the rest of the country. The physical geography of the US is varied. There are huge forests, large areas of flat, grassy plains and deserts. Within the continental U.S., eight distinct physiographic divisions exist, though each is composed of several smaller physiographic subdivisions. These major divisions are:
1. Laurentian Upland - part of the Canadian Shield that extends into the northern United States Great Lakes area.
2. Atlantic Plain - the coastal regions of the eastern and southern parts includes the continental shelf, the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast.
3. Appalachian Highlands - lying on the eastern side of the United States, it includes the Appalachian Mountains, the Watchung Mountains, the Adirondacks and New England province originally containing the Great Eastern Forest.
4. Interior Plains - part of the interior contentintal United States, it includes much of what is called the Great Plains.
5. Interior Highlands - also part of the interior contentintal United States, this division includes the Ozark Plateau.
6. Rocky Mountain System - one branch of the Cordilleran system lying far inland in the western states.
7. Intermontane Plateaus - also divided into the Columbia Plateau, the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Province, it is a system of plateaus, basins, ranges and gorges between the Rocky and Pacific Mountain Systems. It is the setting for the Grand Canyon, the Great Basin and Death Valley.
8. Pacific Mountain System - the coastal mountain ranges and features in the west coast of the United States.
Due to its large size and wide range of geographic features, the United States contains examples of nearly every global climate. The climate is temperate in most areas, subtropical in the Deep South, polar in Alaska, semiarid in the Great Plains west of the 100th meridian, Mediterranean in coastal California and arid in the Great Basin.
In northern Alaska, tundra and arctic conditions predominate, and the temperature has fallen as low as −80 °F (−62.2 °C). On the other end of the spectrum, Death Valley, California once reached 134 °F (56.7 °C), the second-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
Due to the geographical position the United States is affected by a variety of natural disasters yearly. The Great Plains and Midwest, due to the contrasting air masses, sees frequent severe thunderstorms and tornado outbreaks during spring and summer. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with a peak from mid-August through early October. There are several active volcanoes located in the islands of Hawaii, including Kilauea in ongoing eruption since 1983, but they do not typically adversely affect the inhabitants of the islands. Other natural disasters include: tsunamis around Pacific Basin & mud slides in California.
2. New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. New England is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada (the Canadian Maritimes and Quebec) and the state of New York.
In one of the earliest English settlements in North America, Pilgrims from England first settled in New England in 1620, to form Plymouth Colony. Ten years later, the Puritans settled north of Plymouth Colony in Boston, thus forming Massachusetts Bay Colony. Over the next 130 years, New England participated in four French and Indian Wars, until the British defeated the French and their native allies in North America. In the late 18th century, the New England Colonies initiated the resistance to the British Parliament's efforts to impose new taxes without the consent of the colonists. The Boston Tea Party was a protest that angered Great Britain, which responded with the Coercive Acts, stripping the colonies of self-government. The confrontation led to open warfare in 1775, the expulsion of the British from New England in spring 1776, and the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.
The first movements of American literature, philosophy, and education originated in New England. The region played a prominent role in the movement to abolish slavery and was the first region of the United States to be transformed by the Industrial Revolution. Today, New England is a major world center of education, high technology, insurance, and medicine. Boston is its cultural, financial, educational, medical and transportation center.
Each state is principally subdivided into small incorporated municipalities known as New England towns, which are often governed by town meeting. The only unincorporated territory in New England exists in the sparse, northern regions of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Voters have voted more often for liberal candidates at the state and federal level than those of any other region in the United States.
New England has the only non-geographic regional name recognized by the federal government. It maintains a strong sense of cultural identity set apart from the rest of the country, although the terms of this identity are often contested, combining Puritanism with liberalism, agrarian life with industry, and isolation with immigration.
The states of New England have a combined area of 71,991.8 sq mi (186,458 km2), making the region slightly larger than the state of Washington and larger than England.[48][49] Maine alone constitutes nearly one-half of the total area of New England, yet is only the 39th-largest state, slightly smaller than Indiana. The remaining states are among the smallest in the United States, including the smallest state, Rhode Island. The largest city is Boston. ( pop. 4,522,858)
Climate. In general, springs are wet and cloudy. In general, average rainfall ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 mm (40 to 60 in) a year, although the northern parts of Vermont and Maine see slightly less, from 500 to 1,000 mm (20 to 40 in). Snowfall can often exceed 2,500 mm (98 in) annually. As a result, the mountains and ski resorts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are popular destinations in the winter. Owing to thick deciduous forests, fall in New England brings bright and colorful foliage, which comes earlier than in other nearby regions, attracting tourism by "leaf peepers."
3. American demography
American demography
The United States has a total estimated resident population of 310,594,000, the third largest in the world. It is a very urbanized population, with 82% residing in cities and suburbs as of 2008. California and Texas are the most populous states.
The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2010 is 2.01 children per woman. However, U.S. population growth is among the highest in industrialized countries.
There were 155.6 million females in the United States in 2009. The number of males was 151.4 million. At age 85 and older, there were more than twice as many women as men. People under 20 years of age made up over a quarter of the U.S. population (27.3%), and people age 65 and over made up one-eighth (12.8%) in 2009. The national median age was 36.8 years. Racially, the U.S. has a White American majority. Minorities compose just over one-third of the population (102.5 million in 2007), with Hispanic and Latino Americans and Black Americans as the largest minority groups, by ethnicity and race, respectively.
Marriage
In 2010, the median age for marriage for men was 27; for women, 26.
Social classes
William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005
Upper class (1%) Upper middle class (15%) Lower middle class (32%)
Working class (32%) Lower class (ca. 14% - 20%)
Race and ethnicity
The U.S. population's distribution by race and ethnicity in 2009 was as follows:
Race
White alone
Black or African American alone 12.4%
Some other race alone
Asian alone
Two or more races
American Indian or Alaska Native alone
0.8%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone 0.15% 0.454 million
The Census Bureau projects a U.S. population of 439 million in 2050, which is a 46% increase from 2007 (301.3 million). However, the United Nations projects a U.S. population of 402 million in 2050, an increase of 32% from 2007 (the UN projects a gain of 38% for the world at large).
Population projections
In 2008, the US Census Bureau projected future censuses as follows:
2010: 310,232,863
2020: 341,386,665
2030: 373,503,674
2040: 405,655,295
2050: 439,010,253
4. Labour in America
Labor is considered to be the necessity of life not only in America, but all over the world. The composition of the U.S. work force has changed with the structure of the U.S. economy and with economic and social modernization. Before this aspect became so well-spread and developed many labor movements took place. We could find out several events in the history that influenced on further development of labor: The Great Railroad Strike of 1922, Coal Strikes, and Haymarket Riot.
Labor unions in the United States are legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries. The most prominent unions are among public sector employees such as teachers and police. Activity by labor unions in the United States today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for their membership and on representing their members if management attempts to violate contract provisions. Although much smaller compared to their peak membership in the 1950s, American unions also remain an important political factor, both through mobilization of their own memberships and through coalitions with like-minded activist organizations around issues such as immigrant rights, trade policy, health care, and living wage campaigns.
Early unions
The first local trade unions of men in the United States formed in the late 18th century, and women began organizing in the 1820s. However, the movement came into its own after the Civil War, when the short-lived National Labor Union (NLU) became the first federation of American unions.
The 1920s marked a period of decline for the labor movement. In 1919, more than 4 million workers (or 21 percent of the labor force) participated in about 3,600 strikes. In contrast, in 1929 about 289,000 workers (or 1.2 percent of the labor force) take part only in 900 strikes. Union membership and activities fell sharply because of economic prosperity and a lack of leadership within the movement.
The stock market crashed in October, 1929, that led to the Great Depression. By the winter of 1932-33, the economy was so dangerous that the unemployment rate hit the 25 percent mark. Unions lost members during this time because laborers could not afford to pay their dues and furthermore, numerous strikes against wage cuts left the unions impoverished.
World War II: The war mobilization dramatically expanded union membership, from 8.7 million in 1940 to over 14.3 million in 1945, about 36% of the work force. For the first time large numbers of women factory workers were enrolled.
Today most labor unions in the United States are members of one of two larger umbrella organizations: the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) or the Change to Win Federation, which split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. Both organizations advocate policies and legislation favorable to workers in the United States and Canada, and take an active role in politics favoring the Democratic Party but not exclusively so.
In August 2010, the American labor force comprised 154.1 million people. The largest private employment sector is health care and social assistance, with 16.4 million people. In 2009, the United States had the third highest labor productivity per person in the world, behind Luxembourg and Norway.
5. Social Security in the USA. Benefit programs.
Traditionally in America, helping the poor was a matter for private charity or local government. Arriving immigrants depended mainly on predecessors from their homeland to help them start a new life. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several European nations instituted public-welfare programs. But such a movement was slow to take hold in the United States because the rapid pace of industrialization and the ready availability of farmland seemed to confirm the belief that anyone who was willing to work could find a job.
The Great Depression, which began in 1929, shattered that belief. For the first time in history, substantial numbers of Americans were out of work because of the widespread failures of banks and businesses.
Within days after taking office as president in 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed recovery and reform legislation to the U.S. Congress. Most of the programs started during the Depression era were temporary relief measures, but one of the programs -- Social Security -- has become an American institution.
The other establishments were Federal Security Agency 1939, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare 1953, the Department of Housing and Urban Development 1965 and the Department of Health and Human Services 1980.
Social Security is the largest federal social welfare program in the USA. It ensures that retired persons receive a modest monthly income and also provides unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and other forms of assistance. The Social Security Act, first adopted in 1935, contains numerous other titles and programs, including Title IV Children’s Services, Title XVIII (Medicare), Title XIX (Medicaid) and others.
The Social Security program is officially known by the acronym OASDHI, which spells out the major categories of beneficiaries covered by the program: Old Age; Survivors (widows and minor children of dead workers) and permanently and totally Disabled workers. The letter ‘H’ represents Medicare that is a component of social insurance program in Social Security. The ‘I’ is for insurance.
In 2008, over 50 million Americans received nearly $614 billion in Social Security benefits. The total cost of all federal assistance programs -- including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and various welfare programs -- accounts for nearly one-half of all money spent by the federal government. That is a doubling of the percentage that obtained in the 1960s.
Needy Americans can also turn to sources other than government for help. A broad spectrum of private charities and voluntary organizations is available. Volunteerism is on the rise in the United States, especially among retired persons. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of Americans over age 18 do volunteer work, and nearly 75 percent of U.S. households contribute money to charity.
6.The South Atl States 9:Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The 1st Europeans to settle here were Eng protestants. In coastal areas settlers grew wealthy by raising and selling crops such as tobacco and cotton. Delaware is located on the Atl Coast in the Mid-Atl region. The st is named after D Bay and River, which were named for Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr . Florida here is Disney world. Is a low-lying peninsula with a coast line 2nd in length only to Alaska. Is flat. Georgia was the last of the 13 Colonies to be establ as a colony in 1733. It was the 4th st to ratify the US Constitution in 1788. G is also known as the Peach St and the Empire St of the South. Atlanta is the most populous city and the capital. Here is the museum of Margaret Mitchel. Maryland Historically was part of the Chesapeake Bay Colony where planters cultivated tobacco.Is comparable in size to the European country of Belgium. M is now the wealthiest state in the US.It bears 2 nicknames, the Old Line St and the Free St. M is a life sciences hub with over 350 biotechnology firms, making it the 3d-largest such cluster in the nation. North Carolina was one of the original 13 Colonies and the home of the 1st Eng colony in the Am-s. Today is a fast-growing st with an increasingly diverse economy and population. A leader n agriculture and business. The nation’s major producer of tobacco. South Carolina Originally known as C, the Province of SC was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the Br Crown during the Am Revolution. The st is named after King Charles II, as Carolus is Latin for Charles. Tourism; many racism problems. Virginia is named after Queen Elizabeth I, who, never having married, was known as the 'Virgin Queen'. The st is also known as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of 8 US presidents. Agriculture, colonialism and slavery played significant roles in V's early economy and politics. It was the 1st permanent New World Eng colony and became one of the 13 colonies that would take part in the Am Revolution. West Virginia broke away from V during the Am Civil War and was admitted to the Union in 1863. It is one of only 2 states formed during the Am Civil War (along with Nevada). The capital and largest city is Charleston.The st is noted for its great natural beauty, its historically significant logging and coal mining industries, and its labor history.
7. The US Congress, presidency, election system.
The Congress is the supreme legislative organ. It consists of two Houses: The Senate and The House of Representatives. Its residence is on Capitol Hill, in the center of Washington.
The Senate, the smaller House, is composed of two members from each state, as provided by the Constitution. Membership in the House of Representatives is based on the number of population; therefore its size isn’t mentioned in the Constitution. The Senate and the House of Representatives have equal constitution rights. Each House has the power to introduce bills on any subjects. Important bills may be suggested by the President or other executive officials.
To be elected to the Senate a person must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of the US for at least 9 years, and a resident of the state from which he or she is elected. To become a member of the House of Representatives – at least 25 years, a citizen for 7 years and a resident of the state which he represents.
There are 100 senators (represent states), and 435 members of the House of Representatives (represents district in his home state).
Senators are elected for a term of 6 years, but 1/3 is elected every 2 years (2/3 of the Senators are always persons with some legislative experience). Members of the House of Representatives are elected for 2 years (may be reelected).
Congress meets in regular sessions, beginning with January 3.
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker (Nancy Peloci, 2007 D). By constitution the presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President (Joe Biden, 2007 D).
The President of the US is head of the executive power and his office is one of the most powerful in the world. Under the Constitution he must”take care, that the laws be faithfully executed”. In addition he has important legislative and judicial powers. The official residence and office of the President is in the White House.
Constitutional qualifications for the Presidency are – at least 35 years old, a resident of the country for at least 14 years and national born citizen.
The President, together with the Vice president, is elected to a 4 years term. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, in 1951, limited the Presidency to no more than 2 terms.
As head of the government (the executive branch), the president must carry out the government programmes. He has an important legislative role. He recommends laws to Congress and requests money for federal government operations. He can veto any bill passed by Congress. He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the US. He has the authority to appoint the heads of all executive departments and agencies. Each appointment must be approved by the Senate. Under the Constitution the President is responsible for foreign relations with other nations.
The process of presidential elections: The method of electing a president is peculiar to the US. The people from each state do not vote directly for the President. They elect as many electors as this state has Senators and Representatives in the Congress. These electors are selected exclusively by the corresponding party machines. The candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of the state.
The electors of all 50 states and the District of Columbia (3electors) – a total of 538 persons – compose the Electoral College. The electors gather in the state capitals shortly after the election and cast their votes for the candidate with the largest number of popular votes in their respective states. To be elected President, a candidate must receive 270 votes. The Constitution provides that if no candidate has a majority, the decision should be made by the House of Representatives, with all members from a state voting as a unit. In this case, each state and the District of Columbia would be given one vote only.
Candidates for the Presidency are chosen by political parties several months before the presidential election, which is held every 4 years (leap year) on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.
The Presidential term of 4 years begins on January 20. He starts his official duties with an inauguration ceremony, traditionally held on the steps of the Capitol, where Congress works.
8.The Central Southeast States. The region is blessed with plentiful rainfall and a mild climate. Crops grow easily in its soil and can be grown without frost for at least six months of the year.4 states: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Alabama became the 22nd state in 1819. Capital City: Montgomery. Largest Cities: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile. Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, cattle, nursery stock, peanuts, cotton, vegetables, milk, soybeans. Industry: Paper, lumber and wood products, mining, rubber and plastic products, transportation equipment, apparel. Kentucky. Capital: Frankfort. Admitted into the Union in 1792, Kentucky is the 15th state and the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains. It is known as the "Bluegrass State" because of the blue blossoms of the lush grass around Lexington. Kentucky is one of the border states that lie between the North and the South. Rich tobacco fields and champion race horses have long been symbols of Kentucky. Today, Kentucky is associated with coal mines, horse farms ,and racing. Kentucky Derby horse race, America's most prestigious horse race. The name "Mississippi" comes from an Indian word meaning "great waters" or "father of waters". In 1817, Mississippi was admited as the 20th state to the Union. Part of the Deep South, it was once a land of farmers and quiet towns. It is becoming a state of factory workers and busy cities. The state retains many reminders of the Old South. Agriculture: Cotton, poultry, cattle, catfish, soybeans, dairy products, rice. Industry: Apparel, furniture, lumber and wood products, food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment. In 1796, Tennessee was the first territory admitted as a state under the federal Constitution (16th state). The lonely pioneer, wearing a coonskin cap and carrying a flintlock rifle, is a symbol of Tennessee's great past. Pioneers crossed the mountains of Tennessee to settle in the wilderness. They brought with them the spirit of independence. rugged mountains, thick forests and beautiful lakes and rivers. The capital Nashville is known as a center for country music; Memphis, Tennessee's largest city is a magnet for music fans, as the birthplace of urban blues and long-time home of Elvis.
9. The US Constitution. Amendments to the constitution.
A Constitution is a body of fundamental principles according to which a nation or state is constituted or governed. A good example is the constitution of the USA, formed in 1787. It consists of the Preamble, 7 articles & 26 amendments. The constitution of the USA is the source of government authority & the fundamental Law of the land. The constitutional convention which was to adopt a new constitution officially opened on May 25 1787 in Philadelphia. The 55 delegates who drafted the constitution included most of the outstanding leaders of the new nation. George Washington was the presiding officer. In the course of the convention the delegates created a new form of government for the USA. The Constitution set up a federal system with a strong central government. A federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority & its states with some rights reserved to each.
Under the constitution power was divided among the 3 branches of national government: legislative (the Congress), executive (the President) and judicial (the Supreme Court). These 3 powers established a so-called system of checks & balances. This system gives each branch the means to restrain the other two. The Constitution provided the election of a national leader, or president. It provided also, that federal laws would be made only by a congress consisted of representatives elected by people.
When the constitution was written in 1787 there were only 13 states. The authors of the constitution saw that the future might bring a need for changes, that is why they provide a method of adding amendments. Over the past 200 years 26 amendments have been adopted, but the constitution itself has not been changed. But when the Constitution was first proposed £ adopted, there was widespread dissatisfaction of the American people, because it did not contain guarantees of certain basic freedoms & individual rights. It also recognized slavery £ did not establish universal suffrage (избирательное право). Only several years later in 1791 under the strong popular pressure the congress was forced to adopt, the first 10 amendments dealing with social liberties they were called collectively the Bill of Rights. From it the Americans received guarantees of such basic rights as freedom of speech, the press & religion, the right of peaceful assembly, freedom from unreasonable search, arrest and seizure. Slavery was abolished many years later in 1865 by the 13th amendment and universal suffrage was guaranteed in 1870 by the 15th amendment. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, in 1951, limited the Presidency to no more than 2 terms. Since Bill of Rights 16 more amendments were adopted. But the political system created by the constitution & the Bill of rights is basically the same today as it was in 1790.
Adopted in 1787 the constitution was finally ratified & came into force on March 4, 1789. Under the constitution no member of one branch may be a member of either of two others. But the president may or may not be a member of the political party with a majority in congress. No member of the Government with the exception of the Vice president (who presides Senate) may also be a member of Congress. The Congress is improved by the constitution to remove government officials, including the president, from office, only by Impeachment process.
The men, who played the leading roles in writing the constitution, were George Washington, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. Washington's participation was the most important. But truly decisive intellectual work was made by Madison. Later he was regarded as the Father of the constitution.
Each state has its own constitution. The State constitutions have a similar structure with the Constitution of the USA. As a rule they include preamble, the Bill of rights, as well as provisions dealing with local interests: the division of powers, suffrage & elections, taxes & finance, education etc.
10.The Southwest. 4 states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Southwest is drier than the adjoining Midwest in weather. The population is less dense and, with strong Spanish-American and Native-American components, more ethnically varied than neighboring areas. Outside the cities, the region is a land of open spaces, much of which is desert. The magnificent Grand Canyon is located in this region, as is Monument Valley. Arkansas. The early French explorers of the state gave it its name. Joined the Union in 1836, was the 25th state. Arkansas is a beautiful land of mountains and valleys, thick forests and fertile plains. The Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges in northern and western Arkansas are known as the Highlands; the southern and eastern parts of Arkansas are called the Lowlands. Arkansas' mineral and hot spring waters are well-known. Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, milk. Industry: Food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, vanadium. Louisiana, named in honor of the French King Louis XIV. It was admitted to the Union as the 18th state in 1812. A strong French influence is still evident throughout the state. Situated in the Deep South, Louisiana lies where the mighty Mississippi empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Tourists visit New Orleans for the city's festive Mardi Gras, the old French Quarter and the city's jazz clubs. Oklahoma. In 1889, Congress opened up 2 million acres for white settlement (it was previously open only to Native Americans who were forced to leave their homelands), and the first of a number of land runs began. In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state in the Union. Oklahoma is a major fuel and food-producing state. Thousands of oil and natural gas wells dot the Oklahoma landscape. Millions of white-faced beef cattle graze on Oklahoma's flat plain and low hills. Fertile fields produce vast crops of wheat. The name Texas is a Spanish name, which comes from an Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." The Republic of Texas achieved its independence from Mexico in 1836. It became the 28th state in 1845. Texas is the second largest state. Today Texas is a major producer of oil. Cowboys with their 10-gallon hats have long been a symbol of the state. Agriculture: Cattle, cotton, dairy products, nursery stock, poultry, sorghum, corn, wheat. Industry: Chemical products, petroleum and natural gas, food processing, electric equipment, machinery, mining, tourism.
11. History from Leif Ericson to 1865. New land. English settlements.
The USA was originally peopled by Indians and was opened to European colonization by the first voyage of Columbus in 1492. By the time the white man appeared, the Indians had spread and occupied all parts of the new world. But there was at least one earlier colonization effort. The first known Europeans to reach America were the Vikings (Norse) during the 11th century, who established several colonies in Greenland and one short-lived settlement in the area the Norse called Vinland
Leif Ericson (970 – 1020) was a Norse explorer who is regarded as the first European to land in North America nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. According to the Sagas of Icelanders, he established a Norse settlement at Vinland (a part of North America).
The AM continent was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a man from Florence who helped to organize Columbus’s second voyage in 1493.
In 1497, sailing from the north, John Cabot landed on the North American coast, and a year later, Columbus's third voyage reached the South American coast.
In 1607 the English tried again and this time the colony was founded at Jamestown in Virginia, named after the English king James I. Thus a new era was opened in the colonization of North America.
Most European emigrants left their homelands to escape political and religious oppression, as well as economic difficulties and poverty. The colonists had survived due to the help of friendly Indians, who taught them how to grow native crops (corn, beans, potatoes, tobacco).
Another significant event was the arrival in August 1619 of a Dutch ship with Negro slaves, of which it sold twenty to the settlers. This marked the beginning of the slave trade.
An important event in the colonization of North America took place in 1620 when a group of colonists known as the Pilgrim Fathers came to North America on the famous ship the Mayflower and settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were separatists in England or members of Puritan movement wishing to purify the Church of England by making religious services simpler and discipline stricter. The Pilgrim leaders knew that in order to organize their lives in the new land they had to establish rules of behavior. So 41 men abroad the Mayflower signed a special document known as the Mayflower Compact, which was the first agreement for self-government in America. They also chose their first governor.
The Thirteen Colonies were established by Great Britain on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. In 1776 they declared their independence and formed the United States of America. They extended from what is now Maine in the north to Georgia in the south. The colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Each colony developed its own system of self government.
The USA having won the War of independence began to develop rapidly. In 1790 according to the census the population of the USA was nearly 4 million people. The country was growing quickly; industry was making progress, the shipping industry developed. But the main energy of the Americans was directed to the west. The Americans continued to explore and colonize the western lands. In 1803 America bought the huge territory lying west of the Mississippi and called Louisiana from France. By this purchase the territory of the US stretched to the Rocky mounts. After the war of 1812-1814 a national network of roads and cannels was built, steamboats moved along the rivers, and the first steam railroad opened in Baltimore in 1830. In 1829 Andrew Jackson became elected president of the US, he formed the Democratic party - a coalition of the farmers, workers, immigrants. Jackson supported the settlers in colonizing the western lands, and he also forced the Indian tribes to move west to the Mississippi. Thousands of the Americans were settling in Texas, which then was a part of Mexico. People were displeased with the rules of the Mexico and in 1835 formed the Republic of Texas. In 1845 the US invaded Texas and included it into the US.
The American Civil War (1861–1865), also known as the War Between the States , was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession (выход) from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America, also known as "the Confederacy." Led by Jefferson Davis, the Confederacy fought against the United States (the Union), which was supported by all the free states (where slavery had been abolished) and by five slave states that became known as the border states. It remains the deadliest war in American history, resulting in the deaths of 620,000 soldiers and an undetermined number of civilian casualties. Victory for the North meant the end of the Confederacy and of slavery in the United States, and strengthened the role of the federal government.
12. The Midwest. The Great Lakes Industrial Belt. The Midwest is known as the nation's "breadbasket." The fertile soil of the region makes it possible for farmers to produce abundant harvests of cereal crops such as wheat, oats, and corn. 5 states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Great Lakes region is distinguished for significant contributions in natural resources, political economy, technology and culture. The lakes hold almost one fifth of the world's surface freshwater. Illinois. "Land of Lincoln," because it's where the 16th president was raised. Became the 21st state in 1818. At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and on the farms that dot the state's gently rolling plains. Indiana. "land of the Indians." It joined the Union in 1816 as the 19th state. A state of mostly small towns and midsize cities. Its largest city and capital is Indianapolis, where the nation's most famous auto race, the Indianapolis 500, is held each year. Indiana has broad, fertile plains and is a part of the Corn Belt. Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, eggs. Industry: Steel, electric equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products, petroleum and coal products, machinery. Michigan "large lake." in 1837, Michigan became the 26th state in the Union. One of the nation's leading manufacturing states and it leads in the production of automobiles. Detroit, Michigan's largest city, is called the Automobile Capital of the World or Motor City. M. touches four of the five Great Lakes - Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Ohio, a major producer of machines, tools, and other products, is one of the leading industrial states. O. is an Iroquois word meaning "great water." As part of the Midwestern Corn Belt, agriculture also plays an important role in the state's economy. Wisconsin. The state's name is an English version of a French adaptation of an Indian name said to mean "the place where we live." In 1634, Frenchman Jean Nicolet became Wisconsin's first European explorer. The French controlled the area until 1763, when it was ceded to the British. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as the 30th state. Clean lakes, rolling hills, quiet valleys, deep forests and cool, pine-scented breezes. Wisconsin is first in the country in the production of milk, cheese, and butter.
13. Colonial era, revolution, devising a constitution, a new nation.
In 1492, a Spanish expedition headed by Christopher Columbus sailed to America and introduced the New World to the Western World of the time; after this, European conquest, exploration, and colonization soon followed and expanded. In 1497, sailing from the north, John Cabot landed on the North American coast, and a year later, Columbus's third voyage reached the South American coast. Eventually, the entire Western Hemisphere would come under the control of European nations, leading to profound changes to its landscape, population, and plant and animal life.
In 1607 the English founded the colony at Jamestown in Virginia, named after the English king James I. Thus a new era was opened in the colonization of North America.
Most European emigrants left their homelands to escape political and religious oppression, as well as economic difficulties and poverty. The colonists had survived due to the help of friendly Indians, who taught them how to grow native crops (corn, beans, potatoes, tobacco).
Another significant event was the arrival in August 1619 of a Dutch ship with Negro slaves, of which it sold twenty to the settlers. This marked the beginning of the slave trade.
An important event in the colonization of North America took place in 1620 when a group of colonists known as the Pilgrim Fathers came to North America on the famous ship the Mayflower and settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were separatists in England or members of Puritan movement wishing to purify the Church of England by making religious services simpler and discipline stricter. The Pilgrim leaders knew that in order to organize their lives in the new land they had to establish rules of behavior. So 41 men abroad the Mayflower signed a special document known as the Mayflower Compact, which was the first agreement for self-government in America. They also chose their first governor.
The Thirteen Colonies were established by Great Britain on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. In 1776 they declared their independence and formed the United States of America. They extended from what is now Maine in the north to Georgia in the south. The colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Each colony developed its own system of self government.
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America. By 1774 each colony had established a Provincial Congress to form individual self-governing states. The British responded by sending combat troops to re-impose direct rule. Through representatives sent in 1775 to the Second Continental Congress, the new states joined together at first to defend their respective self-governance and manage the armed conflict against the British known as the American Revolutionary War (1775–83, also American War of Independence). The war ended with effective American victory in October 1781. The Treaty of Paris, signed in September 1783, recognized the independence of the United States.
Devising a constitution. The 13 colonies were now "free and independent states"—but not yet one united nation. The constitutional convention which was to adopt a new constitution officially opened on May 25 1787 in Philadelphia. The 55 delegates who drafted the constitution included most of the outstanding leaders, or Founding Fathers, of the new nation. George Washington was the presiding officer. In the course of the convention the delegates created a new form of government for the US. The Constitution set up a federal system with a strong central government. A federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority & its states with some rights reserved to each. The US became federated, because after the war of independence the 13states were too weak individually to carry on the work of government. They joined together as equals for the common convenience. But each state preserved its own independence by reserving to itself certain well-defined powers (education, taxes & finance, internal communications). The powers which are usually given to a federal government are those dealing with national defense, foreign policy, the control of international trade etc. The men, who played the leading roles in writing the constitution, were George Washington, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. Washington's participation was the most important. But truly decisive intellectual work was made by Madison. Later he was regarded as the Father of the constitution.
14. Ethnic groups and minorities.
The United States is a diverse country, racially and ethnically. Six races are recognized: White, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and people of two or more races. Americans are also classified as "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino", which identifies Hispanic and Latino Americans as a racially diverse ethnicity that composes the largest minority group in the nation.
White Americans (non-Hispanic/Latino and Hispanic/Latino) are the racial majority, with an 80% share of the U.S. population. White Americans are the majority in every region. However, 35% of White Americans live in the South, the most of any region. The South is also where Blacks and African Americans are most prevalent, as it is home to 55% of the community.
Ethnicity: Hispanic and Latino Americans
The question on Hispanic or Latino origin is separate from the question on race. "Hispanic or Latino origin" is a self-designation made by 47 million Americans, as of 2008. Hispanic and Latino Americans have origins in the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America and Spain. The Hispanic or Latino population is young and fast-growing, due to immigration and higher birth rates. Each racial category contains Non-Hispanic or Latino and Hispanic or Latino Americans.
Black or African American
About 12.4% of the American people (37.6 million) are Black or African American. The Black or African American group is the largest racial minority, as opposed to Hispanics and Latinos, who are the largest ethnic minority.
African Americans form the largest subgroup, and are primarily descendants of Africans who were enslaved in the U.S. between 1619 and the 1860s and were emancipated during the American Civil War in the 1860s. Due to this history, the origins of most African Americans are usually untraceable to specific African nations; Africa serves as the general indicator of geographic origin.
Asian Americans
A third significant minority is the Asian American population, comprising 13.4 million in 2008, or 4.4% of the U.S. population. California is home to 4.5 million Asian Americans. Asian Americans live across the country, and are also found in large numbers in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Houston, and other urban centers.
Two or more races
Multiracial Americans numbered 7.0 million in 2008, or 2.3% of the population. They can be any combination of races and ethnicities. The U.S. has a growing multiracial identity movement. Interracial marriage, most notably between whites and blacks, was deemed immoral and illegal in most states until the 20th century.
American Indians and Alaska Natives
American Indians made up 0.8% of the population in 2008, numbering 2.4 million. One of the largest tribal groups is the Navajo, who live on a 16-million acre (65,000 km²) Indian reservation covering northeast Arizona, northwest New Mexico, and southeast Utah.
Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders
Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders numbered 427,810 in 2008, or 0.14% of the population. This group constitutes the smallest minority race in the United States. Most Native Hawaiians on the island chain of Hawaii are said to be highly mixed with Asian, European and other ancestries.
15.
The central Northwest-a country of planes, the chief agricultural region
of the U.S.,the "Bred basket"Minnesota-10т lakes,half of
pop.-Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, mining and dairying,the largest
source of Iron,live-stock, corn.Iowa- fertile soil,produces food supply,
cattle. Missouri-Industrial, agricultural importance,largest rivers-the
Mississippi and Missouri.The leading industry-agricult.(corn,wheat,
16. Civil war.
The American Civil War (1861–1865), also known as the War Between the States , was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession (выход) from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America, also known as "the Confederacy." Led by Jefferson Davis, the Confederacy fought against the United States (the Union), which was supported by all the free states (where slavery had been abolished) and by five slave states that became known as the border states.
In the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party, led by Abraham Lincoln, had campaigned against the expansion of slavery beyond the states in which it already existed. In response to the Republican victory in that election, seven states declared their secession from the Union before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861.
North and South went to war in April 1861 at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The North had more than twice as many states and twice as many people. It had abundant facilities for producing war supplies, as well as a superior railway network. The South had more experienced military leaders and had the advantage of fighting mostly on its own territory.
For four years, ground battles involving tens of thousands of soldiers and horses were fought in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Georgia. Naval battles were fought off the Atlantic coast and on the Mississippi River. In that area, Union forces won an almost uninterrupted series of victories. In Virginia, by contrast, they met defeat after defeat in their attempts to capture Richmond, the Confederate capital.
Confederate commander Robert E. Lee won battles in the east, but in 1863 his northward advance was turned back with heavy casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg. To the west, the Union gained control of the Mississippi River. Confederate resistance ended after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
The American Civil War was one of the earliest true industrial wars. Railroads, the telegraph, steamships, and mass-produced weapons were employed extensively. It remains the deadliest war in American history, resulting in the deaths of 620,000 soldiers and an undetermined number of civilian casualties. Victory for the North meant the end of the Confederacy and of slavery in the United States, and strengthened the role of the federal government. The social, political, economic and racial issues of the war shaped the reconstruction era that lasted to 1877.
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