© Markéta Čeřovská, Lenka Lexová The United States of America.

© Markéta Čeřovská, Lenka Lexová© Markéta Čeřovská, Lenka Lexová

The United States of The United States of AmericaAmerica


IntroductionIntroduction the official name is the official name is the United States of Americathe United States of America

(the USA)(the USA) it's a it's a federal constitutional republicfederal constitutional republic consisting of consisting of

50 states50 states it's situated mostly in central it's situated mostly in central North AmericaNorth America it lies between it lies between the Pacific the Pacific andand Atlantic OceansAtlantic Oceans, ,

bordered by bordered by CanadaCanada in the north and in the north and MexicoMexico in in the souththe south

it's it's the third largestthe third largest country both by land area country both by land area and populationand population

the official language is the official language is EnglishEnglish and the currency and the currency is called the is called the American dollarAmerican dollar


GeographyGeography the Appalachian Mountainsthe Appalachian Mountains divide the eastern divide the eastern

seaboard from seaboard from the Great Lakesthe Great Lakes and the and the grasslands of the Midwestgrasslands of the Midwest

the Rocky Mountainsthe Rocky Mountains, at the western edge of , at the western edge of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the Great Plains, extend north to south across the countrythe country

the Mississippi–Missouri Riverthe Mississippi–Missouri River is the world's is the world's fourth longest river systemfourth longest river system

the Great Plainsthe Great Plains is a flat, fertile prairie used for is a flat, fertile prairie used for agricultureagriculture

Mount McKinleyMount McKinley is the highest peak in the is the highest peak in the country and in North Americacountry and in North America


MissouriMissourithe longest riverthe longest river

Mississippithe 2nd longest river


Other important riversOther important rivers

the Columbia river, the Columbia river, WashingtonWashington

the Sacramento river,California


the Colorado riverthe Colorado river, Utah-Nevada-California-Arizona, Utah-Nevada-California-Arizona


the Rio Grande,the Rio Grande, New Mexico New Mexico


the Rockies the Rockies in the west of the USAin the west of the USA


the Appalachian mountainsthe Appalachian mountainsin the east of the USAin the east of the USA


Mount McKinleyMount McKinleythe highest peak 6 194m, Alaskathe highest peak 6 194m, Alaska


Five great lakesFive great lakesin the north-east of the USAin the north-east of the USA

lake Superiorlake Superior lake Michiganlake Michigan lake Huronlake Huron lake Erielake Erie lake Ontariolake Ontario


Great Salt Lake, Great Salt Lake, UtahUtah

The Death Valley, The Death Valley, CaliforniaCalifornia

the lowest place in the USA - 86m below the sea levelthe lowest place in the USA - 86m below the sea level


the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon, ArizonaArizona


ClimateClimate as the USA is a huge country, you can find all climatic as the USA is a huge country, you can find all climatic

zones therezones there AlaskaAlaska – – arcticarctic zone – snow, frost, glaciers zone – snow, frost, glaciers thethe northnorth of the USA – of the USA – continentalcontinental climate, yet climate, yet

freezing winters, often problems with freezing winters, often problems with snowstormssnowstorms and very low temperaturesand very low temperatures

in in thethe south-westsouth-west – – semi-desertssemi-deserts and and desertsdeserts can can be found, problems with be found, problems with firefire (California) (California)

in in the south-eastthe south-east – – subtropicalsubtropical climate, rainforests, climate, rainforests, problems with problems with hurricaneshurricanes and and floodsfloods in the summer in the summer

spring and autumn – mild, warm and sunnyspring and autumn – mild, warm and sunny tornadoestornadoes – from April to June in the Midwest – from April to June in the Midwest


HistoryHistory first people migrated from first people migrated from Asia 40,000Asia 40,000 years agoyears ago in in 1492 Christopher Columbus1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America and discovered America and

started European settlementstarted European settlement England, Holland, France and Spain established coloniesEngland, Holland, France and Spain established colonies 1773 Boston Tea Party1773 Boston Tea Party – a boycott of English cargo which – a boycott of English cargo which

started the fight for independence of the coloniesstarted the fight for independence of the colonies 1775-17831775-1783 War of Independence – war between England and War of Independence – war between England and

the American colonies to free the coloniesthe American colonies to free the colonies July 4, 1776 the Declaration of IndependenceJuly 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence , , the 13 the 13

colonies proclaimed independence on its colonies proclaimed independence on its colonizator England and colonizator England and became the United became the United States of AmericaStates of America, one of the writers of the document was Thomas Jefferson

The Mayflower transported Pilgrims to the New World in 1620 from Plymouth Harbor


six years later the first American president was elected – six years later the first American president was elected – George WashingtonGeorge Washington

tensions between free-minded industrial (north) states and tensions between free-minded industrial (north) states and slave agricultural (south) states resulted into slave agricultural (south) states resulted into Civil War Civil War 1861–18651861–1865, in the end , in the end slavery was abolishedslavery was abolished in the in the whole USA, the president was whole USA, the president was Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

October 24, October 24, 19291929 stock market crashed at stock market crashed at Wall StreetWall Street, , New York, throwing the USA and world economy into New York, throwing the USA and world economy into crisis (huge unemployment)crisis (huge unemployment)

in in 19411941 the USA joined the WW II after a Japanese attact the USA joined the WW II after a Japanese attact on Pearl Harboron Pearl Harbor

in in 19451945 the USA threw atom bombs on Japanese towns the USA threw atom bombs on Japanese towns Hiroshima and Nagasaki in order to stop the warHiroshima and Nagasaki in order to stop the war

since then the USA have joined many war conflicts since then the USA have joined many war conflicts (Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc.)(Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc.)

September 11, September 11, 20012001 terrorist attacks on WTC, NY terrorist attacks on WTC, NY


PopulationPopulation

the population is over the population is over 330 million 330 million inhabitantsinhabitants the original people are called the original people are called the Native Americansthe Native Americans "white" Americans are of European origin"white" Americans are of European origin a large number of the population is made up by the a large number of the population is made up by the

descendants of descendants of Afro-Americans Afro-Americans who were brought who were brought to the country as slavesto the country as slaves

there live many there live many immigrants immigrants from countries of the from countries of the whole world as the USA was seen as the promised whole world as the USA was seen as the promised land how to become richland how to become rich

the fastest growing immigrant groups are Spanish the fastest growing immigrant groups are Spanish speaking incomers from Latin Americaspeaking incomers from Latin America


Political systemPolitical system it's a it's a federal constitutional republic federal constitutional republic

(a union of 50 states) (a union of 50 states) the official Head of State is the official Head of State is the Presidentthe President the capital city is the capital city is Washington D.C.Washington D.C. the federal government is composed of the federal government is composed of 3 branches3 branches:: LegislativeLegislative: : the Congressthe Congress, made up of , made up of the Senatethe Senate and and

the House of Representativesthe House of Representatives ExecutiveExecutive: : the Presidentthe President is the commander-in-chief of is the commander-in-chief of

the militarythe military JudicialJudicial: : the Supreme the Supreme

CourtCourt and lower federal courtsand lower federal courts

United States Capitol, home of the US Congress

The White House, home and workplace of the US president


EconomyEconomy the United States is the United States is the largest importerthe largest importer of goods and third of goods and third

largest largest exporterexporter it's rich in it's rich in natural resourcesnatural resources such as such as natural gas natural gas andand oiloil, ,

sulphursulphur, , phosphatesphosphates, , saltsalt it produces oil, electrical and nuclear energyit produces oil, electrical and nuclear energy as for agriculture it's the world's top producer of as for agriculture it's the world's top producer of corn corn (maize) (maize)

and and soya beanssoya beans, plus, plus beef cattle beef cattle is raised in large numbersis raised in large numbers Coca-ColaCoca-Cola and and McDonaldsMcDonalds are the two most recognized are the two most recognized

brands in the worldbrands in the world computers - computers - MicrosoftMicrosoft, , Apple Inc.Apple Inc. airplane industry – airplane industry – BoeingBoeing car industry – car industry – Ford, Cadillac, ChevroletFord, Cadillac, Chevrolet

The New York Stock Exchange, on Wall Street


TransportationTransportation personal transportation is dominated by personal transportation is dominated by carscars, 40% of personal vehicles are vans , 40% of personal vehicles are vans

or light trucksor light trucks an average American adult spends 55 minutes an average American adult spends 55 minutes

driving every day, travelling 47 kmdriving every day, travelling 47 km the four largest airlines in the world by passengers the four largest airlines in the world by passengers

carried are American;carried are American; Southwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines is is number onenumber one

the busiest airport in the world is the busiest airport in the world is Atlanta Atlanta International AirportInternational Airport

transport of goodstransport of goods by by railrail is extensive but is extensive but relatively few people use rail to travel, within or relatively few people use rail to travel, within or between citiesbetween cities

The Interstate Highway System, which extends 75,440 km


National HolidaysNational Holidays

ThanksgivingThanksgiving The Independence DayThe Independence Day Martin Luther King's DayMartin Luther King's Day Columbus DayColumbus Day Presidents DayPresidents Day Veterans DayVeterans Day


US StatesUS States


The Statue of LibertyThe Statue of Liberty


The Twin TowersThe Twin Towers


DisneylandDisneyland


The City of New YorkThe City of New York


Los AngelesLos Angeles


San FranciscoSan Francisco


The Niagara FallsThe Niagara Falls


Mount RushmorMount Rushmor


The White HouseThe White House

© Markéta Čeřovská, Lenka Lexová The United States of America.

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Transcript of © Markéta Čeřovská, Lenka Lexová The United States of America.