Meet the USA

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«MEET the United States of America» Window on America library Center Svitlana Usenko is the Head of Center 2010

Transcript of Meet the USA

  • 1. MEET the United Statesof America Window on America library CenterSvitlana Usenko is the Head of Center 2010

2. Geographical position The United States of America, a federal respublic, is the fourthlargest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies thesouthern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the AtlanticOcean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.The total area of the country is about nine and a half million squarekilometers. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in thesouth. It also has a sea-boarder with Russia. 3. AreasThe USA is divided into three areas: Eastern area is a highland, central areais a plain and Western area is mountains including the Rocky Mountainsand the Sierra Nevada. There are five great lakes in the northern part of theUSA. There are: Huron, Michigan, Supireo, Ontario and Erie. Americaslargest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and theColumbia. 4. Mountain ranges cross the country from north to south anddont protect it against cold air from the north and warm onefrom the south. The highest mountains are the RockyMountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highestpeak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska. 5. History The history of the USA began a little more than 500 years ago. In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America to the whole world. He thought that it was India. 6. Native Americans in the UnitedNative Americans States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-dayIndianscontinental United States, including parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as intact political communities. The terms used to refer to Native Americans are controversial; according to a 1995 US Census Bureau set of home interviews, most of the respondents with an expressed preference refer to themselves as American Indians or Indians. 7. In 1776 on the 4th of Julythe Declaration ofIndependence was adopted. Itproclaimed Life, Liberty andthe pursuit of Happiness as thehuman natural rights. In 1787the constitution of the USA waswritten. 8. The First President In 1789 on the 6th of AprilAmericans elected the firstPresident of the USA.George Washingtonserved two terms (1789-1797).The newly-built capital of thecountry was namedWashington. 9. National Symbols The flag of the USA is calledFlag Stars and Stripes. There are three colours on the flag of the USA. They are red, white and blue. As there are fifty states in the USA, there are fifty stars on the American flag: one star for each state. The American flag has thirteen stripes. The stripes are red and white. There is one stripe for each of the first thirteen colonies which in 1776 became independent of England. 10. Cast in London, England in 1752, National Symbols the Liberty Bell rang when theThe Liberty Bell Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and has become the symbol of freedom in the United States. The bell weighs about 2000 pounds and is made mostly of copper (70%) and tin (25%). Made for the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), the Liberty Bell was ordered by the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penns 1701 Charter of Privileges. Shortly after its arrival in Philadelphia the Bell cracked. Local craftsmen recast the bell using the metal from the old bell, but this one also proved defective. A third was cast by John Pass and John Stowe. Their names appear on the bell, along with the city and date, along with this inscription: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof - Lev. XXV, v. x. By order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania [sic] for the State House in Philada. 11. Bald eagle The eagle became the official national symbol of the country in 1782. It holds an olive branch (a symbol of peace) and arrows (symbol of strength) in its paws. The USA has official song. Its called The Spangled Banner. 12. National Floral Emblem -The Rose The rose, said to be about 35 million years old, has been used as a symbol of love, beauty, war, and politics throughout the world. The flowers are generally red, pink, white, or yellow and grow naturally throughout North America. The rose became the official flower of the United States in 1986. In October 1985, the Senate passed a resolution that declared the rose as the National Floral Emblem of the United States. Senate Joint Resolution 159 was passed by the House of Representatives on September 23, 1986. President Reagan signed the resolution on October 7, 1986 in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. On November 20, 1986, President Reagan issued Proclamation 5574: The National Floral Emblem of the United States of America: The Rose. Did you know? Thr first President, George Washington, bred roses, and a variety he named after his mother is still grown today. 13. Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty, proudlady of welcome for millions ofnewly arrivedAmericans, stands atop herpedestal in New York Harbor.The Statue of Liberty is a giftfrom the French, the statue wasset in place in 1876. 14. National SymbolsIndependence HallLocated in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, Independence Hallwas built between 1732 and 1756 asthe State House or capitol. At thisbuilding, colonial leaders met toplan the future of the new nation. Many of the most importantdocuments in U.S. history werewritten at Independence Hall. TheDeclaration of Independence wasadopted here on July 4, 1776(Independence Day). The Articles ofConfederation were ratified here in1781. The Constitution was writtenhere and signed on September 17,1787. Independence Hall was alsothe home of the Liberty Bell for over200 years. 15. National Symbols In the Black Hills of South Dakota, stands the national memorial, Mount Rushmore, created by Gutzon Borglum. It was designed as aMount Rushmore testament to the growth of the country and its great leaders. This magnificent rock carving depicts the 60-foot high (18.3 m) faces of four great U.S. Presidents. They are: George Washington Thomas Jefferson Theodore Roosevelt Abraham Lincoln Borglum started drilling into the 6,200-foot mountain in 1927; however, he died in 1941 before it could be completed. The head of Washington was completed first, followed by Jefferson and Lincoln. Roosevelts head was unfinished when Borglum died. The memorial was finished later that year by his son, Lincoln. Borglums original design was a sculpture of the four presidents to their waists, but time and money only provided for their heads. A similar memorial honoring Crazy Horse, the Oglala Sioux chief, is currently under development nearby. 16. National Symbols Built on a hill popularly calledCongress of USACapitol Hill in Washington, DC, the U.S. Capitol has been the home of the House of Representatives and the Senate since 1800. In March 1792, a design contest was announced to design the U.S. Capitol. All of the 16 plans submitted were rejected. A late entry by William Thornton, amateur architect from the British West Indies, was accepted in fall 1792. President Washington liked it because of its "grandeur, simplicity and convenience." The iron dome, also white, is surmounted by a statue of a woman representing Freedom, by the American sculptor Thomas Crawford. The height of the Capitol from the baseline on the east front to the top of the statue is 287.5 ft (87.6 m) 17. White House is symbol of freedomLocated at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, the White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The White House has been the official residence of all the presidents of the United States with the exception of George Washington. The house was rebuilt and restored after it was burned by the British in August 1814.The White House has six floors--two basements, two public floors, and two floors for the First Family. Visitors who tour the White House are able to see the most beautiful and historic rooms in the house including the East Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room, the Red Room, and the State Dining Room. These rooms are used by the President and First Lady to entertain guests and to receive leaders of other countries. The Oval Office is where the President does the business of the country--signing bills and Executive Orders and meeting with staff, visitors, and guests. 18. The Supreme Court Building Located in Washington, DC near the Capitol, this building has housed the Supreme Court since 1935. Initially, the Court met in the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. When the capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, the Court moved first into Independence Hall and later to City Hall. Then when the capital moved to its permanent location, Washington, DC, Congress lent the Court space in the new Capitol Building, until a permanent location was established for the Court. Sixteen marble columns may be found at the main entrance of the Court. Above the entrance to the Supreme Court Building appears engraved motto "Equal Justice Under Law", which was designed by Cass Gilbert. 19. Arlington National Cemetery Located in Arlington, Virginia, ArlingtonNational Cemetery honors those men andwomen who served in the Armed Forces.Currently, there are over 260,000 peopleburied in there and approximately 5,400burials are conducted each year. Arlington National Cemetery containsveterans from all the nations wars, from theAmerican Revolution through the Persian GulfWar, as well as presidents, chief justices, andastronauts. It is one of two national cemeteriesunder the jurisdiction of the Department ofthe Army (the other being Soldiers andAirmens Home in Washington, DC). Approximately four million people visitArlington National Cemetery each year. Someof the more popular sites in ArlingtonNational Cemetery include the Tomb of theUnknowns and the grave of former PresidentJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy. With his gravemarked with an eternal flame, John F.Kennedy is one of only two presidents to beinterred into Arlington National Cemetery.The other president, William Howard Taft, isalso one of only two former Chief Justicesinterred in Arlington National Cemetery (theother Chief Justice is Earl Warren). 20. Pentagon - the largest building in America The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself. 21. National Mall 22. The Washington MonumentThe Washington Monument isthe most prominent structure inWashington, D.C. and one of thecitys early attractions. It wasbuilt in honor of GeorgeWashington, who led the countryto independence and thenbecame its first President. TheMonument is shaped like anEgyptian obelisk, stands 555 51/8 tall, and offers views inexcess of thirty miles. It wasfinished on December 6, 1884. 23. National SymbolsThomas JeffersonMemorial The words of Thomas Jefferson, some written more than 200 years ago, have shaped American ideals. Today, many of these impressive, stirring words adorn the interior walls of his memorial. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial stands as a symbol of liberty and endures as a site for reflection and inspiration for all citizens of the United States and the world. 24. Lincoln Memorial In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever. Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United Statesthe Great Emancipator and preserver of the nation during the Civil War sits immortalized in marble. As an enduring symbol of freedom, the Lincoln Memorial attracts anyone who seeks inspiration and hope. 25. American iconsAbraham Lincoln(1809-1865) he 16th President ofthe United States from March1861 until his assassination inApril 1865. He successfullyled the country through itsgreatest internal crisis, theAmerican Civil, preservingthe Union, ending slavery,and rededicating the nationto nationalism, equal rights,liberty and democracy. 26. American iconsMartin Luther King Each year on the third Monday of January schools, federal offices, post office and banks across America close as we celebrate the birth, the life and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a time for the nation to remember the injustices that Dr. King fought. A time to remember his fight for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all races and peoples. A time to remember the message of change through nonviolence 27. American iconsEdgar Allan Poe( 1809 1849)He was an American writer,poet, editor and literary critic, consideredpart of the American RomanticMovement. Best known for his tales ofmystery and the macabre, Poe was one ofthe earliest American practitioners of theshort story and is considered the inventorof the detective-fiction genre. 28. American icons Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977)-was an English comic actor and filmCharlie Chaplin director of the silent film era. He becameone of the best-known film stars in theworld before the end of the First WorldWar. Chaplin used mime, slapstick andother visual comedy routines, andcontinued well into the era of thetalkies, though his films decreased infrequency from the end of the 1920s. His most famous role was thatof The Tramp, which he first played inthe Keystone comedy Kid Auto Races atVenice in 1914 29. Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American actress. She became a Hollywood star afterAmerican icons headlining the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, which grossed $464 million worldwide. After receiving Academy Award nominations for Steel Magnolias in 1990 and Pretty WomanJulia Robertsin 1991, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001 for her performance in Erin Brockovich. Her films My Best Friends Wedding, Mystic Pizza, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, Valentines Day, The Pelican Brief, Oceans Eleven and Twelve have collectively brought box office receipts of over $2.4 billion, making her one of the most successful actors in terms of box office receipts. Roberts had become one of the highest- paid actresses in the world, topping the Hollywood Reporters annual "power list" of top-earning female stars from 2002 to 2006. Her fee for 1990s Pretty Woman was $300,000;[citation needed] in 2003, she was paid an unprecedented $25 million for her role in Mona Lisa Smile. As of 2007, Robertss net worth was estimated to be $140 million. 30. William Bradley "Brad" Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy AwardAmerican icons nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one. He has been described as one of the worlds most attractive men, a label for which he has received substantial media attention. Pitt began his acting career with television guest appearances, including a role on the CBS prime-time soap opera Dallas in 1987. Pitt received his second Academy Award nomination for his title role performance in the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Angelina Jolie (born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. Jolie promotes humanitarian causes, and is noted for her work with refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has been cited as one of the worlds most attractive people, as well as the worlds "most beautiful" woman, titles for which she has received substantial media attention. 31. EastNew England 32. CitiesNew York 33. CitiesChicago 34. CitiesChicago - Millennium Park 35. Florida (Listeni / flrd/) is a state of theUnited States. It is located in the SoutheasternSouth United States, bordering Alabama to thenorthwest and Georgia to the north. Much of thestates land mass is a large peninsula with theGulf of Mexico to the west, the Atlantic Ocean tothe east and the Caribbean to the south. FloridaFlorida was admitted as the 27th U.S. state in 1845, after athree hundred year period of Europeancolonization. With an area of 65,758 square miles (170,312km2), it is ranked 22nd in size among the 50 U.S.states. Florida has the longest coastline in thecontiguous United States, encompassingapproximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km). The statehas four large urban areas, a number of smallerindustrial cities, and many small towns. Florida is nicknamed the "Sunshine State"because of its generally warm climatesubtropical in the northern and central regions ofthe state, with a true tropical climate in thesouthern portion.[6] The United States CensusBureau estimates that the state population was18,537,969 in 2009, ranking Florida as the fourthmost populous state in the U.S.[7][8] Tallahasseeis the state capital, Jacksonville is the largestcity, and the South Florida metropolitan area isthe largest metropolitan area. 36. The City and County of DenverWest (pronounced /dnvr/) is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado.Denver Denver is a consolidated city- county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains, just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The Denver downtown district is located immediately east of the confluence of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River, approximately 12.8 miles (21 km) east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is nicknamed the "Mile- High City" because its elevation is one mile, or 5,280 feet (1,609 m) above sea level. 37. The Rocky Mountains (or Rockies)Mountains are a major mountain range inwestern North America.The North American RockyMountains stretch more thanRocky Mountains 3,000 miles (4,830 km) from thenorthernmost part of BritishColumbia, in western Canada, toNew Mexico, in the southwesternUnited States.The ranges highest peak is MountElbert located in Colorado at14,440 feet (4,401 m) above sealevel. Though part of NorthAmericas Pacific Cordillera, theRockies are distinct from thePacific Coast Ranges (as named inCanada) or the Coast Range (as itis known in the United States)which are located directly adjacentto the Pacific coast, as well as, theCascade Range and Sierra Nevadawhich lie further inland from thecoast. 38. California (pronounced Listeni /klfrnj/) is the most populous state in the United States[2] and theWest third-largest by land area, after Alaska and Texas. California is also the most populous sub-national entity in North America. Its on the U.S. West Coast,California bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and by the states of Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, Baja California, Mexico, to the south. Its 5 largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and Long Beach, with Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose each having at least 1 million residents.[5] Like many populous states, Californias capital, Sacramento is smaller than the states largest city, Los Angeles[6]. The state is home to the nations 2nd- and 6th-largest census statistical areas and 8 of the nations 50 most populous cities. California has a varied climate and geography and a multi-cultural population. 39. WestColorado, Hoover dam 40. CitiesLos Angeles Often known by its initials, L.A., andnicknamed the City of Angels, Los Angeles isa world center of business, internationaltrade, entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, technology, and education. It is home to renowned institutionscovering a broad range of professional andcultural fields, and is one of the mostsubstantial economic engines within theUnited States. In 2008, Los Angeles was namedthe worlds eighth most economically powerfulcity by Forbes.com, third in the U.S. behindNew York City and Chicago 41. CitiesSan Francisco 42. CitiesSeattle 43. North Mount McKinley or Denali(Athabaskan for "The High One") inAlaska, USA is the highest mountainAlaska - Mount McKinley peak in North America and the UnitedStates, with a summit elevation of20,320 feet (6,194 m) above sea level.The CIA World Factbook lists itssummit elevation as 6,198 metres(20,335 ft).It is the centerpiece of DenaliNational Park and Preserve. 44. Happiest States, 2009 is Hawaii Hawaii (Listeni /hwa.i/ or /hwai/ in English; Hawaiian: Mokuina Hawaii is the newesto)Hawaii of the 50 U.S. states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands.It occupies most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia.Hawaiis natural beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and waves, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike.Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oahu. 45. The National Park SystemStarted with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park on March 1, 1872, the system includes not only the most extraordinary and spectacular scenic exhibits in the United States, but also a large number of sites distinguished for their historic or prehistoric importance, scientific interest, or superior recreational assets.The National Park System is made up of 388 areas covering more than 84 million acres in every state except Delaware. It also includes areas in the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. A list of the areas follows, excluding those without national status. 46. Gambling capital of the worldLas Vegas (pronounced /lsLas Vegas ves/) is the most populous cityin Nevada, the seat of ClarkCounty, and an internationallyrenowned major resort city forgambling, shopping and finedining.Las Vegas, which bills itself as TheEntertainment Capital of theWorld, is famous for the number ofcasino resorts and associatedentertainment. A growingretirement and family city, it is the28th most populous city in theUnited States with an estimatedpopulation by the U.S. CensusBureau of 567,641 as of 2009. The2009 population estimate of theLas Vegas metropolitan area was1,902,834. 47. Automotive capital of the worldDetroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, inDetroit the Midwest region of the United States. Locatednorth of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only majorU.S. city where Canada can be viewed by looking tothe south. It was founded on July 24, 1701, by theFrenchman Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Its nameoriginates from the French word dtroit (pronounced:[detwa] ( listen)) for strait, in reference to itslocation on the river connecting the Great Lakes.Known as the worlds traditional automotivecenter, "Detroit" is a metonym for the Americanautomobile industry and an important source ofpopular music legacies celebrated by the citys twofamiliar nicknames, the Motor City and Motown.Other nicknames emerged in the twentieth century,including City of Champions beginning in the 1930sfor its successes in individual and team sport, Arsenalof Democracy (during World War II), The D, D-Town,Hockeytown (a trademark owned by the citys NHLclub, the Red Wings), Rock City (after the Kiss song"Detroit Rock City"), and The 3-1-3 (its telephone areacode). 48. CustomsIndependence DayIndependence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States 49. CustomsThanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. While it may have been religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day falls on the fourth Thursday of November. 50. CustomsThanksgiving Day parade 51. CustomsChristmas or Christmas Day is a holiday observedmostly on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus,the central figure of Christianity. The date is not known to bethe actual birthday of Jesus, and may have initially beenchosen to correspond with either the day exactly nineChristmas months after some early Christians believed Jesus had beenconceived, the date of the winter solstice on the ancientRoman calendar, or one of various ancient winter festivals.Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season,and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger seasonof Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas isalso widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and many ofits popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secularthemes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holidayinclude gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards,church celebrations, a special meal, and the display ofvarious decorations; including Christmas trees, lights,garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition,Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) is a popular folklore figurein many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts forchildren.Because gift-giving and many other aspects of theChristmas festival involve heightened economic activityamong both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday hasbecome a significant event and a key sales period for retailersand businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is afactor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries inmany regions of the world.