“What do you know about Great Britain?

”
I. Please, complete the table with the necessary information:

Country Capital Nationalities

England London English

Northern Ireland Belfast British Irish
Scotland Edinburgh Scotts, Scottish
Wales Cardiff Welsh

II. Answer the questions:

1.How are Great Britain and Europe separated?
They are separated by the English Channel, which narrows to 34 km at the Straits of Dover.
2. How are Great Britain and Ireland separated?
into two self-governing polities: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.
3.What is UK washed by in the East?
In the east it is washed by the North Sea
4.What is UK washed by in the North?
England borders on Scotland in the north.. In the east it is washed by the North Sea. In the south it is
separated from the continent by the English Channel. In the west it borders on Wales and is washed by
the Bristol Channel and by the Irish Sea.
5. What parts does Great Britain consist of and what are their capitals?
The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain - the main island made up of England, Scotland and Wales
- and Northern Ireland.
England - The capital is London.
Scotland - The capital is Edinburgh .
Wales - The capital is Cardiff.
Northern Ireland - The capital is Belfast.
6.What is the population of Great Britain?
The current population of the United Kingdom is 68,380,977 as of Monday, November 22, 2021
7.How is the flag of UK called?
- The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it
combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and
Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United
Kingdom).
8. How many crosses are there?
Three, the crosses of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland), and St Patrick (Ireland).
9. What big industrial cities of Great Britain do you know?
- A map of the major UK cities gives a good picture of where manufacturing flourished, and often
specialisations could be identified, in particular:
* Birmingham (automotive)
* Glasgow (shipbuilding)
* London (various)
* Manchester (textiles)
* Bradford (textiles)
* Newcastle (shipbuilding and steel)
* Nottingham (apparel, medicine)
10. Have you ever been in Great Britain? Describe your traveling.
No, I have never been to the UK
11.Write the symbols of 4 countries

The United Kingdom flag (Lion, bulldog), Flag of England (Tudor Rose, Lion), Scotland (Thistle,
Unicorn), Wales ( Leek, Red Dragon), Northern Ireland (Shamrock)

12.What is the population of London?

- The mid-2018 population of Greater London of about 9 million, made it Europe's third-most populous
city. It accounts for 13.4 per cent of the UK population.
13. What was the original name of British capital?
The capital of England was moved to London from Winchester as the Palace of Westminster developed in
the 12th and 13th centuries to become the permanent location of the royal court, and thus the political
capital of the nation.
14. When did the Romans come to England for the first time?
on August 26th, 55 BC
15. What river do you know in the center of London?
- River Thames
16. How many bridges were there in London until 1749?
- There was only one bridge, London Bridge
17.Who started to build Londinium?
- The Romans
18.Where did William the Conqueror come from?
- Falaise, France

19.Why did he build the White Tower?

- William the Conqueror built the White Tower in 1066 as a demonstration of Norman power, siting it
strategically on the River Thames to act as both fortress and gateway to the capital
20.Did he become the King of England?
- Yes, he became king of England in 1066
21.When did the Great Fire of London started? What caused the Great Fire of London?
- The Great Fire of London started at 1pm on September 2 nd, 1666. The Great Fire broke out from a
baker’s house in Pudding Lane
22. What is the official name of Great Britain now?
- The official name of Great Britain is The United Kingdom of Great Britain
23.People who were born in Britain are the English, aren’t they?
- They just were born in Britain, they don’t like to be called the English.
24. What does the real power in the country belong to?
- The real power in the country belongs to Prime Minister
25.Who makes laws in the country?
- Laws are made by a group of people called Parliament
26. Where was Londinium built?
- Londinium was built in Roman Britain
27.Who is the Head of State in Britain?
- The Head of State in Britain is Queen Elizabeth II
28. Does the Queen rule the country?
- No, the rules of the country are made by a group of people called Parliament
29.What do you know about the Royal family?
- Those who undertake official duties are members of The Queen's close family: her children,
grandchildren and their spouses, and The Queen's cousins (the children of King George VI's
brothers) and their spouses.
- Some members of the Royal Family have also established their own charities - for example, The
Prince's Trust, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, a
charity which provides advice and support for people acting as carers.
- The Royal Family also plays an important role in recognising and supporting the work of the
Armed Services. Members of the Royal Family have official relationships with many units of the
Forces, paying regular visits to soldiers, sailors and airmen serving at home and abroad.
- Finally, the Royal Family as a whole plays a role in strengthening national unity.
Members of the Royal Family are able to recognize and participate in community and local
events in every part of the UK, from the opening of new buildings to celebrations or acts of
commemoration.
- The Queen working by herself would be unable to attend every engagement to which she
is invited. Members of the Royal Family can undertake local or specialist engagements
which would otherwise have to be declined.
30.What do you know about the British Parliament?
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the
Crown dependencies and the British overseas territories. It alone possesses legislative supremacy and
thereby ultimate power over all other political bodies in the UK and the overseas territories.
31.Why is the House of Lords very important?
The House of Lords scrutinises bills that have been approved by the House of Commons. It regularly
reviews and amends Bills from the Commons. While it is unable to prevent Bills passing into law, except
in certain limited circumstances, it can delay Bills and force the Commons to reconsider their decisions.
32. How often do the British people elect members of the House of Commons?
The House of Commons held at least every five years under the first-past-the-post system.
33.How many members of the House of Commons should be elected?
The House of Commons is an elected chamber with elections to 650 single-member constituencies
34.What is the capital of UK?
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom
35.What is the population of London?
9,426,000
36.When did the Great Fire of London take place?
2 September to Thursday, 6 September 1666.
37.How many parts is London traditionally divided into?
32
38.What part is the heart of London?
City of Westminster
39.What is the historical and political centre of London?
- Centre for London was founded in 2011 as a programme within Demos, a UK-based think tank. In 2013,
the Centre was launched as an independent registered charity.

The Centre's current research is organised around four core priorities:

• Promoting skills, opportunity and good work;

• Meeting housing needs and building better neighbourhoods;

• Tackling congestion and pollution, and creating more liveable roads and streets;

• Strengthening relations with the rest of the UK.

-Politics of England forms the major part of the wider politics of the United Kingdom, with England
being more populous than all the other countries of the United Kingdom put together. As England is also
by far the largest in terms of area and GDP, its relationship to the UK is somewhat different from that of
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The English capital London is also the capital of the UK, and
English is the dominant language of the UK (not officially, but de facto). Dicey and Morris (p26) list the
separate states in the British Islands. "England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark.... is a separate country in the sense of the conflict of laws, though not one
of them is a State known to public international law.”
40.What part of London is the symbol of wealth and luxury?
The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury

41. Where is the official residence of the Queen?

Buckingham Palace is the Queen's residence in the nation's capital, London, and has served as the base
for British sovereignty since 1837.
42. What is the central square of London?
Trafalgar Square acts as a thoroughfare through much of central London. As the gateway between the
main shopping district of the city centre and the West of the city, Trafalgar Square is famous for being the
home of the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, alongside the iconic Nelson’s Column.
Although guests at the Park Grand London Hyde Park will likely be aware of the main attractions in
Trafalgar Square, you won’t be surprised to learn that the sheer amount of history in London has meant
that many facts about Trafalgar Square lay forgotten.
43. Where is the poorest district of London?
The East End has always contained some of London's poorest areas.
 REVIEW FOR BRITISH AND AMERICAN CIVILIZATION
(adapted from Nguyen Khanh Du, 2014)
CHOOSE ONE OPTION A, B, C OR D

1. What does NATO stand for?

a. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
b. North American Trade Organization
c. Norwegian Army Territory Officials
d. National Association Trade Organization
2. The UK ranks __________ among NATO countries in total defense expenditure.
(Vương quốc Anh xếp hạng __________ trong số các quốc gia NATO về tổng chi tiêu
quốc phòng.)

a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. Fourth
3. The United Kingdom has been a member of the European Community (now European
Union) since __________.
a. 1963
b. 1973
c. 1983
d. 1993
4. The U.K. held the Presidency of the __________ during 2005.
a. G-5
b. G-6
c. G-7
d. G-8 ????
5. The British Armed Forces are charged with (Lực lượng vũ trang Anh được giao nhiệm
vụ)
a. Protecting the United Kingdom and its overseas territories
b. Promoting Britain’s wider security interests
c. Supporting international peacekeeping efforts
d. All of the above answers
6. The United Kingdom has the __________ -largest economy in the world.
a. 6th
b. 7th
c. 8th
d. 9th
7. The UK is the __________ -largest economy in the European Union.
a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 3rd
d. 4th
8. The UK entered a recession in the third quarter of __________.
a. 2006
b. 2007
c. 2008
d. 2009
9. In response to the financial crisis since 2008, the British Government implemented a
wide-ranging stability and recovery plan that included
a. a fiscal stimulus package
b. bank recapitalization
c. credit stimulus schemes
d. all of the above answers
10. The United Kingdom is the __________ -largest market for U.S. goods exports.
a. 2nd
b. 4th
c. 6th
d. 8th
11. The UK is the __________ -largest supplier of U.S. imports.
a. 3rd
b. 4th
c. 5th
d. 6th
12. The British Parliament is made up of two parts
a. The House of Lords and the House of Commons
b. The House of Lords and the Senate
c. The House of Representatives and the Senate
d. The House of Representatives and the House of Commons
13. The US Parliament is made up of two parts
a. The House of Lords and the House of Commons
b. The House of Lords and the Senate
c. The House of Representatives and the Senate
d. The House of Representatives and the House of Commons
14. The earliest existing native literature of the territory of the modern United Kingdom was
written in the __________ languages.
a. Celtic
b. Anglo
c. Saxon
d. Latin
15. Anglo-Saxon literature includes __________ which is a national epic.
a. Canterbury Tales
b. Beowulf
c. Romeo and Juliet
d. Hamlet
16. __________ is the first great identifiable individual in English literature: his Canterbury
Tales remains a popular 14th-century work which readers still enjoy today.
a. William Shakespeare
b. Anonymous
c. Geoffrey Chaucer
d. Conan Doyle
17. In the early 19th century, the __________ period showed a flowering of poetry with such
poets as William Blake, William Wordsworth, John Keats, and so on.
a. Elizabethan
b. Renaissance
c. Victorian
d. Romantic
 18. The Victorian period was the golden age of __________ English novel.
a. Romantic
b. Realistic
c. Classical
d. modern
19. Which of the following is not William Shakespeare’s writing?
a. Hamlet
b. Othello
c. King Lear
d. Pygmalion
20. William Byrd is a __________.
a. Writer
b. Singer
c. Composer
d. Poet
21. Which of the following does not belong to UK art institutions?
a. The Allied Artists’ Association
b. Royal College of Art
c. Artists’ Rifles
d. Transylvania University

22. The UK has a total area of approximately _________.

A. 145,000 km²
B. 245,000 km²
C. 345,000 km²
D. 445,000 km²
23. The type of government in the UK is _________.
A. Feudalism
B. Democracy
C. Socialism
D. Constitutional monarchy
24. According to Nguyen Khanh Du (2014), nationality of people living in the UK is
_________ .
A. Britain
B. British
C. Briton
D. English
25. In UK, foreign languages were not introduced until _________ .
A. Primary school
B. Secondary school
C. High school
D. College
26. Pupils may have celebrated their _________ birthdays before their first day of primary
school in the UK.
A. fifth
B. Sixth
C. Seventh
D. fourth
27. The largest city in the US is _________.
A. Los Angeles
B. Florida
C. Washington
D. New York
28. Populationn of the US in 2012 is about _________.
A. 200.000.000
B. 300.000.000
C. 400.000.000
D. 500.000.000
29. Which one is the most popular religion in the US in 2007?
A. Protestant
B. Roman Catholic
C. Jewish
D. Muslim
30. The Independence Day in the US is on _________.
A. July 4, 1776
B. July 4, 1767
C. June 4, 1776
 D. June 4, 1767
31. King’s birthday is to celebrate _________.
A. The King
B. Martin Luther King
C. Abraham Lincoln
D. George Washinton
32. Central State or Sunshine State is nickname of _________.
A. Michigan
B. Utah
C. Nevada
D. Kansas
33. _________ is also called Equality State.
A. Arizona
B. Illinois
C. Wyoming
D. Alaska

WHICH OPTION IS NOT CORRECT?

1. UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
A B C D Northern Ireland.
2. Major religions in the UK are Anglican, Presbyterian, Buddhism, and Roman Catholic.
A B C D
3. Students who attend English universities do a four year course to earn a degree, whether it be
A B
an ordinary degree or an honours degree.
C D
4. In modern Britain less detached housing has started to be built, most beginning in the mid-nineties.
A B C D

MATCHING

WRITE THE NAMES OF MUSIC BANDS IN THE CORRECT COLUMNS.

  Imagine Dragon
 The Beatles
 The Rolling Stone
 Queen
 Backstreet Boys
 One Direction
 NSYNC
The UK The US
___________ ___________
___________ ___________
___________ ___________
___________ ___________

PUT THE BUILDING IN THE CORRECT COLUMNS.

 Stonehenge
 Carrick Fergus Castle
 White House
 Westminster Palace
 Big Ben Towel
 Empire State
 Gateway Arch
 Hollywood Bowl

Famous buildings in the UK: Famous buildings in the US:

__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________

MATCH THE WRITERS WITH THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.

American writers since World War II__________
Several Jewish American novelists__________
African American__________
Southern writers in the 20th century__________
 A. has also expanded its view of the past as people rediscovered important sources from
non-European traditions, such as Native American folktales and slave narratives.
B. asked how moral behavior was possible in modern America and how the individual could
survive in the contemporary world.
C. sought to express the separate experiences of their people while demanding to be
recognized as fully American.
D. draws deeply on distinct speech rhythms, undercurrents of sin, and painful reflections on
evil as part of a distinctly Southern tradition.

WRITE THE NAMES OF THE FOLLOWING NOBEL PRIZE WRITERS IN THE

CORRECT COLUMNS.
 William Faulkner
 Harold Pinter
 Saul Bellow
 Toni Morrison
 George Bernard Shaw
 Doris Lessing

UK writers US writers
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________

III. Choose 4 major ethnic groups in the UK.

 British
_________  Irish
_________  Scottish
 Welsh
_________
 Northern Irish
_________  Caribbean
 West Indian
 South Asian

(adapted from Nguyen Khanh Du, 2014)

IV. Choose 4 major languages in the UK.

 Scottish
 Welsh
 Northern Irish
 Irish Gaelic
 Scottish Gaelic
 _________
_________
_________
_________

(adapted from Nguyen Khanh Du, 2014)

V. Put the following sport events in the correct collumns.
 Final Tour
 Kentucky Derby
 FA Premier League
 Wimbledon Tennis Championships
 US Open Tennis
 Grand National
 London Marathon
 Super Bowl
UK US
_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________

MATCH THE PEOPLE WITH THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.

Đáp án đã theo thứ tự

A. Most of them are courteous, unassuming and are very

The English __________
proud of their long and rich history.
Scots __________
B. Most of them have a keen, subtle sense of humor and value
The Welsh __________
generosity, respectability.
Northern Irish__________
C. Most of them love to sing and talk and spend much of their
free time at with their families.
D. Most of them dislike pretentious behavior and possess a
strong work ethic.

TRUE/FALSE
WRITE T FOR TRUE OR F FOR FALSE
 1. __________The House of Commons are nobles.
2. __________The House of Commons is the more powerful of the two in British
Government.
3. __________The government is a constitutional democracy.
4. __________Today, the British king or queen has the actual power to govern.
5. __________ The United States and the United Kingdom share the world’s second largest
foreign direct investment partnership.
6. __________ The United Kingdom is a founding member of the NATO and is one of
NATO’s major European maritime, air, and land powers.
7. __________ In spite of the damage caused by the financial crisis, London’s financial
exports contribute greatly to the United Kingdom’s net domestic product.
8. __________The four main factors which govern the UK production are natural resources,
labor, capital, and entrepreneurship.
9. __________Currently the main UK film production centres are at Shepperton and
Pinewood Studios.
10. __________The Beatles is a rock band of the UK.
11. __________ William Shakespeare stands out as the most famous writer in the world.
12. __________ Theatre was introduced to the UK from Europe by the Romans.
13. __________ The UK lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
14. __________ The UK is separated by the English Channel.
15. __________ The UK is bordered by four seas: English Channel, North Sea, Atlantic
Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
16. __________ Most of the land in the UK is made up of mountains.
17. __________ Climate in the UK is generally mild and temperate.
18. __________ Most primary and secondary schools in both the private and state sectors do not
have compulsory school uniforms.
19. __________Historically most people in the United Kingdom lived either in conjugal
extended families or nuclear families.
20. __________ Kilt and Tam o’shanter are national costume of the UK.
21. __________ The British are back slappers or touchers and generally display affection in
public.
22. __________ Hugging, kissing and touching is usually reserved for British family members
and very close friends.
23. __________ The British like a certain amount of personal space. Do not stand too close to
another person or put your arm around someone’s shoulder.
24. __________ Scots are known for not being skilled businesspersons
25. __________ In the UK, if you want to summon a waiter, wave or shout, don’t raise your
hand.
26. __________An invitation to someone’s home is more common in England than in the rest of
Europe.
27. __________People should discuss business at dinner in someone’s home in the UK.
28.__________ In England, when invited to someone’s home, arrive on time. In Scotland and
Wales, arrive at least 10-20 minutes after the stated time. Never arrive early.
29. __________When saying good-bye, Americans may say “We’ll have to get together” or
“Let’s do lunch.”
30. __________Americans are often comfortable with silence, especially in social or business
meetings.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FINAL EXAM

OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN CULTURE

1. The features of the United Kingdom’s culture

2. The differences in Drinking between Commonwealth
and American Culture
3. British Expansion and Empire
4. British education
5. The development of science and technology in the UK.
6. The features of the American culture.
7. The features of culture
8. The approaches to deal with immigrant groups and their
cultures
9. The meanings of the motto E Pluribus Unum.
10. The forces that shaped the American culture.
(Answers: From 150 – 200 words for each question)
*******************
1. The United Kingdom’s culture is rich, varied and
influential.
- It is rich because of the inheritance of the cultures from the
Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Normans and immigrants since
the 20th century.
- It is varied because in the UK there are different regions of
culture: Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.
- It is influential because of the results from the assimilation of
culture in the British colonies in the times of the British Empire
and the influence of the UK as an international power since the
19th century.
2. The differences in Drinking between Commonwealth
and American Culture
- The legal age to drink: In the USA: 21, while in all
Commonwealth countries: 18.
- Closing time of bars: in Britain: 11 p.m., while in the USA: 2
a.m.. England has recently passed a new law that allows late night
drinking, so some bars are now open until the wee hours. Bars in
Australia and South Africa vary considerably.
- In Britain, beers (ales or bitter), are served warmer than in
America! This applied to English ales and bitters, but not to
foreign lager or beer, which is always chilled. In the USA beers
are chilled to almost freezing point. - In America, beers are mostly served in the bottle (even by 5
star
hotels). They will wrap a paper napkin (serviette) around the bottle
to soak condensation.
- Australia is metric. Therefore, a 'nip' of alcohol is 30ml. In the
US, a 'nip' is 1 fl ounce - which is quite a lot larger.
3. British Expansion and Empire
-The foundations of the British sea power is to protect the English
trade and open up new routes. The defeat of the Spanish Armada
in 1588 firmly established England as a major sea power.
-Attracted by the spice trade, English mercantile interests spread
first to the Far East. In search of an alternate route to the Spice
Islands, John Cabot reached the North American continent in
1498. Sir Walter Raleigh organized the first, short-lived colony in
Virginia in 1584, and permanent English settlement began in 1607
at Jamestown, Virginia. During the next 2 centuries, Britain
extended its influence abroad and consolidated its political
development at home.
-Great Britain's industrial revolution greatly strengthened its
ability to oppose Napoleonic France.
-British colonial expansion reached its height largely during the
reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Queen Victoria's reign
witnessed the spread of British technology, commerce, language,
and government throughout the British Empire.
4. British education
Years compulsory: 12; Attendance: nearly 100%; Literacy: 99%.
The UK National Curriculum: five 'key stages
•
Key stage 1: age five to seven
•
Key stage 2: age seven to eleven
•
Key stage 3: age eleven to fourteen
•
Key stage 4: age fourteen to sixteen
•
Key stage 5 (unofficial): age sixteen to eighteen
Further education:
Students of any age may choose to attend the Further Education
Colleges to further their post-secondary school education.
Students may choose to study for National Vocational
Qualifications as an alternative to A levels.
Higher education:
The English student completes the Advanced Level in (usually) 3-
4 subjects, generally taken at age 18 in preparation for admission
to University. Students who attend English universities do a three
year course to earn a degree, whether it be an ordinary degree or
an honours degree.5. The development of science and technology in the UK.
Ever since the scientific revolution, the United Kingdom has been
prominent in world scientific and technological development.
Francis Bacon put forward his method promoting empiricism and
induction in scientific enquiry.
Possibly the most famous of all British scientists, Isaac Newton, is
considered by historians of science to have crowned and ended the
scientific revolution. He is most famous for gravity, classical
mechanics, binomial theorem, law of cooling.
Since Newton's time, figures from the UK have contributed to the
development of most major branches of science: electric and
magnetic forces; thermodynamics; quantum mechanics; evolution
by natural selection...
Technologically, the UK is also amongst the world's leaders: in
textiles, the steam engine, railroads and civil engineering.
Since then, the United Kingdom has continued this tradition of
technical creativity: jet engine; idea of the computer and
penicillin. The UK remains one of the leading providers of
technological innovations today.
6. The features of the American culture.
American culture is rich, complex, and unique.
Explanations:
It emerged from the short and rapid European conquest of an
enormous landmass sparsely settled by diverse indigenous
peoples. Although European cultural patterns predominated,
especially in language, the arts, and political institutions, peoples
from Africa, Asia, and North America also contributed to
American culture. All of these groups influenced popular tastes in
music, dress, entertainment, and cuisine. As a result, American
culture possesses an unusual mixture of patterns and forms forged
from among its diverse peoples. The many melodies of American
culture have not always been harmonious, but its complexity has
created a society that struggles to achieve tolerance and produces a
uniquely casual personal style that identifies Americans
everywhere. The country is strongly committed to democracy, in
which views of the majority prevail, and strives for equality in law
and institutions.
7. The features of culture
1) Learned. Process of learning one's culture is called
enculturation.
2) Shared by the members of a society. No "culture of one." 3) Patterned. People in a society
live and think in ways that form
definite patterns. 4) Mutually constructed through a constant
process of social interaction.
5) Symbolic. Culture, language and thought are based on symbols
and symbolic meanings.
6) Arbitrary. Not based on "natural laws" external to humans, but
created by humans according to the "whims" of the society.
Example: standards of beauty.
7) Internalized. Habitual. Taken-for-granted. Perceived as
"natural."
8. The approaches to deal with immigrant groups and their
cultures
Monoculturalism: In some European states, culture is very
closely linked to nationalism, thus government policy is to
assimilate immigrants.
Leitkultur (core culture): A model developed in Germany by
Bassam Tibi. The idea is that minorities can have an identity of
their own, but they should at least support the core concepts of the
culture on which the society is based.
Melting Pot: In the United States, the traditional view has been
one of a melting pot where all the immigrant cultures are mixed
and amalgamated without state intervention.
Multiculturalism: A policy that immigrants and others should
preserve their cultures with the different cultures interacting
peacefully within one nation.
9. The meanings of the motto E Pluribus Unum.
“From many, one.” First used to unify the 13 British colonies in
North America during the American Revolution (1775-1783).
That has been the process of creating one society out of many
different backgrounds
“We, the people.” This idealistic agenda set forth by the
Founding Fathers—that all men are created equal and are endowed
with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness—remains the standard by which we judge
ourselves.
10. The forces that shaped the American culture.
A. Imported Traditions
B.
The Emergence of an American Voice
C.
Immigration and Diversity
D.
Development of Mass Media
E.
The Impact of Consumerism
Immigration and Diversity:
The Culture of the United States was originally the culture of the
Native Americans of North America. U.S. culture as we
understand it began with the arrival of European settlers and the
official establishment of the American state in 1776. As the United States is an immense country,
with many residents
and citizens are descended from relatively recent immigrants,
defining a common set of customs, traditions, behavior and way of
life is difficult. Unlike many Old World nation-states, the United
States does not have a homogenous population or a traditional
homeland.
However, American culture can be interpreted as being largely
based in Western European based culture with influences from the
native peoples, Africans brought to the U.S. as slaves, and other
more recent immigrants from Asia and elsewhere. Additionally,
due to its large size and the value placed on individualism, there
are many integrated but unique subcultures within the U.S.
********************