1. American Beliefs and Values.

2. Regionalism vs. Americanization.

3. Minorities.

At the center of all that Americans value is freedom. Americans commonly regard
their society as the freest and best in the world. They are proud to point out that even today
America's immigration offices are flooded with hopeful applicants who expect the chance for
a better life. Americans' understanding of freedom is shaped by the Founding Fathers' belief
that all people are equal and that the role of government is to protect each person's basic
"inalienable" rights. The U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, assures
individual rights, including provisions for freedom of speech, press, and religion.
Americans' notion of freedom focuses on the individual, and individualism has strong
philosophical roots in America. Thomas Jefferson, philosopher, third president of the nation
and author of the Declaration of Independence, believed that a free individual's identity
should be held sacred and that his or her dignity and integrity should not be violated.
America's nineteenth-century Transcendentalist philosophers, including Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller, argued for more individual self-
reliance. Transcendentalists encouraged individuals to trust in themselves and their own
consciences and to revolt against routine and habitual paths of conduct. Early twentieth-
century Pragmatists such as William James and John Dewey insisted upon the individual's
ability to control his or her fate.
Individualism, understood not only as self-reliance but also as economic self-
sufficiency, has been a central theme in American history. Many historians believe that most
of the beliefs and values which are characteristically American emerged within the context of
the frontier experience.
The do-it-yourself spirit is known as volunteerism in American community and
political life. Volunteerism means people helping people through privately-initiated, rather
than government-sponsored, agencies. Volunteers, usually unpaid, are highly motivated
workers who organize themselves and others to solve a particular community problem or
meet an immediate social need, rather than waiting for someone else—usually the
government—to do it. Volunteerism is pervasive, arising wherever social services do not
cover community needs. The willingness to participate in such groups is so widespread that
six out of ten Americans are members of a volunteer organization. Volunteerism reflects
Americans' optimistic pride in their ability to work out practical solutions themselves.
The American habit of mobility has been important in contributing a degree of
homogeneity to a society of such extreme cultural diversity and spaciousness. Cultural
differences still exist from region to region, but they are becoming increasingly less distinct
as mutual exchange occurs.
The term American Dream, used in widely different contexts from political speeches
to Broadway musicals, eludes precise definition. J. T. Adams in The Epic of America (1931)
expressed it as "the dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for every
man with opportunities for each according to his abilities and achievement." The American
Dream is popularized in countless rags-to-riches stories and in the portrayal of the good life
in advertising and on TV shows. It teaches Americans to believe that contentment can be
reached through the virtues of thrift, hard work, family loyalty, and faith in the free enterprise
system.
Events in the late 1960s and early 1970s, most obviously the Vietnam War and the
Watergate scandal, jolted the country with doubts and insecurities and created fundamental
divisions among Americans about their country's goals. The mainstream Protestant values
which had held society together seemed to be collapsing, and no coherent, unifying system of
belief emerged as an alternative. The 1980s saw a return to conservative family values and
morals, as well as a renewal of national pride. The ultimate significance, however, of this
conservative revival is uncertain. Some critics observe that with the breakdown of consensus
on beliefs and values which began around 1970, there has been increasing disparity of
opinion about Americans' values and national goals.

REGIONALISM VS. AMERICANIZATION

The United States is a spacious country of varying terrains and climates. To get from
New York to San Francisco one must travel almost 5,000 kilometers across regions of
geographical extremes. Between the coasts there are forested mountains, fertile plains, arid
deserts, canyonlands, and wide plateaus. Much of the land is uninhabited. The population is
concentrated in the Northeast, the South, around the Great Lakes, on the Pacific coast, and in
metropolitan areas dotted over the remaining expanse of land in the agricultural Midwest and
Western mountain and desert regions. Each of the country's four main regions—the
Northeast, the South, the West, and the Midwest—maintains a degree of cultural identity.
People within a region generally share common values, economic concerns, and a certain
relationship to the land, and they usually identify to some extent with the history and
traditions of their region. Today, regional identities are not as clear as they once were. As
with most modernizing nations, the United States has seen its regions converge gradually.
While important regional differences are discernible, the mobility of people and the diffusion
of culture through television and other mass media have greatly advanced the process of
Americanization.
THE NORTHEAST. The Northeast, comprising the New England and Mid-Atlantic
states, has traditionally been at the helm of the nation's economic and social progress.
Compared with other regions, the Northeast is more urban, more industrial, and more
culturally sophisticated. New Englanders often describe themselves as thrifty, reserved, and
dedicated to hard wTork, qualities they inherited from their Puritan forefathers. A sense of
cultural superiority sets Northeasterners apart from others. During the nineteenth century and
well into this century, the Northeast produced most of the country's writers, artists, and
scholars. New England's colleges and universities are known all over the country for their
high academic standards. Harvard is widely considered the best business school in the nation.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology surpasses all others in economics and the practical
sciences.
 THE SOUTH. Regional identity has been most pronounced in the South, where the
peculiarities of Southern history have played an important role in shaping the region's
character. The South was originally settled by English Protestants who came not for religious
freedom but for profitable farming opportunities. Most farming was carried out on single
family farms, but some farmers, capitalizing on tobacco and cotton crops, became quite
prosperous. Many of them established large plantations. African slaves, shipped by the
Spanish, Portuguese, and English, supplied labor for these plantations. These slaves were
bought and sold as property. Even though the system of slavery was regarded by many
Americans as unjust, Southern slaveowners defended it as an economic necessity.
Even after the North began to industrialize after 1800, the South remained
agricultural. As the century progressed, the economic interests of the manufacturing North
became evermore divergent from those of the agrarian South. Economic and political
tensions began to divide the nation and eventually led to the Civil War (1861-65). Most
Northerners opposed slavery. The unresolved dispute over slavery was one of the issues
which led to a national crisis in 1860. Eleven Southern states left the federal union and
proclaimed themselves an independent nation. The war that broke out as a direct result was
the most bloody war in American history.
With the South's surrender in 1865, Southerners were forced to accept many changes,
which stirred up bitterness and resentment towards Northerners and the Republican Party of
the national government. During the post-war period of reconstruction which lasted until
1877, slavery was not only abolished, but blacks were given a voice in Southern government.
Southerners opposed the intervention of Northern Republican politicians. For the next
century white Southerners consistently voted for Democrats. The Civil War experience helps
explain why Southerners have developed a reverence for the past and a resistance to change,
and why the South is different from the rest of the country. Other regions have little in
common with the South's bitterness over the Civil War, its one-party politics, agrarian
traditions and racial tensions.
Americans of other regions are quick to recognize a Southerner by his/her dialect.
Southern speech tends to be much slower and more musical. The Southern dialect
characteristically uses more diphthongs: a one-syllable word such as yes is spoken in the
South as two syllables, ya-es. In addition, Southerners say "you all" instead of "you" as the
second person plural.
The South is also known for its music. In the time of slavery, black Americans created
a new folk music, the negro spiritual. Later forms of black music which began in the South
are blues and jazz. White Southerners created bluegrass mountain music, and most American
country music has a Southern background. The South has been one of the most outstanding
literary regions in the twentieth century. Novelists such as William Faulkner, Robert Penn
Warren, Thomas Wolfe, and Carson McCullers have addressed themes of the Southern
experience such as nostalgia for the rural Southern past.
THE WEST. Wide regional diversity makes the West hard to typify. While most of
the Mountain West is arid wilderness interrupted by a few urban oases, California has some
of the richest farmland in the country, and, along with Oregon and Washington in the rainy
Northwest, does not share the rest of the West's concern over the scarcity of water. California
is different in other ways. The narrow band along its southern Pacific coast is densely
populated and highly industrial. By combining the nation's highest concentration of high-tech
industries with the greatest percentage of service industries, California's progressive economy
is a trend-setter for the rest of the nation as it enters a new post-industrial age.
While generalizations about the West are difficult to make, the region does share
concerns that are distinct from the rest of the country. Westerners are united in their long-
standing hostility toward Washington and Eastern federal bureaucrats. Westerners feel
alienated by government policies which fail to address the vital concerns unique to their
region. Western states' troubles with water scarcity and government-owned land seem to
matter little to the rest of the country. Particularly distressing to Westerners is their lack of
control over Western land and resources. The federal government owns and administers vast
portions of land in many Western states—86.6 percent of Nevada, 66.1 percent of Utah, 47.8
percent of Wyoming, 42.8 percent of Arizona, and 36.1 percent of Colorado. Westerners like
to think of themselves as independent, self-sufficient, and close to the land, but they feel they
cannot control their own destiny while Washington controls their land.
THE MIDWEST. While the South and West have felt alienated, the Midwest, by
contrast, has long been regarded as typically American. The fertile farmland and abundant
resources have allowed agriculture and industry to thrive and to strengthen the
Midwesterners' conviction that people can make something of themselves if they seize
opportunities. Class divisions are felt less strongly here than in other regions; the middle class
rules. Midwesterners are seen as commercially- minded, self-sufficient, unsophisticated, and
pragmatic.
The Midwest is known as a region of small towns and huge tracts of farmland where
more than half the nation's wheat and oats are raised. Dominating the region's commerce and
industry is Chicago, the nation's second largest city. Located on the Great Lakes, Chicago has
long been a connecting point for rail lines and air traffic crossing the continent.

History

The first Indian group to build mounds in what is now the United States are often
called the Adenans. They began constructing earthen burial sites and fortifications around
600 B.C. Some mounds from that era are in the shape of birds or serpents, and probably
served religious purposes not yet fully understood. The Adenans appear to have been
absorbed or displaced by various groups collectively known as Hopewellians. By around 500
A.D., the Hopewellians, too, disappeared, gradually giving way to a broad group of tribes
generally known as the Mississippians or Temple Mound culture. One city, Cahokia, just east
of St. Louis, Missouri, is thought to have had a population of about 20,000 at its peak in the
early 12th century. At the center of the city stood a huge earthen mound, flatted at the top,
which was 30 meters high and 37 hectares at the base. In what is now the southwest United
States, the Anasazi, ancestors of the modern Hopi Indians, began building stone and adobe
pueblos around the year 900. These unique and amazing apartment-like structures were often
built along cliff faces;
 The United States of America has been labeled as a young nation, given its actual
beginning in the year 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed. In reality,
the journey these United States have been going through begins before 1776. Native
Americans were the first inhabitants of this rich land. They are believed to have come over
from the Eurasian continent by way of the area we know today as Alaska and Canada. It is
easy to follow the chronological timeline of the United States. Its history often begins with
Leif Ericson, who is believed to have travelled to this land in the year 1000. Then by
Christopher Columbus in 1492, the pilgrims in the 16th century, later followed by other
European nations such as Spain, Portugal, and Britain.
The first Europeans to reach North America were Icelandic Vikings, led by Leif
Ericson, about the year 1000. Traces of their visit have been found in the Canadian province
of Newfoundland, but the Vikings failed to establish a permanent settlement. Five centuries
later, the demand for Asian spices, textiles, and dyes spurred European navigators to look for
shorter routs between East and West. Acting on behalf of the Spanish crown, in 1492 the
Italian navigator Columbus landed on one of the Bahama Islands in the Caribbean Sea.
Within 40 years, Spanish adventurers carved out a huge empire in Central and South
America. With the conquest of Mexico in 1522, the Spanish further solidified their position in
the Western Hemisphere. The ensuing discoveries added to Europe's knowledge of what was
now named America -- after the Italian Amerigo Vespucci, who wrote a widely popular
account of his voyages to a "New World." Coronado's party left the peoples of the region a
remarkable, if unintended gift: enough horses escaped from his party to transform life on the
Great Plains.
The Colonial Era. The first successful English colony was founded at Jamestown,
Virginia, in 1607. Captain John Smith emerged as the dominant figure. Despite quarrels,
starvation and Indian attacks, his ability to enforce discipline held the little colony together
through its first year. In 1609 Smith returned to England, and in his absence, the colony
descended into anarchy. During the winter of 1609-1610, the majority of the colonists
succumbed to disease. A few years later, English Puritans came to America to escape
religious persecution for their opposition to the Church of England. In 1620, the Puritans
founded Plymouth colony in future Massachusetts. Colonists arrived from other European
countries.
The prosperity of the towns, which prompted fears that the devil was luring society
into pursuit of worldly gain, produced a religious reaction in the 1730s that came to be known
as the Great Awakening. Its inspiration came from two sources: George Whitefield, a
Wesleyan revivalist who arrived from England in 1739, and Jonathan Edwards, who
originally served in the Congregational Church in Northampton, Massachusetts. Whitefield
began a religious revival in Philadelphia and then moved on to New England. He enthralled
audiences of up to 20,000 people at a time with histrionic displays, gestures and emotional
oratory. Religious turmoil swept throughout New England and the middle colonies as
ministers left established churches to preach the revival. The Great Awakening gave rise to
evangelical denominations and the spirit of revivalism, which continue to play significant
roles in American religious and cultural life. It weakened the status of the established clergy
and provoked believers to rely on their own conscience. Perhaps most important, it led to the
proliferation of sects and denominations, which in turn encouraged general acceptance of the
principle of religious toleration.
 Colonial leaders convened the First Continental Congress in 1774 to discuss the
colonies' opposition to the British rule. War broke out on April 19, 1775, when British
soldiers confronted colonial rebels in Lexington, Massachusetts. On July 4, 1776, the
Continental Congress adopted a Declaration of Independence. Largely Jefferson's work, it not
only announced the birth of a new nation, but also set forth a philosophy of human freedom
that would become a dynamic force throughout the entire world. The Declaration draws upon
French and English Enlightenment political philosophy. At first the Revolutionary War went
badly for the Americans. With few provisions and little training, American troops were
overpowered by the British. The turning point came in 1777 when Americans defeated the
British army at Saratoga, New York. After that France and America signed treaties of alliance
and France provided the Americans with troops and warships. The last major battle of the
American Revolution took place at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. A combined force of
American and French troops surrounded the British and forced their surrender. The war was
officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, by which England recognized American
independence.
A new nation. The success of the Revolution gave Americans the opportunity to give
legal form to their ideals as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and to remedy
some of their grievances through state constitutions. As early as May 10, 1776, Congress had
passed a resolution advising the colonies to form new governments "such as shall best
conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents." Some of them had already done so,
and within a year after the Declaration of Independence, all but three had drawn up
constitutions. With the end of the Revolution, the United States again had to face the old
unsolved Western question -- the problem of expansion, with its complications of land, fur
trade, Indians, settlement and local government. Lured by the richest land yet found in the
country, pioneers poured over the Appalachian Mountains and beyond. Before the war,
several colonies had laid extensive and often overlapping claims to land beyond the
Appalachians. The Articles of Confederation offered an answer. Under the Articles, a system
of limited self-government (set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787) provided for the
organization of the Northwest Territory. The new policy repudiated the time-honored concept
that colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country and were politically subordinate
and socially inferior. That doctrine was replaced by the principle that colonies are but the
extension of the nation and are entitled, not as a privilege but as a right, to all the benefits of
equality. On September 17, 1787, after 16 weeks of deliberation, the finished Constitution
was signed. To many, the document seemed full of dangers: would not the strong central
government that it established tyrannize them, oppress them with heavy taxes and drag them
into wars. Differing views on these questions brought into existence two parties, the
Federalists, who favored a strong central government, and the Antifederalists, who preferred
a loose association of separate states. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison
pushed for the ratification of the Constitution in a series of essays known as The Federalist
Papers. The essays, published in New York newspapers, provided a now-classic argument for
a central federal government, with separate executive, legislative and judicial branches that
checked and balanced one another. With The Federalist Papers influencing the New York
delegates, the Constitution was ratified on July 26. Antipathy toward a strong central
government was only one concern among those opposed to the Constitution; of equal concern
to many was the fear that the Constitution did not protect individual rights and freedoms
sufficiently. When the first Congress convened in New York City in September 1789, the
calls for amendments protecting individual rights were virtually unanimous. Congress
quickly adopted 12 such amendments; by December 1791, enough states had ratified 10
amendments to make them part of the Constitution. Collectively, they are known as the Bill
of Rights. Among their provisions: freedom of speech, press, religion, and the right to
assemble peacefully, protest and demand changes (First Amendment); protection against
unreasonable searches, seizures of property and arrest (Fourth Amendment); due process of
law in all criminal cases (Fifth Amendment); right to a fair and speedy trial (Sixth
Amendment); protection against cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment); and
provision that the people retain additional rights not listed in the Constitution (Ninth
Amendment).
George Washington, the war's military hero, became the first US president. At this
critical juncture in the country's growth, Washington's wise leadership was crucial. He
organized a national government, developed policies for settlement of territories previously
held by Britain and Spain, stabilized the northwestern frontier.
The second Great Awakening: By the end of the 18th century, many educated
Americans no longer professed traditional Christian beliefs. In reaction to the secularism of
the age, a religious revival spread westward in the first half of the 19th century. In contrast to
the Great Awakening of the 1730s, the revivals in the East were notable for the absence of
hysteria and open emotion. Rather, unbelievers were awed by the "respectful silence" of those
bearing witness to their faith. The evangelical enthusiasm in New England gave rise to
interdenominational missionary societies, formed to evangelize the West. Social activism
inspired by the revival gave rise to abolition groups and the Society for the Promotion of
Temperance, as well as to efforts to reform prisons and care for the handicapped and mentally
ill. Two other important religious denominations in America -- the Mormons and the Seventh
Day Adventists also got their start. In the Appalachian region, the revival took on
characteristics similar to the Great Awakening of the previous century. But here, the center of
the revival was the camp meeting. The Methodists had a very efficient organization that
depended on ministers -- known as circuit riders -- who sought out people in remote frontier
locations. The circuit riders came from among the common people, which helped them
establish a rapport with the frontier families they hoped to convert. The Second Great
Awakening exercised a profound impact on American history. The numerical strength of the
Baptists and Methodists rose relative to that of the denominations dominant in the colonial
period -- the Anglicans, Presbyterians and Congregationalists. Among the latter, efforts to
apply Christian teaching to the resolution of social problems presaged the Social Gospel of
the late 19th century.
Slavary and the Civil War. The War of 1812 was, in a sense, a second war of
independence, for before that time the United States had not been accorded equality in the
family of nations. With its conclusion, many of the serious difficulties that the young republic
had faced since the Revolution now disappeared. National union under the Constitution
brought a balance between liberty and order.
In 1834 a special Indian territory was set up in what is now Oklahoma. In all, the
tribes signed 94 treaties during Jackson's two terms, ceding millions of hectares to the federal
government and removing dozens of tribes from their ancestral homelands. Among the most
progressive of the eastern tribes, the Cherokees' fate was sealed when gold was discovered on
their land in 1829. Even a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court proved little help. With
the acquiescence of the Jackson administration, the Cherokees were forced to make the long
and cruel trek to Oklahoma in 1835. Many died of disease and privation in what became
known as the "Trail of Tears."
The abolitionist movement that emerged in the early 1830s was combative,
uncompromising and insistent upon an immediate end to slavery. One phase of the
antislavery movement involved helping slaves escape to safe refuges in the North or over the
border into Canada. Known as the "Underground Railroad," an elaborate network of secret
routes was firmly established in the 1830s in all parts of the North, with its most successful
operation being in the old Northwest Territory. In 1820 southern and northern politicians
debated the question of whether slavery would be legal in the western territories. Congress
reached a compromise: slavery was permitted in the new state of Missouri and the Arkansas
Territory, but barred everywhere else west and north of Missouri. The outcome of the
Mexican war in 1846-48 brought more territory into American hands – and with it the issue
of whether to extend slavery. The issue continued to rankle.

American Civil War (1861-1865)

The War. After Abraham Lincoln, a foe of slavery, was elected president in 1860, 11
states left the Union and proclaimed themselves an independent nation, the Confederate
States of America (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana,
Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina). The American Civil War began.
The Confederate Army did well in the early part of the war, and some of its commanders,
especially General Robert E.Lee, were brilliant tacticians. But the Union had superior
manpower and resources. In 1863 at Gettysburg the Confederates were defeated. Two years
later, after a long campaign involving forces commanded by Lee and Union General Ulysses
S.Grant, the Confederates surrended. This put an end to slavery, and it was decided that the
country was not a collection of semi-independent states but an indivisible whole. The 15th
Amendment, passed by Congress the following year and ratified in 1870 by state legislatures,
provided that "The rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or any state on account of race, color or previous condition of
servitude."

In the 1890s a new spirit of expansion took hold. The US proclaimed their duty to
"civilize" the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. After American newspapers
published accounts of atrocities in the Spanish colony of Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico,
and Guam. However in 1902 American troops left Cuba, and Hawaii became a state in 1959 (
as did Alaska).
The progressive movement. Despite the signs of prosperity, up to half of all industrial
workers still lived in poverty. The prevailing economic dogma was that the government is to
interfere with commerce as little as possible. About 1900 the Progressive Movement arose to
reform society and individuals through government action. The movement's supporters were
primalrily economists, sociologists, technicians and civil servants who sought scientific, cost-
effective solutions to political problems. Social workers went into slums to establish
settlement houses which provided the poor with services and recreation. Prohibitionists
demanded an end to the sale of liquor. In the cities, reform politicians fought corruption and
built municipally owned utilities. State passed laws restricting child labour, limiting
workdays, and providing compensation for injured workers. The first major effort to organize
workers' groups on a nationwide basis appeared with The Noble Order of the Knights of
Labor in 1869. Originally a secret, ritualistic society organized by Philadelphia garment
workers, it was open to all workers, including blacks, women and farmers.
In domestic as well as international affairs, Theodore Roosevelt's accession in 1901
coincided with a new epoch in American political life. The continent was peopled; the
frontier was disappearing.

The United States and World War I

(this war is also known as "the Great War" and "the European War of 1914-1918")

On June 28, 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand,
the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria demanded indemnities from Serbia for the
assassination. The Serbian government denied any involvement with the murder and, when
Austria issued an ultimatum, turned to its ally, Russia, for help. When Russia began to
mobilize its army, Europe's alliance system, ironically intended to maintain the balance of
power on the continent, drew one country after another into war. Austria's ally, Germany,
declared war on Russia on August 1 and on France (which was allied with Russia) two days
later. Great Britain entered the war on August 4, following Germany's invasion of neutral
Belgium. By the end of August 1914, most of Europe had chosen sides: the Central Powers
— Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) — were up
against the Allied Powers — principally Great Britain, France, Russia, and Serbia. Japan
joined the Allied cause in August 1914, in hopes of seizing German possessions in the Pacific
and expanding Japanese influence in China. This action threatened the Open Door Policy and
led to increased tensions with the United States. Originally an ally of Germany and Austria-
Hungary, Italy entered the war in 1915 on the side of Britain and France because they had
agreed to Italian territorial demands in a secret treaty (the Treaty of London).
American neutrality. When the war began, President Wilson quickly proclaimed the
neutrality of the United States and called on the American people to be “impartial in thought
as well as in action.” Absolute neutrality was difficult to achieve. German Americans tended
to support the Central Powers, while Irish Americans had strong animosity toward Great
Britain. On the other hand, the Allies, at least England and France, represented democracy to
many Americans; the Allies had strong emotional support in the higher circles of
government, especially in the State Department and the White House. Moreover, investors in
the United States provided billions of dollars in loans to the Allies, and the balance of
American trade with the warring countries was overwhelmingly in favor of Great Britain and
France. Although the United States objected to the British blockade in the North Sea, a much
greater threat to American neutrality was Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare
against shipping in the North Atlantic. In May 1915, Germany sunk the British oceanliner
Lusitania, causing the loss of almost 1,200 lives, including 128 Americans. Although the
United States strongly protested the incident (even though the ship was carrying contraband
to Britain), there were several more sinkings before Germany, through the Sussex pledge
(May 1916), agreed not to attack passenger ships without warning and to make provisions for
the safety of noncombatants. The sinking of the Lusitania did raise questions about America's
preparedness, however, and steps were taken to get the country ready for war. Bryan
presciently feared that Wilson’s orders to balloon the size and firepower of the American
military would multiply the chances of the country finding a war in which to involve them.
The United States enters the war. The United States’ 1917 entry into World War I
represents one of the crucial turning points in American history. Its significance, however,
scarcely exceeds modern America’s collective ignorance of it.
By the end of the war, U.S. forces had suffered more than 53,000 combat deaths and
over 200,000 wounded men. The total number of military deaths was considerably higher due
to the worldwide influenza pandemic that struck the United States in 1918. But the end to the
fighting on the Western front did not mean the quick repatriation of American soldiers from
Europe.
Something else is lost in traditional American histories. That is the vigorous, often
eloquent attempts of citizens and statesmen from every part of the country to keep America
out of what they saw as a war fought by other nations for their own purposes, and the
inevitable threat to Constitutional liberties they posed.
FOLLOWING THE WAR. The Treaty of Versailles officially ended the war in May
1919. The crushing effect of this "peace treaty" on an already-reeling Germany is as
staggering as it is forgotten. The defeated nation lost nearly one-third of its total land area,
along with millions of German citizens. Its foreign colonies were divvied out to the victorious
Allies. The brazen and humiliating requirement for the Germans to admit all responsibility
for the war – when Serbia, Austria, Russia, and France all held equal or greater roles for its
inauguration – set the stage for the half-starved nation to pay financially for the whole war as
well, to the tune of $7.5 trillion in today’s dollars. This, along with later punitive actions
taken by France, set the Germans on a course of runaway inflation, Communist uprisings,
economic ruin, social chaos, moral breakdown, and Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.
On a more personal level, the German nation itself faced the danger of mass
starvation. Between the November 11, 1918 armistice, which stopped fighting, and the
signing of the Versailles treaty, the British and French insisted on continuing the strangling
naval blockade of Germany. Future U.S. President Herbert Hoover arranged for the delivery
of hundreds of millions of tons of free American food to the Germans, only to have the
French, Italians, and British disallow it and accuse the Americans of selfish motives for the
act. During this time, 800 adults were dying of starvation every day in northern Germany
alone. By the final tally, hundreds of thousands of Germans had starved.
Back in America, President Wilson campaigned across the country to generate support
for the League of Nations. But after he pushed himself to exhaustion, his speeches grew
confused and his treatment of hecklers surly. The scale and passion of his opposition, which
wanted nothing to do with roping America’s future to Europe’s, frustrated and angered him.
Finally, he suffered a devastating cerebral thrombosis. His wife Edith then orchestrated a
scheme that kept from the American people for the last 18 months of Wilson’s second term
the fact that their President, in the words of White House Chief Usher Ike Hoover, had
changed mentally "from a giant to a pygmy." Wilson had little knowledge of the issues and
events transpiring outside his sealed-off little world.
REQUIEM. World War I killed nearly 10 million people, The United States’s
"retreat" from involvement in European affairs following that bloodbath had "dire
consequences" according to Jackson Spielvogel. Our belated pursuit of the Founding Fathers’
admonitions against foreign entanglements and permanent treaty alliances "forced" the
French to "stand alone" and take "strong actions against Germany that only intensified
German resentment," according to Spielvogel. In reality, the dire consequences were
generated by the French and the gaggle of other European nations who engineered The Great
War. These included the aforementioned consequences for Germany that led ultimately to the
Götterdämmerung of that nation in 1945; the fall of Christian Russia to the strain of
Communism, which led to Stalin’s slaughter of between 10 and 40 million of his own
countrymen in the 1930s, and to the half-century enslavement of 10 Christian countries in
Eastern Europe to atheistic Communism; the millions of deaths that meant the loss forever of
the flower of British and French manhood and the greatness of their nations; and the deaths of
hundreds of thousands of America’s bravest young men, broad and deep growth of our
nation’s central government, and the sacrifice of many of its Constitutional liberties, some
permanently.
In the final accounting, the Great War was only the opening chapter of a new Thirty
Years War. That war climaxed more than 50 million deaths later with the incineration of
hundreds of thousands of Japanese men, women, and children. And it launched a bitter half-
century Cold War involving triumphant Communism.
Perhaps the Los Angeles Times said it best after World War I and its "peace" were
concluded: "It is quite impossible to tell what the war made the world safe for."

USA in World War II

World War II was the mightiest struggle humankind has ever seen. It killed more
people, cost more money, damaged more property, affected more people, and caused more
far-reaching changes in nearly every country than any other war in history. The number of
people killed, wounded, or missing between September 1939 and September 1945 can never
be calculated, but it is estimated that more than 55 million people perished. More than 50
countries took part in the war, and the whole world felt its effects. Men fought in almost
every part of the world, on every continent except Antarctica. Chief battlegrounds included
Asia, Europe, North Africa, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. The
United States hoped to stay out. Drawing on its experience from World War I, Congress
passed a series of Neutrality Acts between 1935 and 1939, which were intended to prevent
Americans becoming entangled with belligerents.
War officially began on September 1, 1939, when Germany attacked Poland.
Germany then crushed six countries in three months — Denmark, Norway, Belgium,
Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and France — and proceeded to conquer Yugoslavia and
Greece. Japan`s plans for expansion in the Far East led it to attack Pearl Harbor in December
1941, bringing the United States into the war. By early 1942, all major countries of the world
were involved in the most destructive war in history.
World War II would go down in the history books as bringing about the downfall of
Western Europe as the center of world power, leading to the rise of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), setting up conditions leading to the Cold War, and opening up
the nuclear age.
Causes of the war. The Great Depression crippled the economies of Europe and the
United States. That, combined with the outcome of World War I, led to major repositioning
of world power and influence. That was fertile ground for the emergence of various forms of
totalitarian governments in the Soviet Union, Japan, Italy, and Germany, as well as other
countries. Many countries had liberal democratic governments following World War I, but
dictatorship developed during the 1920s and 1930s, which destroyed democratic rights.
After World War I, Germany, Italy, and Japan — all anxious to regain or increase
their power — adopted forms of dictatorship. The League of Nations was unable to promote
disarmament. Economic problems were among the fundamental causes of World War II.
Germany, Italy, and Japan considered themselves unjustly handicapped in trying to compete
with other nations for markets, raw materials, and colonies. They believed that such countries
as Belgium, France, Great Britian, the Netherlands, and the United States unfairly controlled
most of the world`s wealth and people.
The League of Nations called a conference of 60 nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in
1932. The conference was one in a long line of disarmament conferences that had been
occuring since the end of World War I. Germany, whose military power had been severely
limited by the Treaty of Versailles, announced that world disarmament had to be
accomplished, or Germany would rearm and achieve military equality. The conference
adjourned temporarily and by the time it was back in session, Hitler had become chancellor
of Germany and was already preparing to rearm. Germany withdrew from the conference,
which ended in failure, without any hope for disarmament.
America prepares for war. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called upon the United
States to be "the great arsenal of democracy," and supply war materials to the Allies through
sale, lease, or loan. The Lend-Lease bill became law on March 11, 1941. During the next 4
years, the U.S. sent more than $50 billion worth of war matériel to the Allies. The United
States Selective Service Act became law on September 16, 1940. Thousands of women
served in the Army`s Women`s Army Corps (WAC) and Navy equivalent WAVES, standing
for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Factories in the United States
converted from civilian to war production with amazing speed. As men went into the armed
forces, women took their places in war plants. By 1943, more than two million women were
working in American war industries.
Congress gave the president power to freeze prices, salaries, and wages at their levels
of September 15, 1942. The government also set up a civil-defense system to protect the
country from attack. Many cities practiced "blackouts" in which cities on the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts dimmed their lights. Ordinarily, the glare from their lights made ships near the
shore easy targets for submarines.
Background of the Axis and Allied powers. The heads of government of China, Great
Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States became known as the "Big Four." During the
war, the Big Four leaders conferred several times. Great Britain and the United States worked
out the broad strategic outlines of the war. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston
Churchill agreed to concentrate on Germany first, and then Japan. They considered Germany
the greater and closer enemy.
Aftermath. World War II brought an end to the Depression everywhere. Industries had
been ignited for the production of arms and resources to equip fighting forces.
The war solved some problems, but created many others. Germany had been the
dominant power on the European continent, while Japan had held that role in Asia. Their
defeat in World War II left open positions of leadership. The Soviet Union moved in quickly
to replace Germany as the most powerful country in Europe and also aimed at taking Japan`s
place as the dominant power in Asia. With China, France, and Great Britain devastated and
financially exhausted by the war, the United States and the Soviet Union became the two
major powers of the world.
In 1944, an idea emerged to create a postwar international organization. The United
Nations was born on October 24, 1945. Its first sessions were held the following January in
London.
World War II was the most expensive war in history. It has been estimated that the
cost of the war totaled between $1 and $2 trillion, and the property damage amounted to more
than $239 billion. The United States spent about 10 times as much as it had spent in all its
previous wars put together. The national debt rose from $42 billion in 1940 to $269 billion in
1946.
In early October 1945, the four prosecuting nations — the United States, Great
Britain, France, and Soviet Union — issued an indictment against 24 men charged with the
systematic murder of millions of people, and planning and carrying out the war in Europe.
Twelve trials were conducted, involving more than a hundred defendants. In addition to the
individual indictments, three organizations were tried and found guilty. They were the SS, the
Gestapo, and the Corps of the Political Leaders of the Nazi Party. The Nuremberg War Trials
took place from 1945 to 1949.
The United States formally ended hostilities with Germany on October 19, 1951.
West Germany would accept neither the division of Germany nor East Germany’s frontiers.
Thus, Germany was the only Axis power that did not become a member of the United
Nations.

Government and Politics.

The Constitution The Articles of Confederation failed as a governing document for the
United States because the states did not cooperate as expected. When it came time to pay
wages to the national army or the war debt to France, some states refused to contribute. To
cure this weakness, the congress asked each state to send a delegate to a convention. The so-
called Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in May of 1787, with George
Washington presiding. The delegates struck a balance between those who wanted a strong
central government and those who did not. The resulting master plan, or Constitution, set up a
system in which some powers were given to the national, or federal, government, while
others were reserved for the states. The Constitution divided the national government into
three parts, or branches: the legislative (the Congress, which consists of a House of
Representatives and a Senate), the executive (headed by the president), and the judicial (the
federal courts). Called "separation of powers," this division gives each branch certain duties
and substantial independence from the others. It also gives each branch some authority over
the others through a system of "checks and balances." The idea of checks and balances is a
seen as a way of restricting governmental power and preventing its abuse.
Bill Of Rights The Constitution written in Philadelphia in 1787 could not go into effect until
it was ratified by a majority of citizens in at least 9 of the then 13 U.S. states. During this
ratification process, misgivings arose. Many citizens felt uneasy because the document failed
to explicitly guarantee the rights of individuals. The desired language was added in 10
amendments to the Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights
guarantees Americans freedom of speech, of religion, and of the press. They have the right to
assemble in public places, to protest government actions, and to demand change. There is a
right to own firearms. Because of the Bill of Rights, neither police officers nor soldiers can
stop and search a person without good reason. Nor can they search a person's home without
permission from a court to do so. The Bill of Rights guarantees a speedy trial to anyone
accused of a crime. The trial must be by jury if requested, and the accused person must be
allowed representation by a lawyer and to call witnesses to speak for him or her. Cruel and
unusual punishment is forbidden. With the addition of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution was
ratified by all 13 states and went into effect in 1789. Since then 17 other amendments have
been added to the Constitution. Perhaps the most important of these are the Thirteenth and
Fourteenth, which outlaw slavery and guarantee all citizens equal protection of the laws, and
the Nineteenth, which gives women the right to vote. The Constitution can be amended in
either of two ways. Congress can propose an amendment, provided that two-thirds of the
members of both the House and the Senate vote in favor of it. Or the legislatures of two-
thirds of the states can call a convention to propose amendments. (This second method has
never been used.)

Legislative Branch The legislative branch -- the Congress -- is made up of elected

representatives from each of the 50 states. It is the only branch of U.S. government that can
make federal laws, levy federal taxes, declare war, and put foreign treaties into effect. The
Congress consists of the House of Representatives and Senate. Members of the House of
Representatives are elected to two-year terms. Each member represents a district in his or her
home state. The number of districts is determined by a census, which is conducted every 10
years. The most populous states are allowed more representatives than the smaller ones, some
of which have only one. In all, there are 435 representatives in the House. Senators are
elected to six-year terms. Each state has two senators, regardless of population. Senators'
terms are staggered, so that one-third of the Senate stands for election every two years. There
are 100 senators.

Citizens' Groups And Lobbies. The First Amendment to the Constitution, by asserting the
rights of free speech, free assembly and peaceful petition for the redress of grievances,
provides the legal basis for so-called "special interests" or "lobbies." Any group has the right
to demand that its views be heard -- by the public, by the legislature, by the executive branch
and (through selective lawsuits) by the courts. Most attention in recent years has been
focused on efforts by a proliferating number of public and private interest groups to influence
the course of legislation. One type of interest group that has grown in number and influence
in recent years is the political action committee, or PAC. Political action committees are
private, independent groups, organized around a single issue or set of issues, that contribute
money to political campaigns for Congress or the presidency. PACs are limited in the
amounts they can contribute directly to candidates in federal elections. There are no
restrictions, however, on the amounts PACs can spend independently to advocate a point of
view or to urge the election of candidates to office. PACs today number in the thousands.
Private interest groups usually have an economic stake in the policies they advocate. Business
organizations will favor low corporate taxes and restrictions of the right to strike, whereas
labor unions will support minimum wage legislation and protection for collective bargaining.
Other private interest groups -- such as churches and ethnic groups -- are more concerned
about broader issues of policy that can affect their organizations or their beliefs.

Executive Branch The chief executive of the United States is the president, who together
with the vice president is elected to a four-year term. As a result of a constitutional
amendment that went into effect in 1951, a president may be elected to only two terms. Other
than succeeding a president who dies or is disabled, the vice president's only official duty is
presiding over the Senate. The vice president may vote in the Senate only to break a tie. The
president's powers are formidable but not unlimited. As the chief formulator of national
policy, the president proposes legislation to Congress. As mentioned previously, the president
may veto any bill passed by Congress. The president is commander-in-chief of the armed
forces. The president has the authority to appoint federal judges as vacancies occur, including
justices of the Supreme Court. As head of his political party, with ready access to the news
media, the president can easily influence public opinion. Within the executive branch, the
president has broad powers to issue regulations and directives carrying out the work of the
federal government's departments and agencies. The president appoints the heads and senior
officials of those departments and agencies. Heads of the major departments, called
"secretaries," are part of the president's cabinet. The majority of federal workers, however,
are selected on the basis of merit, not politics. THE PRESIDENCY: Term of Office: Elected
by the people, through the electoral college, to a four- year term; limited to two terms.
Candidates for the presidency are chosen by political parties several months before the
presidential election, which is held every four years (in years divisible evenly by four) on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The method of electing the president is
peculiar to the American system. Although the names of the candidates appear on the ballots,
technically the people of each state do not vote directly for the president (and vice president).
Instead, they select a slate of presidential electors, equal to the number of senators and
representatives each state has in Congress. The candidate with the highest number of votes in
each state wins all the electoral votes of that state. The electors of all 50 states and the
District of Columbia -- a total of 538 persons -- compose what is known as the Electoral
College. Under the terms of the Constitution, the College never meets as a body. Instead, 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 successful,
a candidate for the presidency must receive 270 votes.

The Cabinet. The Constitution makes no provision for a presidential Cabinet. The
Cabinet developed outside the Constitution as a matter of practical necessity. All departments
are headed by a secretary, except the Justice Department, which is headed by the attorney
general. The Department Of Agriculture; Of Commerce; Of Defense (Although the secretary
of defense is a member of the Cabinet, the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force are
not); Education; Energy; Health And Human Services; Housing And Urban Development;
The Interior; Justice; Labor; State; Transportation; The Treasury; Veterans Affairs.

The Independent Agencies The executive departments are the major operating units of the
federal government, but there are many other agencies which have important responsibilities
for keeping the government and the economy working smoothly. These are often called
independent agencies, since they are not part of the executive departments. The nature and
purpose of these agencies vary widely. Some are regulatory groups, with powers to supervise
certain sectors of the economy. Others provide special services, either to the government or to
the people. Among the most important independent agencies are the following: Action is the
principal federal agency for administering domestic volunteer service programs to meet basic
human needs, and to support the self-help efforts of poor individuals and communities (Foster
Grandparents; volunteers to work in poor communities). The Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) coordinates intelligence activities of certain government departments and agencies;
collects, correlates and evaluates intelligence information relating to national security; and
makes recommendations to the National Security Council. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), founded in 1970, works with state and local governments throughout the
United States to control and abate pollution in the air and water, and to deal with the
problems of solid waste, pesticides, radiation and toxic substances. The Federal
Communications Commission licenses the operation of radio and television stations and
regulates interstate telephone and telegraph services. The Federal Reserve System supervises
the private banking system of the United States. It regulates the volume of credit and money
in circulation. The Federal Reserve performs many of the functions of central banks in other
countries, such as issuing paper currency; unlike central banks, however, it does not act as the
depository of the country's gold reserve. The Federal Trade Commission guards against trade
abuses and unfair business practices by conducting investigations and holding hearings on
complaints. The National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA), established in
1958 to run the U.S. space program, placed the first American satellites and astronauts in
orbit, and launched the Apollo spacecraft that landed men on the moon in 1969. Today,
NASA conducts research aboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interplanetary probes, explores
new concepts in advanced aerospace technology, and operates the U.S. fleet of manned space
shuttles. The National Foundation On The Arts And The Humanities encourages the
development of American arts, literature and scholarship, through grants to individuals,
groups, institutions and state agencies. The National Science Foundation was created to
strengthen basic research and education in the sciences in the United States. It grants funds
for research and education programs to universities and other institutions, and coordinates the
science information activities of the federal government. The Office Of National Drug
Control Policy, created in 1988 to raise the profile of the U.S. government's fight against
illegal drugs, coordinates efforts of such agencies as the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Customs Service and the Coast Guard. The Peace Corps, founded in
1961, trains volunteers to serve in foreign countries for two years. Peace Corps volunteers,
now working in more than 60 nations, assist in agricultural-rural development, small
business, health, natural resources conservation and education. The Small Business
Administration lends money to small businesses, aids victims of floods and other natural
disasters, and helps secure contracts for small businesses to supply goods and services to the
federal government. The United States Agency For International Development (USAID)
carries out economic assistance programs designed to help the people in developing countries
develop their human and economic resources, increase their productive capacities, and
improve the quality of human life. The United States Information Agency (USIA) seeks to
promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries through the
dissemination abroad of information about the nation, its people, culture and policies. USIA
also administers a number of two-way educational and cultural exchange programs, such as
the Fulbright Program, with foreign nations. The United States Postal Service is operated by
an autonomous public corporation that replaced the Post Office Department in 1971.
Judicial Branch The judicial branch is headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is
the only court specifically created by the Constitution. In addition, Congress has established
13 federal courts of appeals and, below them, about 95 federal district courts. The Supreme
Court meets in Washington, D.C., and the other federal courts are located in cities throughout
the United States. Federal judges are appointed for life or until they retire voluntarily; they
can be removed from office only via a laborious process of impeachment and trial in the
Congress. The federal courts hear cases arising out of the Constitution and federal laws and
treaties, maritime cases, cases involving foreign citizens or governments, and cases in which
the federal government is itself a party. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and
eight associate justices. With minor exceptions, cases come to the Supreme Court on appeal
from lower federal or state courts. Most of these cases involve disputes over the interpretation
and constitutionality of actions taken by the executive branch and of laws passed by Congress
or the states (like federal laws, state laws must be consistent with the U.S. Constitution).
Political Parties And Elections Americans regularly exercise their democratic rights
by voting in elections and by participating in political parties and election campaigns. Today,
there are two major political parties in the United States, the Democratic and the Republican.
The Democratic Party evolved from the party of Thomas Jefferson, formed before 1800. The
Republican Party was established in the 1850s by Abraham Lincoln and others who opposed
the expansion of slavery into new states then being admitted to the Union. The Democratic
Party is considered to be the more liberal party, and the Republican, the more conservative.
Democrats generally believe that government has an obligation to provide social and
economic programs for those who need them. Republicans are not necessarily opposed to
such programs but believe they are too costly to taxpayers. Republicans put more emphasis
on encouraging private enterprise in the belief that a strong private sector makes citizens less
dependent on government. Both major parties have supporters among a wide variety of
Americans and embrace a wide range of political views. Members, and even elected officials,
of one party do not necessarily agree with each other on every issue. Americans do not have
to join a political party to vote or to be a candidate for public office, but running for office
without the money and campaign workers a party can provide is difficult. Minor political
parties -- generally referred to as "third parties" -- occasionally form in the United States, but
their candidates are rarely elected to office. Minor parties often serve, however, to call
attention to an issue that is of concern to voters, but has been neglected in the political
dialogue. When this happens, one or both of the major parties may address the matter, and the
third party disappears.
 Federalism At Work The federal entity created by the Constitution is by far the
dominant feature of the American governmental system. But the system itself is in reality a
mosaic, composed of thousands of smaller units -- building blocks which together make up
the whole. There are 50 state governments plus the government of the District of Columbia,
and further down the ladder are still smaller units that govern counties, cities, towns and
villages. This multiplicity of governmental units is best understood in terms of the evolution
of the United States. The federal system, it has been seen, was the last step in an evolutionary
process. Prior to the Constitution, there were the governments of the separate colonies (later
states) and prior to those, the governments of counties and smaller units. There are, of course,
many areas of overlap between state and federal jurisdictions. Particularly in recent years, the
federal government has assumed ever broadening responsibility in such matters as health,
education, welfare, transportation, and housing and urban development. But where the federal
government exercises such responsibility in the states, programs are usually adopted on the
basis of cooperation between the two levels of government, rather than as an imposition from
above. Like the national government, state governments have three branches: legislative,
executive and judicial; and these are roughly equivalent in function and scope to their
national counterparts. The chief executive of a state is the governor, elected by popular vote,
typically for a four-year term. The constitutions of the various states differ in some details but
generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of
the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. City Government Once
predominantly rural, the United States is today a highly urbanized country, and more than
three-quarters of its citizens now live in towns, large cities or the suburbs. This statistic
makes city governments critically important in the overall pattern of American government.
Types of city governments vary widely across the nation. However, almost all have some
kind of central council, elected by the voters, and an executive officer, assisted by various
department heads, to manage the city's affairs. There are three general types of city
government: the mayor-council (with an elected mayor as chief of the executive branch, and
an elected council representing the various neighborhoods forming the legislative branch. The
mayor appoints heads of city departments and other officials, sometimes with the approval of
the council), the commission (this combines both the legislative and executive functions in
one group of officials, usually three or more in number, elected city-wide. Each
commissioner supervises the work of one or more city departments. One is named chairman
of the body and is often called the mayor, although his power is equivalent to that of his
fellow commissioners) and the city manager (a small, elected council makes the city
ordinances and sets policy, but hires a paid administrator, also called a city manager, to carry
out its decisions. Usually, there is no set term; the manager serves as long as the council is
satisfied with his or her work). These are the pure forms; many cities have developed a
combination of two or three of them. County Government The county is a subdivision of the
state, usually -- but not always -- containing two or more townships and several villages. New
York City is so large that it is divided into five separate boroughs, each a county in its own
right. In most counties, one town or city is designated as the county seat where the
government offices are located.

LAW, CRIME AND JUSTICE

 Judicial Branch. The Constitution (written in 1787) established a separate judicial
branch of government which operates independently alongside the executive and legislative
branches. Within the judicial branch, authority is divided between state and federal (national)
courts. At the head of the judicial branch is the Supreme Court, the final interpreter of the
Constitution.
The administrative body of the US judicial system is the Judicial Conference of the United
States. It studies the procedures of the federal courts and recommends policy changes. The 25-
member Judicial Conference also examines statistics that reflect the workload of each federal
judicial circuit and district. It may recommend the transfer of judges to circuits or districts that
have the heaviest workload. The group also handles complaints about federal judges who
engage in misconduct or who are unable to perform their duties properly. The conference may
investigate and take appropriate action. The Judicial Conference meets once a year. It submits
its recommendations for changes to Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States. The
recommended policies go into effect after 90 days unless Congress rejects them during that
period. The chief justice of the USA is chairman of the Judicial Conference. Other members
are the chief judge of each of 11 federal judicial circuits and a district court judge from each
circuit. Congress established the Judicial Conference in 1922.
The US Court System. The American Colonies based their courts on the English com-
mon-law system. These colonial courts became state courts after the United States became an
independent nation in 1776. Only Louisiana modelled its court system on civil law. In 1789,
Congress passed the Judiciary Act, which created the federal court system.
The US has 2 separate court systems. In general terms state courts are used when someone
has done something against the laws or Constitution of a particular state. Federal courts deal
with cases to do with the laws and Constitution of the United States as a whole. Both court
systems state and federal, are organized into 3 basic levels of courts: trial courts, intermediate
courts of appeal and a high court, or the Supreme Court.
Federal courts also hear cases where the US government is one of the sides involved. They
also try cases between individuals or groups from different states, and cases involving other
countries or their citizens. They handle maritime (sea) cases, bankruptcy cases, and cases of
patent and copyright violation. Cases for crimes which are not serious are likely to be heard
in state courts. Serious crimes may be tried in either state courts or federal courts depending
on the situation, for example, cases where a crime has taken place in another state are often
heard in federal courts.
The federal court system includes district courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court
of the United States. District courts are federal courts of original jurisdiction. The US and its
possessions have about 95 district courts and there are about 565 permanent district court
judges. Each state has at least one such court. The federal court system also includes several
specialized courts. The US Claims Court hears cases involving claims against the federal
government. The Court of International trade settles disputes over import duties. Taxpayers
ordered to pay additional federal income taxes may appeal to the Tax Court of the United
States. Military courts, called courts-martial, have jurisdiction over offences committed by
members of the armed forces. The Court of Military Appeals reviews court-martial rulings.
The lowest state courts are courts of limited jurisdiction which specialize in only one type of
case. For example, small-claims courts try cases that involve small amounts of money.
Probate or surrogate courts handle wills and disputes over inheritances. Other specialized
courts include courts of domestic relations, juvenile courts, and traffic courts. Some of them
(e.g. police courts, magistrate's courts) handle a variety of minor criminal and civil cases.
 The trial courts in the US states are state or county courts which have general criminal
and civil jurisdiction (comp. with British county courts which are used only for civil cases).
These courts in each state include: common pleas courts and smaller in importance municipal
courts and mayors' courts.
If the accused is found guilty in the trial court he (or she) has the right to appeal to a
higher court. The Court of Appeals (also the Appellate Court) examines cases that have been
brought to them by people unsatisfied with the decision of a lower court. There are 12 of
these courts in the US, each dealing with cases in a particular area of the country. They
determine if the law was correctly interpreted and applied in a lower court.
The final court of appeal in the US federal system and for some cases in the state courts is
the US Supreme Court. It is made up of a chief justice and 8 associates, who serve for life,
after being appointed by the President and approved by Congress. The accused does not have
the right to be heard by the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court decides which cases it
will hear. These cases often attract a lot of public attention. Cases which come before the
Supreme Court often concern the US Constitution, such as a right to free speech. The
Constitution of the US sets out how the government should be formed and what the right of
the States and individuals are. It consists of seven articles and 25 amendments which were
written in 1787 and finally came into use in 1789. When it was first written the rights of
individuals were not included, but in 1791 ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights were
added. In the US all laws that came into effect must be in agreement with the Constitution,
whether they are passed at the local, state or federal level. If someone thinks a law is
unconstitutional, they can ask for a judgement about the law in the courts. A law, or any deci-
sion based on it, cannot remain in force if it is found by a court to be unconstitutional.
Questions facing the Supreme Court are always about the constitutionality of laws or of legal
actions. It was Chief Justice Marshall in 1803 who arrogated to the court the power to strike
down federal law as well as state laws.
State Courts. The Constitution recognizes that the states have certain rights and
authorities beyond the power of the federal government. States have the power to establish
their own systems of criminal and civil laws, with the result that each state has its own laws,
prisons, police force, and state court. Within each state, there are also county and city courts.
Generally, state laws are quite similar, but in some areas there is great diversity. The
minimum age for marriage and the sentences for murder vary from state to state. The
minimum legal age for the purchase of alcohol is 21 in most states.
Federal Courts. The separate system of federal courts, which operates alongside the
state courts, handles cases which arise under the U.S. Constitution or under any law or treaty,
as well as any controversy to which the federal government is itself a party. Federal courts
also hear disputes involving governments or citizens of different states. All federal judges are
appointed for life. A case which falls within federal jurisdiction is heard first before a federal
district judge. An appeal may be made to the Circuit Court of Appeals, and, possibly, in the
last resort, to the highest court in the land: the U.S. Supreme Court.
Supreme Court. The Supreme Court hears cases in which someone claims that a
lower court ruling is unjust or in which someone claims that Constitutional law has been
violated. Its decisions are final and become legally binding. Although the Supreme Court
does not have the power to make laws, it does have the power to examine actions of the
legislative, executive, and administrative institutions of the government and decide whether
they are constitutional. It is in this function that the Supreme Court has the potential to
influence decisively the political, social, and economic life of the country. In the past,
Supreme Court rulings have given new protection and freedom to minorities. The Supreme
Court has nullified certain laws of Congress and has even declared actions of American
presidents unconstitutional. The U.S. government is so designed that, ideally, the authority of
the judicial branch is independent from the other branches of government. Each of the 9
Supreme Court justices (judges) is appointed by the president and examined by the Senate to
determine whether he or she is qualified. Once approved, a justice remains on the Supreme
Court for life. The Supreme Court justices have no obligation to follow the political policies
of the president or Congress. Their sole obligation is to uphold the laws of the Constitution.
Nevertheless, politics play a role in a president's selection of a Supreme Court justice. On
average, a president can expect to appoint two new Supreme Court justices during one term
of office. Presidents are likely to appoint justices whose views are similar to their own, with
the hope that they can extend some of their power through the judicial branch.
There exist a grand jury and a petit jury in the US. A grand jury is a group of between 16
and 23 people in most states. There are 2 kinds of grand juries in the US, charging and
investigatory. A charging jury is chosen to consider the facts about someone who is charged
with a crime, and to decide whether a trial is necessary. If the grand jury finds sufficient
evidence, it makes a formal accusation, called an indictment, against the person. The suspect
is then tried by a petit jury. An investigatory grand jury investigates (1) suspected dishonesty
of public officials and (2) possible crime, especially organized crime.
A petit, or petty, jury is a trial jury and the most common form of jury. In a civil lawsuit, a
petit jury decides who is at fault and how much money must be paid in damages. At a
criminal trial, a jury of between 6 and 12 people decide whether a person is guilty or not.
Until about 1970, juries consisted of 12 members and 1 or 2 alternate jurors. Today, some
states use juries of as few as 6 members. The names of possible jurors are selected by the
court from such sources as tax rolls, voting lists, and telephone directories. From the selected
names, people are then chosen by lot and summoned for possible service on a jury. Before
becoming a jury member, a person is questioned by the trial judge, the opposing lawyers, or
both. This procedure is known as voir dire (an old French term meaning literally "to speak
the truth"). The attorneys may reject any person for cause.
In 1872, Massachusetts became the first state to provide separate court sessions for
children. In 1899, Colorado and Illinois authorized separate children's courts. By 1925, all
but two states had juvenile courts.
In 1967, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark decision regarding
juvenile courts. In the Gault decision, the court ruled that the private and informal procedures
used by juvenile courts had deprived many children of certain rights guaranteed by the
Constitution. It ruled that children must be granted these rights, including (1) the right of
children and their parents to be given adequate notice of the specific charge; (2) the right to
have a lawyer in any case which may result in confinement; (3) the right to question
witnesses; and (4) the right to remain silent.
Also in 1967, a special presidential commission reported that juvenile courts had failed in
their efforts to decrease juvenile delinquency. Since then, juvenile courts have used an
approach much like that used in adult criminal courts. However, there is more emphasis on
rehabilitation in the juvenile courts than in the adult correctional system.
The death penalty. Responding to public pressure to get tough with criminals, many states
have been applying the death penalty as a deterrent to murder. Although few criminals were
sentenced to death between 1965 and 1983, there has been a surge in recent years in the
number of executions. Between 1970 and 1980, three prisoners were executed under the
death penalty, and between 1980 and 1985, 47 prisoners were executed. In 1972, the
Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty, as carried out in most states, was
unconstitutional. States have since revised their death penalty laws, establishing new Court-
approved procedures. Supporters of the death penalty argue that it is the only appropriate
punishment for sadistic murderers. Opponents of capital punishment hope to see it declared
unconstitutional. They claim that there is not enough evidence to prove that murderers are
deterred by the threat of execution. Crime-stopping and crime prevention are formidable
tasks for law enforcement officials, since the social problems which aggravate violence—
poverty/ unemployment, and unstable families—are likely to persist. In addition to the
overcrowding in prisons, the accessibility of handguns is a major problem which further
complicates the task of securing public safety.
Rights of criminal suspects. Courts have the difficult task of striking a balance between
the needs of society on the one hand and the rights of the individual on the other. The
Constitution's guarantee of equal justice under the law for all citizens not or guarantees the
individual's right to freedom and security, but also include; the protection of the rights of
criminal suspects. Among these guarantees are the protection from unreasonable search and
seizure, the suspect's right decline to testify against himself/herself, the right to counsel, as
well a protection from excessive bail and from cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme
Court has devised several rules to ensure the protection of these rights, which sometimes
result in a guilty suspect being released from charge. One of these rules is the controversial
exclusionary rule, which excludes from the trial any evidence gained by unlawful search and
seizure. Sometimes the exclusion of evidence from a trial means that some persons who are
clear! guilty go free because of a technicality. The Miranda rule is another controversial;
Supreme Court decision which extends the rights of criminal suspects. In the 1966 case, the
Court ruled that suspects must be read their legal rights before, being questioned by police.
They must be told of their right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during
questioning. If the police do not inform the criminal suspect of his or her rights, any evidence
gained from questioning cannot be used in court.
The death penalty. Responding to public pressure to get tough with criminals, many states
have been applying the death penalty as a deterrent to murder. Although few criminals were
sentenced to death between 1965 and 1983, there has been a surge in recent years in the
number of executions. Between 1970 and 1980, three prisoners were executed under the
death penalty, and between 1980 and 1985, 47 prisoners were executed. In 1972, the
Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty, as carried out in most states, was
unconstitutional. States have since revised their death penalty laws, establishing new Court-
approved procedures. Supporters of the death penalty argue that it is the only appropriate
punishment for sadistic murderers. Opponents of capital punishment hope to see it declared
unconstitutional. They claim that there is not enough evidence to prove that murderers are
deterred by the threat of execution. Crime-stopping and crime prevention are formidable
tasks for law enforcement officials, since the social problems which aggravate violence—
poverty/ unemployment, and unstable families—are likely to persist. In addition to the
overcrowding in prisons, the accessibility of handguns is a major problem which further
complicates the task of securing public safety.

THE USA ECONOMY

The American economy is described as a free enterprise system, which allows private
business the freedom to operate for profit with minimum government interference and
regulation. The theoretical foundation of the American economic system was provided by
Adam Smith, the eighteenth-century Scottish philosopher whose economic ideas of
"laissez faire" (leave it alone) had a strong influence on the development of capitalism.
Smith argued that when individuals, motivated by self-interest, are allowed to pursue
profit freely, the result is good for all of society. The more people manufacture and trade,
the greater the competition. Competition benefits society by allowing the consumer to
seek the best product at the lowest price. Thus, market forces, which Smith termed "the
invisible hand control the efficient allocation of goods while each participant in the
market is seeking his or her own self-interest.
These ideas were compatible with the high value America's Founding Fathers placed on
individual liberty. Freedom from economic control seemed an extension of freedom from
control of religion, speech, and the press.
Throughout the nineteenth century, market forces in America operated with a minimum
of government intervention. Since the 1930s, American capitalism has undergone
substantial change. Although private enterprise still flourishes, government regulation
now exists in many areas of business ranging from product safety to labor conditions.
Political conservatives frequently complain of too much government regulation.
Liberals, on the other hand, are generally more willing to accept government's role in
business and the economy. Americans on both sides of the political spectrum generally
support "free" private enterprise, and there is no serious political debate focusing on
alternate economic systems.
The country's reliance on private initiative and enterprise has produced impressive growth.
The United States today is a leading economic power, with a high standard of living and
enormous productivity in industry and agriculture.
The United States is one of the most affluent nations in the world. The average annual
income for American families in 1985 was $27,700, and 60 percent of all families and
individuals are in the middle-income or high- income ranks. Although the generalization
can be made that America is an affluent society, in 1985 about 14 percent of the population
(11,4 percent White, 31.3 percent Black, and 29 percent Hispanic) lived below the official
poverty level, which was then $10,989 for a family of four. Industrial and technological
production is high. The United States is the world's leading producer of electrical energy,
aluminum, copper, sulphur, and paper, and one of the top producers of natural gas and
automobiles. No other nation exports as much high technology as the United States.
Technological advancement has accelerated changes in American agriculture. Farming is
highly mechanized and commercialized. In productive terms, the achievements of this sector
of the economy are extraordinary. U.S. farmers produce enough food for domestic
consumption and still supply 15 percent of the world's food needs.
Besides agricultural products, principal goods in America's export trade are machinery,
automotive products, aircraft, and chemicals. The leading U.S. imports are petroleum
products, foods and beverages, machinery, and iron and steel products. The United States is
the world's largest importer and exporter. Despite its huge domestic production, the U.S.
economy depends heavily on foreign imports. Until recently, the United States consistently
exported more goods than it imported. However, since 1971, the U.S. has been operating
under a trade imbalance, importing more goods than it exports.
While the profile of the modern U.S. economy shows the U.S. to be a formidable economic
power, the strength of the U.S. economy in the last 15 to 20 years has waned. Within the past
two decades, the U.S. has slipped from a better than 3 percent per year increase in
productivity to an annual increase of below 1 percent. Declining growth rates are a major
concern.

Confidence has also been shaken by the declining competitiveness of U.S. goods abroad,
indicated by the increasing trade deficit. Foreign manufacturers are now selling roughly 50
 percent more in this country than Americans are exporting abroad. Most of America's
television sets, cameras and typewriters are made by foreign companies.
High productivity of Japanese industries has increased the appeal of lower- priced
Japanese goods. In 1980, for the first year ever, the Japanese manufactured more
automobiles than the United States. Steel production in Japan is now higher as well. Stiff
foreign competition challenges U.S. manufacturers to step-up productivity levels,
modernize their factories, and provide better worker training.

Despite high productivity in farming, agricultural exports began to decline in the early
1980s. American farmers had difficulty exporting their goods because of import
restrictions imposed by foreign countries and because of the high value of the American
dollar in the early 1980s.
SUBURBANIZATION. One rather recent trend which reconciles the ambivalence
Americans have heavily populated areas at the edge of the city, both the spaciousness of rural
life and the bustling activity of urban life are available.
Since the mid-1960s many central cities have experienced a decrease in population, while
the suburbs have continued to expand as a result of America's increasing prosperity and
desire for cleaner air, more space, and a private house and yard. Of the 80 percent of
Americans who live in urban and metropolitan areas, about two-thirds now live in suburbs.
Suburbs are regarded as part of a city's structure. As suburban rings spread farther and farther
out, metropolitan areas, in the past ten or twenty years, have become enormous. The
metropolitan areas of each of the country's six largest cities, New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, and Detroit, have populations of over a million. Many
metropolitan areas have become so large that they have begun to merge into other
metropolitan areas, forming a megalopolis, which is the term used to describe the urban
network that results from such expansion. One megalopolis extends along the Atlantic coast
from Boston through New York to Washington, D.C. It is estimated that by the year 2015, 80
percent of Americans will live in 28 or so of these megalopolises.

ENTREPRENEURS. The high-tech era has produced a new generation of entrepreneurs.

One example from the 1970s is that of two young men who worked together to design a new
and better computer. They gathered money needed to pay for large-scale production, and in
1977 Apple Computer Corporation was started. By the end of 1984, that company, started by
two business-minded entrepreneurs, was one of the largest computer makers in the United
States.
This success story is similar to others in American history. The Coca-Cola company began
when an American pharmacist mixed together the first Coca- Cola drink and began selling it
in Atlanta, Georgia, in the 1890s. The famous Heinz food company, which specializes in
mustard, pickles, and ketchup, began wrhen a teenager started to sell various food items on
the street. While most people who start businesses do not become millionaires, Americans do
believe in the potential for individual success that exists exists within their free enterprise
system.
Americans are known for being highly success-oriented and dedicated to hard work. Today's
baby boom generation has acquired a reputation for its relentless drive for material success.
The term "yuppie," meaning young upwardly-mobile professional, has been coined to
describe those people between the ages of 25 and 45 who, according to the stereotype, devote
themselves to careers and status. LABOR UNIONS Whereas the drive for success is firmly
entrenched in American ideology, what is curiously absent is focused ideological support for
America's labor unions. Although a legal framework for worker representation and collective
bargaining was established by legislation in the 1930s, labor unions in America do not have
the power or political direction of their counterparts in Europe.
EDUCATION.
CURRICULUM. Although there is no national curriculum, certain subjects are generally
taught in all public school systems across the country. Almost every elementary school
instructs children in penmanship, science, mathematics, music, art, physical education,
language arts (which includes reading, writing, and grammar), and social studies (which
includes geography, history, and citizenship). Most secondary schools require students to
take English, mathematics, science, social studies, and physical education. In addition to this
"core" curriculum, students choose "elective" courses in their areas of interest.
Structure. U.S. educators frequently use the terms K-12 education, and sometimes PK-12
education, to refer to all primary and secondary education from pre-school prior to the first
year or grade through secondary graduation. One of the following three patterns usually
prevails in the community:
• Elementary school (K-5), middle school (6-8), high school (9-12);
• Elementary school (K-6), junior high school (7-9), senior high school (9-12); or
• Elementary school (K-8), high school (9-12).
Ø     The majority of U.S. children begin their educations prior to entering regular school.
Parents who send their children to pre-schools/nursery schools (age 2-4) and
kindergartens (age 5-6) have to finance these institutions privately. Children learn the
alphabet, colors, and other elementary basics.
Ø     U.S. children enter formal schooling around age 6. The first pattern is the most common
one. Elementary students are typically in one classroom with the same teacher most of
the day.
Ø     After elementary school, students proceed to middle school, where they usually move
from class to class each period, with a new teacher and a new mixture of students in
every class. Students can select from a wide range of  academic classes and elective
classes.
Ø     In high school, students in their first year are called freshman, in their second year
sophomore, in their third year junior, and in their last and fourth year senior.
There is an even greater variety of subjects than before. Students must earn a certain number
of  credits (which they get for a successfully completed course) in order to graduate and be
awarded with a High School Diploma – there is no final examination like in many other
countries.
High/Secondary School.Upon completion of five grades of education in primary school,
students will enter high/secondary school. The tenure of secondary school will be about 6 to 7
years, by which students will be completing their 12 grades. After completion of their
secondary education, successful students will be obtaining a high school diploma which
gives eligibility to get admission in any college or university. International students applying
for graduation in U.S should have an equivalent grade of this diploma.
Undergraduate SchoolAfter achieving high school diploma, students will join colleges or
universities to pursue their undergraduate course of study. They offer two types of degrees:
 Associate Degree: This is a two-year program offered, as the name suggests, as an
‘Associate degree, which is of two years duration. The program is mostly offered by
Community, Vocational and Junior Colleges. Completion of this program enables the
students to seek a transfer into the third year of the four-year Bachelor’s degree either in 4-
year colleges or universities. Taking this route to study the first two years is very inexpensive
for both American and International students, since the tuition and fees are very low when
compared to other types of colleges.
Most colleges require good score in TOEFL (for establishing English proficiency) and
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Reasoning scores for admission in their Associate Degree
programs. In some colleges, admission is also possible with just a TOEFL score and good
academics in 12th class. Note: For some top universities (like in Mathematics, Languages,
Biology etc.), a good score in the relevant SAT Subject Test is required in addition to the
SAT Reasoning Test score.
Bachelors Degree: This is a four-year program at the undergraduate level. Most
international students from wealthy countries such as Japan and China prefer to start their
education in USA from this level. This is the first degree with which most students plan their
career or profession. Hundreds of ‘majors’ (or specializations) in all the fields are offered at
the Bachelor’s level, which makes education an attractive proposition for students all over the
world.
Professional School. For professional programs like Law, Medicine, Pharmacy,
Physiotherapy etc., US universities offer professional programs leading to degrees such as
MD (for Medicine), Pharm D (for Pharmacy) Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT – for
Physiotherapy) etc. These are known as the first professional degrees, completion of which
entitles the students to practice as professionals in their respective fields (after meeting other
requirements). Admission into most of these professional programs are based on good
performance in entrance tests such as MCAT (for Medicine), PCAT (Pharmacy), LSAT (for
Law) etc., after completion of a Bachelor’s degree in related subjects.
In near future, US universities are considering to convert the Business Administration
program into a professional degree, by offering a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration)
as the first professional degree.

Washington
СЛАЙД 2
Washington was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889.
СЛАЙД 3
Washington is one of the wealthiest as well as most socially liberal states in the country.
[13]
 The state consistently ranks among the best for life expectancy and low unemployment.
[14]
 Along with Colorado, Washington was one of the first to legalize medicinal and
recreational cannabis,[15] was among the first states to legalize same-sex marriage in 2012,
[16]
 and was one of only four U.S. states to have been providing legal abortions on
request before the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade loosened abortion laws
nationwide.[17] Similarly, Washington voters approved a 2008 referendum on legalization
of physician-assisted suicide,[18] and Washington is currently one of ten states—along with
Washington, D.C.—to have legalized the practice.[19]
СЛАЙД 4
The first European, whose appearance in this territory was recorded in the chronicles, was the
Spanish captain Bruno de Esseta, who arrived here in 1775 at the head of a squadron of two
ships. In 1778, British Captain James Cook sailed at the mouth of the Juan de Fuca Strait, but
the first straits that now separate Washington and British Columbia were explored in 1789 by
the expedition of Captain Charles Barkley. In the early 1790s, Spanish captains Manuel
Quimper and Francisco Elisa, as well as the British, George Vancouver, continued their
exploration. In 1792, Captain Robert Gray discovered the mouth of the Columbia River.

In 1819, Spain renounced its claims to the territory of the present state in favor of the United
States. Since then, the territory has become the subject of a dispute between the United States
and Great Britain. The dispute was resolved in favor of the United States on June 15, 1846,
when the Oregon Treaty was concluded.

СЛАЙД 5
In 1848, the Oregon Territory was organized on the lands ceded to the United States.

On November 25, 1852, a group of prominent settlers from Cowlitz and Puget Sound
gathered for the "Convention at Monticello" and wrote a petition to Washington calling for
the creation of a separate territory north of the Columbia River, the "Territory of Columbia."
Three months later, the US Congress passed a bill to create it. Congressman Richard Stanton
of Kentucky proposed naming the Territory after George Washington, and as a result, the
Territory of Columbia became the Territory of Washington.

After a series of territorial changes, on November 11, 1889, Washington Territory became the
42nd Washington state within the United States.

СЛАЙД 6 
In the north, the state of Washington is bordered by the Canadian province of British
Columbia, in the east - with the state of Idaho, in the south - with the state of Oregon [11]. In
the west, it is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The total area is 184 827 km² (18th
place in the USA), of which 172 587 km² are on land.

On the coast of the state is Cape Alava, the westernmost point of the Continental States.

СЛАЙД 9

There are more than 8,000 lakes in Washington, and the rivers available can stretch over
40,000 miles.
According to the EPA and the American Lung Association, Washington state has the cleanest
air of any other state in America.
Washington supplies the rest of the states with fruit abundantly. 90% of the harvest of
raspberries, 58% of apples, 47% of cherries, 42% of pears, 40% of grapes grows here.
Lollipops are prohibited.
State Nicknames: Evergreen State

Abraham Lincoln ( February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer and
statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his
assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War and succeeded
in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, bolstering the federal government, and
modernizing the U.S. economy.
Life
Abraham Lincoln was born into poverty in a backwoods cabin on February 12, 1809, was the
second child of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, near Hodgenville, Kentucky. His
father was a pioneer and a farmer, and his mother was a deeply religious woman who died
when Lincoln was young. His father’s second wife adored Lincoln and is said to have stoked
his love of learning. Lincoln was largely self-educated. He persisted as an avid reader and
retained a lifelong interest in learning. At age 21 Lincoln helps his family move to Illinois.
After working as a storekeeper, a rail-splitter, a postmaster, and a surveyor, he enlisted as a
volunteer in the Black Hawk War (1832) and was elected captain of his company. He taught
himself law and in 1836 passed the bar examination. 
Lincoln married Mary Todd and had four boys with her, only one of whom survived into
adulthood. 
Life: Early political career

Abraham Lincoln was a member of the Whig Party and later a Republican. He believed that
the government’s job was to do what a community of people could not do for themselves.
One of his greatest preoccupations as a political thinker was the issue of self-governance and
the promise and problems that could arise from it. The choice by some to allow the expansion
of slavery was one such problem and was central to the American Civil War. Although
opposed to slavery from the outset of his political career, Lincoln would not make
its abolition a mainstay of his policy until several years into the war.

From 1834 to 1840, Abraham Lincoln occupied a seat in the Illinois state legislature. He also
practiced law in Illinois during the 1830s and ’40s, and in that time he became one of the
state’s most renowned lawyers. He first entered national politics in 1847 while serving a
single term in Congress. In 1858 he made a bid for the Senate in a much-publicized race
which he ultimately lost but which transformed him into a nationally recognized political
figure. Lincoln challenged Douglas for the Senate seat in 1858, and they engaged in the series
of debates throughout Illinois in which he argued against the extension of slavery into the
territories. He ultimately lost but the campaign transformed him into a nationally recognized
political figure. In 1860 he was nominated at the Republican National Convention to be the
party’s presidential candidate, and he embarked on a presidential campaign that he would
win. With the Republicans united, the Democrats divided, and a total of four candidates in the
field, he carried the election on November 6. Although he received no votes from the Deep
South and no more than 40 out of 100 in the country as a whole, the popular votes were so
distributed that he won a clear and decisive majority in the electoral college.

American Civil War 

 The South opposed his position on slavery in the territories, and before his inauguration
seven Southern states had seceeded from the Union. The ensuing American Civil War
completely consumed Lincoln’s administration. He excelled as a wartime leader, creating a
high command for directing all the country’s energies and resources toward the war effort
and combining statecraft and overall command of the armies with what some have called
military genius. However, his abrogation of some civil liberties, especially the writ of habeas
corpus, and the closing of several newspapers by his generals disturbed both Democrats and
Republicans, including some members of his own cabinet.
Abraham Lincoln’s chief goal in the American Civil War was to preserve the Union. At the
outset of the war, he would have done so at any cost, including by allowing slavery to
continue. But abolishing slavery would become a nonnegotiable objective for him as the war
progressed because of his own long-expressed abhorrence for the practice and because of the
growing antislavery sentiment among his fellow Northerners. His intransigence on the subject
scuttled possibilities of a peace conference between the Union and the Confederacy in 1864.
By winning the war, he achieved both these objectives—reunion and abolition.
 To unite the North and influence foreign opinion, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation
(1863); his Gettysburg Address speech (1863) further ennobled the war’s purpose. The
continuing war affected some Northerners’ resolve and his reelection was not assured, but
strategic battle victories turned the tide, and he easily defeated George B. McClellan in 1864.
His platform included passage of the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery (ratified 1865). At
his second inaugural, with victory in sight, he spoke of moderation in reconstructing the
South and building a harmonious Union. On April 14, five days after the war ended, he was
shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth.
Assasination
After attending an April 11, 1865 speech in which Lincoln promoted voting rights for blacks,
Booth hatched a plot to assassinate the President. When Booth learned of the Lincolns' intent
to attend a play with General Grant, he planned to assassinate Lincoln and Grant at Ford's
Theatre. Lincoln and his wife attended the play on April 14, just five days after the Union
victory at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse. At the last minute, Grant decided to go to
New Jersey to visit his children instead of attending the play.
At 10:15 in the evening, Booth entered the back of Lincoln's theater box, crept up from
behind, and fired at the back of Lincoln's head, mortally wounding him and escaped. After
remaining in a coma for eight hours, Lincoln died at 7:22 in the morning on April
15. President Johnson was sworn in the next morning.298]
Two weeks later, Booth, refusing to surrender, was tracked to a farm in Virginia, and was
mortally shot by Sergeant Boston Corbett and died on April 26. 
Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th state on December 11, 1816. It is
bordered by Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, the
Ohio River and Kentucky to the south and southeast, and the Wabash River and Illinois to the
west.

3
The flag of Indiana was designed by Paul Hadley and officially adopted by the state of
Indiana on May 11, 1917. It was the state's first official flag and has remained unchanged
since then except for the creation of a statute to standardize the production of the flag.
The flag consists of a gold torch that represents liberty and enlightenment; the rays around
the torch represent their far-reaching influence. The nineteen stars represent Indiana's place as
the nineteenth state to join the United States. The thirteen stars in the outer loop symbolize
the original Thirteen Colonies, the five inner stars represent the next five states added to the
Union, and the one large star above the torch represents Indiana.

4
Between 1754 and 1763, the French and English fought for control of the region in the
French and Indian War. The English were victorious and won the land. Later these lands
would become known as the Indiana Territory.
At the end of the American Revolution, in 1783, Britain ceded Indiana to the United States,
and in 1816 Indiana became the 19th state. During the Civil War (1861-1865) the state fought
in favor of the Union.

5
Hoosiers are predominantly white, native-born Americans of native-born parents, most of
whom trace their ancestry ultimately to Germany, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Significant
concentrations of ethnic minorities, however, are found in the larger metropolitan areas.
Roman Catholics, who make up a sizable percentage of the population of southeastern and
northern Indiana, are concentrated largely in the urban areas with large continental European
and Irish ethnic groups, particularly South Bend.
In Indiana State (IN), English is the official language. The native language speak at home are
91.6% speak English, 4.7% Spanish, 2% are European languages, 1.3% are Asian languages.
6
Indiana has been the largest steel producing state in the U.S. since 1975, with the Calumet
region of northwest Indiana being the largest single steel producing area in the U.S.,
accounting for 27% of all U.S. steel production. Indiana is also the 2nd largest auto
manufacturing state. Indiana's other manufactures include pharmaceuticals and medical
devices, automobiles, electrical equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products,
rubber, petroleum and coal products, and factory machinery.
Businesses in Indiana employed a total of 24.2 million in 2018, with average annual
employment growth of 2.6%. The top three employment sectors include Health care and
social assistance, Retail trade and Professional, scientific, and technical services while the
unemployment rate across the state in March 2020 was 5.3%.

7
Indiana's fifty State Senators are elected for four-year terms and one hundred State
Representatives for two-year terms. In odd-numbered years, the General Assembly meets in a
sixty-one day session. In even-numbered years, the Assembly meets for thirty session days.
The judicial branch consists of the Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and local circuit
courts. On the national level, Indiana is represented in Congress by two Senators and nine
Representatives.

8
Along with forestry and fisheries, agriculture employs just a tiny segment of the labour force
and generates a similarly small portion of the state’s gross product.
Tomatoes are the principal vegetable crop, but watermelons are important in the lower
Wabash valley. The state also is one of the leading producers of hogs and dairy products.
Other important livestock includes turkeys, ducks, and sheep.

Indiana is a major producer of building stone, quarried around Bedford and Bloomington in
the southwest-central part of the state. Although bituminous coal from the southwest is a
significant source of energy for the generation of electricity, supplies are able to meet only
about half of the state’s demand. To fulfill the remaining need, coal is imported from other
states. Natural gas, brought in by pipelines, emerged as an important secondary source of
energy in the early 21st century, though during the 1880s Indiana’s “Gas Belt,” stretching
from east-central Indiana south to the Ohio River, was the world’s largest producing field.

9
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum. Its
collection of over 120,000 artifacts and exhibit items is divided into three domains: the
American Collection, the Cultural World Collection, and the Natural World Collection.
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is an encyclopedic art museum located at Newfields,
a 152-acre (62 ha) campus that also houses Lilly House, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art &
Nature Park: 100 Acres, the Gardens at Newfields, the Beer Garden, and more.
Indiana Dunes National Park is a United States national park located in northwestern Indiana
managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana
Dunes National Lakeshore. The park runs for about 20 miles (32 km) along the southern
shore of Lake Michigan.

The U.S. State of Massachusetts

 Massachusetts in outline
1. NAME: The state takes its name from the Massachuset tribe of Native Americans.
The name has been translated as “at the Great Hill,” “great mountain place,” or “large
hill place”.
2. CAPITAL: Boston, established in 1630, has been the capital of Massachusetts since
its founding. Also, it is the largest city in New England.
3. POPULATION: At the 2020, Massachusetts had a population of over 7 million, in
most cases due to a relatively high quality of life and a large higher education system
in the state.
4. REGION: Massachusetts is the 7th-smallest state in the U.S. It is located in the New
England region of the Northeastern United States and has an area of 10,555 square
miles (27,340 square km), almost 26% of which is water.
5. STATE NICKNAME(S): the Bay State (official), The Pilgrim State; The Puritan
State, The Old Colony State, The Baked Bean State. The state’s nickname the Bay
State may originate from its many bays or it might refer to the Massachusetts Bay
Company, which was given a royal charter to colonize the land.
6. MOTTO: By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty. The motto
was written about 1659, and is attributed to English patriot Algernon Sydney.
7.  STATE BIRD: Black-Capped Chickadee
8.  STATE FLOWER: Mayflower
HISTORY IN A NUTSHELL: People started living in what’s now called Massachusetts
about 12,000 years ago. And thousands of years later Native American tribes including the
Wampanoag (Вампаног), Mohegan (Моухіган), and Mohican (Моухікен) lived on the land.
In 1620 a ship called the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod carrying settlers called Pilgrims.
These people were escaping religious persecution in England and created the first permanent
European settlement in New England, called Plymouth (Плімоус). Massasoit ratified the first
New England treaty between Europeans and Native Americans in December of 1620.
In 1629, a royal charter was granted to the Massachusetts Bay Company to promote the
settlement of the territory and to govern the colonies. Various forms of increasingly
repressive British rule culminated in the first battle of the American Revolution on April 19,
1775, at Lexington and Concord.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the sixth state to join the new independent
union in 1788. It was the first state to write and adopt a constitution (1780), which served as a
model for the U.S. Constitution. The Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest still in use in
the world.
GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS: Massachusetts is a New England state bordered by
New Hampshire and Vermont in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, Rhode Island and
Connecticut in the south, and New York in the west.
What looks like a big hook in Massachusetts’ eastern coastline is actually land created by
glaciers that exposed many rocky bays. Called the Coastal Lowland, this hilly, wet area
includes Cape Cod Bay, Martha’s Vineyard, and the Nantucket Islands, all great for fishing,
boating, and vacationing.
The center of the state has streams and plains with gentle hills. Toward the west, the land
rises into mountains. It includes a popular spot for fall-leaf watching called the Berkshires, as
well as Massachusetts’ highest point, Mount Greylock. In the far west are the Taconic
Mountains.
CLIMATE: Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold, snowy winters and
warm summers, with cooler temperatures in the Berkshires year round, and warmer
temperatures along the coast. 
In general, temperatures in the state reach average highs of 82°F (27°C) in summer, between
June and August, and average lows of 16°F (-8°C) in winter, between December and
February. Winter snowfall in and around Boston is considerable, with higher levels in the
Berkshire Hills.
And if you want to visit Massachusetts, so the best time is from May in late spring to mid-
autumn in October.
WILDLIFE: Mammals such as black bears, bobcats, eastern coyotes, moose, and white-
tailed deer roam around Massachusetts. Bald eagles, wild turkeys, northern cardinals, blue
jays, mourning doves, and American robins fly through the state, and snapping turtles,
eastern ribbonsnakes, and five-lined skinks are among Massachusetts’ reptiles. 
Sugar maples, eastern white pines, sycamores, and American elms grow in the state’s forests,
which is the state tree. 
ECONOMY: The economy of Massachusetts today is based largely on technological
research and development and the service sector (including tourism). This represents a major
shift from the state’s preindustrial agricultural basis and maritime trade in the 17th and 18th
centuries and the heavy manufacturing that characterized the 19th century and the first half of
the 20th.
Agriculture
In terms of revenue generated Massachusetts' top five agricultural products are greenhouse
and nursery products, cranberries, dairy products, sweet corn, and apples.
Livestock

 Dairy products account for about 12% of Massachusetts' livestock products income.
 Cattle and calves, aquaculture, chicken eggs, and turkeys are also important to the
state.

Crops
 Greenhouse and nursery products (flowers, ornamental shrubs) are the primary source
of farm income in Massachusetts. These products generate 35% of the state's total
agricultural revenue.
 Cranberries rank second among the other crop products of the state. Massachusetts
produces more than 25% of the cranberries grown in the nation.
 Other important crops are sweet corn and apples.
 Hay is the major field crop grown in the state.
Fishing
  Massachusetts is one of the leading commercial fishing states. New Bedford accounts
for about half the scallops produced in the nation.
 Massachusetts' commercial fishing industry delivers a broad range of product
including cod, flounder, haddock, lobster, ocean perch, whiting, clams, crabs, hake,
herring, pollock, squid, swordfish and tuna.
Mining
 Production of sand and gravel (concrete, roadbeds) and crushed stone (asphalt
pavement, road surfaces) is responsible for most of the state's mining income.
 Clays and granite are also mined in Massachusetts.

Manufacturing
 Manufacturers add value to raw products by creating manufactured items. For
example, cotton cloth becomes more valuable than a boll of cotton through
manufacturing processes.
 Computer and electronic products are the state's leading manufactured products.
Manufacture of communication equipment (broadcasting devices, military
communications systems, telephone equipment) is also important. Automation control
devices, oscilloscopes and other instruments are also produced in the state.
 Fabricated metal products (ammunition, guns, hand tools, knives, stampings, valves)
rank second in the manufacturing sector followed by chemicals (pharmaceuticals,
cleaning products, photographic materials).
Services
 Community, business and personal services (private health care, private schools, law
firms, computer programming and network services, engineering companies) is the
most important service sector in Massachusetts. The state is one of the world's
important medical research centers and private universities and colleges are major
employers.
 Finance, insurance and real estate ranks second. Boston, home of a stock
exchange The Boston Stock Exchange, and many large insurance and holding
companies, ranks among the country's major financial centers.
 Wholesale (automobiles, groceries, petroleum) and retail (automobile dealerships,
food stores, gas stations ) trade ranks third among the state's service industries.
POPULATION COMPOSITION: 
In terms of race and ethnicity, Massachusetts was
 White: 78.07% 
 Black or African American: 7.63%
 Asian: 6.82%
 Other races: 4.18%
 Native American: 0.22%
The largest ancestry groups in Massachusetts are the Irish (22.5% of the population). Then
we have Italians, the second-largest ethnic group in the state (13.5%). English Americans, the
third-largest (11.4%) group, form a plurality in some western towns. French and French
Canadians also form a significant part (10.7%) with sizable populations in Bristol, and
Hampden.
Languages: The most common varieties of American English spoken in Massachusetts, other
than General American, are western Massachusetts dialect and eastern Massachusetts dialect
(popularly known as a "Boston accent").
As of 2010, 78.93% of Massachusetts residents 5 and older spoke English at home as a first
language, while 
 7.50% spoke Spanish, 
 2.97% Portuguese, 
 1.59% Chinese, 
 1.11% French
Religion: Today, Christians make up 57% of the state's population, with Protestants making
up 21% of them. Roman Catholics make up 34%, and Jews currently make up 3% of the
population. And 32% of the population identifies as having no religion.
GOVERNMENT: 
The Government of Massachusetts is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and
judicial.
The executive branch consists of one Governor and Lieutenant Governor, four
Constitutional Officers. The executive branch also includes eight the Executive Councils and
ten Cabinets.
The legislative branch consists of Massachusetts General Court, the upper house is the
Massachusetts Senate which is composed of 40 members. The lower body, the Massachusetts
House of Representatives, has 160 members.
The judicial branch includes Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court which consists of 7
judges.
EDUCATION: In 2018, Massachusetts's overall educational system was ranked the top
among all fifty U.S. states by U.S. News & World Report. Massachusetts is home to 121
institutions of higher education. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, both located in Cambridge, consistently rank among the world's best private
universities and universities in general. 
In addition to Harvard and MIT, several other Massachusetts universities currently rank in the
top 50 at the undergraduate level nationally in the widely cited rankings of U.S. News and
World Report: Tufts University (#27), Boston College (#32), Brandeis University (#34),
Boston University (#37) and Northeastern University (#40). Massachusetts is also home to
three of the top five U.S. News and World Report's best Liberal Arts Colleges: Williams
College (#1), Amherst College (#2), and Wellesley College (#4). 
Now let move on to some facts:
 Not only has Massachusetts played an important part in U.S. history, but it’s also
played an important part in the history of sports! Basketball was invented in
Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 by a man named James Naismith. And just four
years later, was invented volleyball by William G. Morgan.
 Massachusetts is home to Webster Lake, but that’s not its real name. Officially, the
lake is called Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.
The name is a loose translation of an Algonquian word that means “English knifemen
and Nipmuck Indians at the boundary or neutral fishing place.”

 Boston built the first subway system in the United States in 1897.
 The very first chocolate factory in the USA was in Boston
 On March 10, 1876, it was here in Boston that the first telephone call was made when
Alexander Graham Bell summoned his lab assistant, Thomas A. Watson.
  Massachusetts and Missouri were the first states to require a driver’s license in 1903.

Questions:
1. Name nicknames of MA (the Bay State, The Pilgrim State; The Puritan State, The Old
Colony State, The Baked Bean State)\
2. Massachusetts produces more than 25% of what? (the cranberries)
3. Name at least 3 Universities or College of MA (Harvard University, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Boston College, Brandeis University, Boston
University and Northeastern University)

ALASKA
Alaska is a U.S. state at the northwest extremity of North America. It is by far
the largest U.S. state by area. It represents the seventh largest subnational division in the
world. It is the third-least populous and the most sparsely populated state. Approximately half
of Alaska's residents live within the Anchorage metropolitan area. The state capital
of Juneau is the second-largest city in the United States by area. The former capital of
Alaska, Sitka, is the largest U.S. city by area.

FAST FACTS
 Nickname: The Last Frontier 
 Motto: North to the Future
 Statehood: 1959; 49th state
 Population (as of July 2015): 738,432 
 Capital: Juneau 
 Biggest City: Anchorage
 Abbreviation: AK
 State bird: willow ptarmigan
 State flower: forget-me-not
ETYMOLOGY
The name "Alaska" was introduced in the Russian colonial period when it was used to refer
to the Alaska Peninsula. It was derived from an Aleut-language idiom, which figuratively
refers to the mainland or great land. Literally, it means object to which the action of the sea is
directed.

HISTORY
Alaska was occupied by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival
of Europeans. The first people probably came to what is now Alaska about 13,000 years ago.
They either walked from what is now Russia, which was connected to Alaska by a patch of
land up to 600 miles wide called the Bering Land Bridge, or they sailed.
The Russians were the first Europeans to settle the area beginning in the 18th century,
eventually establishing Russian America, which spanned most of the current state. The
expense and difficulty of maintaining this distant possession prompted its sale to the U.S. in
1867 for US$7.2 million (equivalent to $133 million in 2020). Many thought the harsh habitat
was a bad buy until gold was struck in 1872. The area went through several administrative
changes before becoming organized as a territory on May 11, 1912. It was admitted as the
49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959.
Indigenous people including the Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Aleuts, Athabascans, and Yup'ik still
live here.
GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS
It borders the Canadian province of British Columbia and the territory of Yukon to the east
and has a maritime border with Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Okrug to the west. To the
north are the Chukchi and Beaufort seas of the Arctic Ocean, while the Pacific Ocean lies to
the south and southwest.
At 663,268 square miles (1,717,856 km2) in area, Alaska is by far the largest state in the
United States, and is more than twice the size of the second-largest U.S. state, Texas. 
There are no officially defined borders demarcating the various regions of Alaska, but there
are six widely accepted regions: South Central, Southeast, Interior, Southwest, Arctic,
Western.
Alaska deserves its reputation for being cold. Much of the state is covered in a layer of
permafrost—permanently frozen soil—and it’s home to the largest glacier in North America.
Called the Bering Glacier, it’s 2,250 square miles. The northern and western coasts are tundra
landscapes: flat and treeless with whipping winds. 
The taiga forest in the center of the state is filled with evergreen trees, lakes, and meadows.
Along the southeast coast, you’ll even find rain forests. What is more, Alaska has over 40
active volcanoes.

CLIMATE
The climate of the interior of Alaska is subarctic. Some of the highest and lowest
temperatures in Alaska occur around the area near Fairbanks. The summers may have
temperatures reaching into 30s °C, while in the winter, the temperature can fall below
−51 °C.
The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Alaska are both in the Interior. The highest
is 38 °C in Fort Yukon (which is just 13 km inside the arctic circle) on June 27, 1915. The
lowest official Alaska temperature is −62 °C in Prospect Creek on January 23, 1971. 
The climate in the extreme north of Alaska is Arctic with long, very cold winters and short,
cool summers. Even in July, the average low temperature here is 1 °C. 

ECONOMY
While it has one of the smallest state economies in the country, Alaska's per capita income is
among the highest, owing to a diversified economy dominated by fishing, natural gas, and oil.
United States armed forces bases and tourism are also a significant part of the economy; more
than half the state is federally owned public land, including a multitude of national
forests, national parks, and wildlife refuges.

WILDLIFE
Off the north and west coasts of Alaska you might spot polar bears, beluga whales,
and walruses. More big mammals include black bears, moose, Dall sheep, musk
oxen, caribou, and the world’s largest brown bear, the Kodiak. Alaska is also home
to birds such as albatross, eagles, and loons.
You can see trees including hemlock, pine, cedar, and Sitka spruce, Alaska’s state tree. The
state flower is the forget-me-not, which gives off its scent only at night.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Alaska’s biggest export is the mineral zinc, but gold is its most famous export. Alaska is also
known for lumber, fish—especially salmon—coal, and jade, the state gem.
INTERESTING FACTS
1. There are 20 highest mountain peaks in the United States. 17 of them are in Alaska. 
2. There are more than 3,000 rivers and 3,000,000 lakes in Alaska.
3. The Northern Lights can be seen in Fairbanks 243 days a year.
4. Juneau has no road access to the rest of the state. It is the only capital city in the United
States accessible only by boat or plane.
5. In Alaska, there is approximately 1 bear to every 21 people.
6. It is illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they are moose hunting in Alaska.

Oregon

Western region of the USA

Covers 96,000 square miles, with an estimated population of 4,200,000 people – 680,000
living in rural Oregon
Abbreviation: OR
Motto: She Flies With Her Own Wings

History:
-Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805
• August 14, 1848 - Oregon Territory (Oregon, Idaho, Washington)
• February 14th, 1859 - official State
Curious facts
• State animal: Beaver
• Nickname: the Beaver State
• One of the only state in the USA that sales products without counting taxes
• No one knows exactly how Oregon got its name. Some believe the name is derived from the
French word for hurricane (ouregan), others from the Spanish orejon, meaning "big ears."
• The 9th largest state in the USA
Crater Lake — the deepest lake in the United States

Major industries

• The main industry in Oregon is timber since about one-half of the state is forested. Oregon
supplies over 10% of the lumber in the United States.
• The fishing industry is another big part of the state's economy. Salmon fishing, traditional to
Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest (particularly the Chinook) still remains an Oregon
industry.
• Oregon's diverse sceneries provide ideal terrains for numerous types of farming and
agriculture.
• Tourism is one of the leading industries in this state, which is centered on Oregon's natural
features, including lakes, beaches, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, forests and deserts.

Oregon’s State Capital

Salem
• Population: 170,000
• Third largest city of Oregon
• Hub of state government and farming communities
• one of the largest food-processing centers in the United States
• one of Oregon’s oldest cities.
• 1851 — became capital

Many Simpson characters are named after streets in Portland

Matt Groening Born in Portland and grew up in there on a street called Evergreen Terrace

• Oregon is one of the most expensive states to live in. In fact, as of 2021, Oregon was ranked
the 5th most expensive state to live in, with a cost of living 31.43% higher than the national
average.
• Somewhat compensating for the high cost of living in Oregon is the higher salary range.
The average salary in Oregon is $75,000, which is roughly $10,000 higher than the national
average
• Oregon also has one of the highest state income taxes. Ranging from 5% to 9.9%, it is the
third highest in the country.
• Oregon has one of the highest populations of people who identify as nonreligious.
• 32% of the people in Oregon are religiously unaffiliated
• Of the Oregon residents who do identify as religiously-affiliated, the largest denomination
is Roman Catholicism, which makes up approximately 14% of the state's overall population.

Native americans:
are the Indigenous peoples of the United States; sometimes
including Hawaii and territories of the United States, and other times limited to the mainland.
There are 574 federally recognized tribes living within the US, about half of which are
associated with Indian reservations. "Native Americans" (as defined by the United States
Census) are Indigenous tribes that are originally from the contiguous United States, along
with Alaska Natives.

Pre-Columbian Times
The ancestors of living Native Americans arrived in what is now the United States at least
15,000 years ago, possibly much earlier, from Asia via Beringia. A vast variety of peoples,
societies and cultures subsequently developed.

Population distribution
78% of Native Americans live outside a reservation. Full-blood individuals are more likely to
live on a reservation than mixed-blood individuals. The Navajo, with 286,000 full-blood
individuals, is the largest tribe if only full-blood individuals are counted; the Navajo are the
tribe with the highest proportion of full-blood individuals, 86.3%. 

Famous tribes:
Apache, the Sioux, the Cherokee,  Cheyenne, Blackfeet, the Arapaho, and the Navajos.
Bad River Band of the Lake Supperior, Tribe of Chippewa Bannock, Barona Band of Mission
Indians, Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Mission, Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians Caddo,
Lake Winnebigoshish Chippewa. Lake Superior Chippewa Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute, Lipan

American revolution:
During the American Revolution, the newly proclaimed United States competed with the
British for the allegiance of Native American nations east of the Mississippi River. Most
Native Americans who joined the struggle sided with the British, based both on their
trading relationships and hopes that colonial defeat would result in a halt to further colonial
expansion onto Native American land.
In 1779 the Sullivan Expedition was carried out during the American Revolutionary War
against the British and the four allied nations of the Iroquois. George Washington gave
orders that made it clear he wanted the Iroquois threat completely eliminated:

he Expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of
the Six Nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. The immediate objects are
the total destruction and devastation of their settlements, and the capture of as many
 prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the
ground and prevent their planting more.

The British made peace with the Americans in the Treaty of Paris (1783), through which they
ceded vast Native American territories to the United States without informing or consulting
with the Native Americans.
 
19 century:
The population of California Indians was reduced by 90% during the 19th century—from
more than 250,000 to 200,000 in the early 19th century to approximately 15,000 at the end
of the century, mostly due to disease. Epidemics swept through California Indian Country,
such as the 1833 malaria epidemic. The population went into decline as a result of the
Spanish authorities forcing Native Californians to live in the missions where they
contracted diseases from which they had little immunity. Cook estimates that 15,250 or
45% of the population decrease in the Missions was caused by disease. Two epidemics of
measles, one in 1806 and the other in 1828, caused many deaths. The mortality rates were
so high that the missions were constantly dependent upon new conversions. During the
California Gold Rush, many natives were killed by incoming settlers as well as by militia
units financed and organized by the California government. Some scholars contend that the
state financing of these militias, as well as the US government's role in other massacres in
California, such as the Bloody Island and Yontoket Massacres, in which up to 400 or more
natives were killed in each massacre, constitutes a campaign of genocide against the native
people of California.
In the 1830s, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, a policy of
relocating Indians from their homelands to Indian Territory and reservations in
surrounding areas to open their lands for non-native settlements. This resulted in the Trail
of Tears.

Religion:
Native American religious practices, beliefs, and philosophies differ widely across tribes.
These spiritualities, practices, beliefs, and philosophies may accompany adherence to
another faith or can represent a person's primary religious, faith, spiritual or philosophical
identity. Much Native American spirituality exists in a tribal-cultural continuum, and as
such cannot be easily separated from tribal identity itself.
Cultural spiritual, philosophical, and faith ways differ from tribe to tribe and person to
person. Some tribes include the use of sacred leaves and herbs such as
tobacco, sweetgrass or sage. Many Plains tribes have sweatlodge ceremonies, though the
specifics of the ceremony vary among tribes. Fasting, singing and prayer in the ancient
languages of their people, and sometimes drumming are also
common.
Another significant religious body among Native peoples is known as the Native American
Church. It is a syncretistic church incorporating elements of Native spiritual practice from a
number of different tribes as well as symbolic elements from Christianity. Its main rite is
the peyote ceremony. Prior to 1890, traditional religious beliefs included Wakan Tanka. In
the American Southwest, especially New Mexico, a syncretism between
the Catholicism brought by Spanish missionaries and the native religion is common; the
religious drums, chants, and dances of the Pueblo people are regularly part of Masses at Santa
Fe's Saint Francis Cathedral.
 Historical trauma:
Historical trauma is described as collective emotional and psychological damage throughout
a person's lifetime and across multiple generations.Examples of historical trauma can be seen
through the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, where over 200 unarmed Lakota were killed,
and the Dawes Allotment Act of 1887, when American Indians lost four-fifths of their land.

Religion in the US:

Slide 2
Introduction. Among developed countries, the United States is one of the most religious.
Since the early colonial days, when English and German settlers came in search of religious
freedom, America has been heavily influenced by religion. That influence continues even
today in American culture, social life, and politics. In the U.S., religion is viewed as a matter
of personal choice and freedom to practice religion is guaranteed by the United States
Constitution.
Slide 3
The U.S. has been the birthplace of a number of new sects in the Christian, Jewish, Islamic,
and other religions. Today the U.S. population remains highly religious in its beliefs and
practices, and religion continues to play a prominent role in American public life.
Slide 4
• There is a great diversity of religious affiliation in the U.S.:
- Christianity
- Judaism 
- Islam
- Buddhism
- Hinduism 
- Baha'i 
- Sikhism 
- Other
Slide 5
Christianity, with over 2 billion followers, is the most popular religion in the world. 78% of
adults in the U.S. identify themselves as Christian. In the U.S., Christians are divided into
three groups: Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox. One of the most important concepts in
Christianity is that of Jesus giving his life on the Cross (the Crucifixion) and rising from the
dead on the third day (the Resurrection). Christians worship in churches. Spiritual leaders are
called priests or ministers. The Christian holy book is the Bible, and consists of the Old and
New Testaments. Christian holy days such as Easter and Christmas are important milestones
in the Western secular calendar.
Slide 6
In 2007, there were 13.1 million Jewish people in the world. 40.3% of the world's Jews live
in the U.S. Jews believe that there is only one God with whom they have a covenant. Judaism
has a rich history of religious text, but the central and most important religious document is
the Torah. Jewish traditional or oral law, the interpretation of the laws of the Torah, is called
halakhah. Spiritual leaders are called Rabbis. Jews worship in Synagogues.
Slide 7
0.7% of the U.S. population identify themselves as Buddhist. Buddhists believe that nothing
is fixed or permanent - change is always possible. Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual
development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. Buddhism
teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important. Buddhists can
worship both at home or at a temple.
Slide 8
    0.6% of the U.S. population identify themselves as Muslim. One of the defining
characteristics of Islam is the primacy of sacred places including Mecca, Medina, and
Jerusalem. According to Muslims, God sent a number of prophets to mankind to teach them
how to live according to His law. - Jesus, Moses and Abraham are respected as prophets of
God. - They believe that the final Prophet was Muhammad. Muslims base their laws on their
holy book the Qur'an, and the Sunnah. Muslims believe the Sunnah is the practical example
of Prophet Muhammad and that there are five basic Pillars of Islam. - These pillars are the
declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting and a
pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once).
Slide 9
0.4% of the U.S. population identify themselves as Hindu. More than 80% of Hindus in the
U.S. are foreign-born. Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are
represented by the multitude of deities which emanate from him, The basis of Hinduism is the
belief in the unity of everything, called Brahman. The purpose of life is to realize that we are
part of God and by doing so we can leave this plane of existence and rejoin with God. This
enlightenment can only be achieved by going through cycles of birth, life and death known as
samsara. The main Hindu texts are the Vedas and their supplements (books based on the
Vedas).
Slide 10
The United States has perhaps the second largest Baha’i community in the world. Baha'i
followers believe that God has sent nine great prophets to mankind through whom the Holy
Spirit has revealed the "Word of God“. The central idea of the faith is that of unity. They
believe that people should work together for the common benefit of humanity. Baha'is
believe that every person has an immortal soul which can not die but is freed to travel
through the spirit world after death.
Slide 11
Between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Sikhs live in the United States. Sikhism is a monotheistic
religion, and Sikhs believe in a single formless God with many names, who can be known
through meditation. The most important thing in Sikhism is the internal religious state of the
individual. Sikhism stresses the importance of doing good actions rather than merely carrying
out rituals. The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara. Sikhs pray many times each day
and are prohibited from worshipping idols or icons. They believe in samsara, karma, and
reincarnation. They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes of God.
Slide 12
16.1% of American adults are not currently affiliated with any particular religious group.
 • Atheist 1.6%
 •Agnostic 2.4
 •Nothing in particular 12.1%
Slide 13
• All spiritual beliefs are protected in the United States. Not only does it provide freedom for
Americans to choose how they want to worship, but it also prevents any religious group from
violating the law or infringing on the liberty of others.
• The modern legal concept of religious freedom as the union of freedom of belief and
freedom of worship with the absence of any state-sponsored religion, originated in the U.S.
Pearl Harbour

Слайд 2
Much of the harbor and surrounding lands are now a United States Navy
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy) deep-water naval base. It is also the
headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Pacific_Fleet). 
Слайд 3
Just looks like a looks like a regular military base, nothing special.
Слайд 5
Here we can see that sailors see off Japanese fighters taking off from an aircraft carrier to
attack Pearl Harbor
Слайд 7
It was also assumed that 5 ultra-small submarines would enter the bay and attack the
battleships with torpedoes the night before the aircraft strike.  Three other groups of
submarines, circling around the island of Oahu, will clarify the location, number and nature
of the enemy forces and destroy its ships that will be saved during the raid.
Слайд 9
Here we can see that the United States Ship Arizona exploded as a bomb ignited its forward
amunition magazine. About half of the total number of Americans killed that day were on this
ship.
Слайд 10 
The next is a photo of Pearl Harbor after the attack, captured by Japanese pilot.
Слайд 11
Here is another picture of the Ship Arizona sinking.
Слайд 12
Here motor boat rescues surviving sailors on the burning American battleship West Virginia. 
Слайд 13
in the photo above we see that civilians were also among the dead on that day.  the right
photo shows a dead sailor who was thrown ashore after the attack, and the last, well, the
scariest photo shows an American sailor staring at the burnt body of Japanese pilot who was
pulled from the bottom of Pearl Harbor.
Слайд 14
In relation to that damage, the losses of the Japanese were minimal.  Only 29 planes did not
return: 15 divers, 5 torpedo boats and 9 accompanying fighters. The ultra-small submarines
did not succeed, and none of them returned.
the victory of the Japanese could be even greater.  However, they failed to damage the enemy
aircraft carriers.  All 4 American aircraft carriers were absent in Pearl Harbor.  During the
operation, the Japanese tried to destroy the huge American oil reserves in Hawaii, which were
in fact almost equal to all Japanese reserves.
Слайд 15
Well, as I have mentioned before, About half of the total number of Americans killed that day
were on the ship “Arizona” and a memorial was built on the site of the sunken ship, along
with the dead, who are forever buried in this ship. By the way, there is a tradition according
to which every US president should visit this memorial at least once.
Слайд 16
And Луі Контер, survivor of the bombing of the battleship Arizona, at the memorial in Pearl
Harbor, this photo was taken in 2014
Слайд 18
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, the destroyer USS Ward attacked and sank a
Japanese submarine near the entrance to the harbor, making it not only the first shot fired on
that day, but the first official American shots in the War.
A wonderful USS Arizona fact that honors the survivors is that they have the option to join
their lost comrades and make ship their final resting place. Crew members who served
onboard the USS Arizona during the attack may choose to have their ashes deposited by
divers beneath one of sunken Arizona’s gun turrets. Roughly 44 Arizona survivors have
chosen this option. Other military survivors can choose to have their ashes scattered wherever
their ship was located during the attacks. The last person to be interred in the ship was in
2019.
The day before the attacks, the USS Arizona took on a full load of fuel, nearly 1.5 million
gallons. Much of that fuel helped ignite the explosion and subsequent fires that destroyed the
ships, but amazingly, some fuel continues to seep out of the wreckage, and people call this
phenomenon “tears of the Arizona” or “black ters”.


Kentucky:

Geography:
South East of the USA
 Bordered by 7 states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio (to the North), West Virginia and Virginia
(to the East), Tennessee (to the South), Missouri (to the West) 
 Capital: Frankfort (25k)
 Largest City: Louisville (783,000)
 Total area: 42,069 sq mi (104,656 sq km) (37th place)
 Population: 4.5 million (as of 2020)
 Nickname: Bluegrass State


History:
1st permanent European settlement in 1774 by James Harrod (modern Harrodsburg)
 Initially neutral in the Civil War
 Admitted into the Union on June 1, 1792
 15th state in the Union
 Isaac Shelby was the 1st Governor
 19th century – the state with most slave owners
 Louisville – major slave market

Economics:
Major centre of the tobacco industry (2nd after Virginia) 
 Farming (5th in goating farming, 8th in beef cattle production)
 95% of bourbon whiskey (worldwide)
 Coal producer
 Non-agricultural industries (automobile – 4th among the US states)

Tourism:
Mammoth Cave National Park – the longest system in the world
 Horse racing (the Kentucky Derby, the Kneeland Fall)
 Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
 National Corvette Museum


Religion:
48% not affiliated with any religion (>2.1 million)
 42% – Protestants (>1.8 million; include different denominations)
 8.3% – Catholics (>350k)
 0.74% – the Latter-day saints (30k) (Mormons)
 0.6% – others (>26k)
Facts:

Abraham Lincoln – 16th president – was born here

 Motto: “United we stand, divided we fall”
 Largest Toyota manufacturing plant in the world
 Mohamed Ali was born here
  Half of the state is covered in forests
 Fort Nox (The United States Bullion Depository); also military base
1.

9/11
The September 11 attacks, also commonly referred to as 9/11, were a series of four
coordinated terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda against
the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. On that morning,
four commercial airliners traveling from the northeastern U.S. to California were
hijacked mid-flight by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. The hijackers were organized into three
groups of five hijackers and one group of four. Each group had one hijacker who had
received flight training and took over control of the aircraft. Their explicit goal was to
crash each plane into a prominent American building, causing mass casualties and
partial or complete destruction of the targeted buildings. Two of the planes hit the
Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and a third hit the west side of the Pentagon.
A fourth plane was intended to crash into a target in Washington, D.C., but instead
crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania following a passenger revolt.

2. Bin Laden orchestrated the attacks. 

Shortly before the U.S. presidential election in 2004, bin Laden used a taped statement to
publicly acknowledge al-Qaeda's involvement in the attacks on the United States. He
admitted his direct link to the attacks and said they were carried out because ...
we are free ... and want to regain freedom for our nation. As you undermine our security, we
undermine yours.
Bin Laden said he had personally directed his followers to attack the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon. The U.S. never formally indicted bin Laden for the 9/11 attacks, but he was on
the FBI's Most Wanted List for the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. After a 10-year manhunt, U.S. President Barack Obama
announced that bin Laden was killed by American Special Forces in his compound in
Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 1, 2011.
Osama bin Laden's declaration of a holy war against the United States, and a 1998 fatwā
signed by bin Laden and others, calling for the killing of Americans, are seen by investigators
as evidence of his motivation.

3.  In bin Laden's November 2002 "Letter to America", he explicitly stated that al-
Qaeda's motives for their attacks include:
 U.S. support of Israel
 Support for the "attacks against Muslims" in Somalia
 Support of Philippines against Muslims in the Moro conflict
 Support for Israeli "aggression" against Muslims in Lebanon
 Support of Russian "atrocities against Muslims" in Chechnya
 Pro-American governments in the Middle East (who "act as your agents") being
against Muslim interests
 Support of Indian "oppression against Muslims" in Kashmir
  The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia
 The sanctions against Iraq

4. Weeks after the attack, the death toll was estimated to be over 6,000, more than twice
the number of deaths eventually confirmed. The city was only able to identify remains
for about 1,600 of the World Trade Center victims. The medical examiner's office
collected "about 10,000 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be
matched to the list of the dead". Bone fragments were still being found in 2006 by
workers who were preparing to demolish the damaged Deutsche Bank Building.
In July 2011, a team of scientists at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner was still trying to
identify remains, in the hope that improved technology will allow them to identify other
victims. On August 7, 2017, the 1,641st victim was identified as a result of newly available
DNA technology, and a 1,642nd on July 26, 2018. Three more victims were identified in
2019 and further two in 2021. As of September 2021, 1,106 victims are yet to be identified.

How many commercial airliners were hijacked by terrorists? (4)

Was all terrorist attacks successful? (1 was unsuccessful) 
Who orchestrated the attacks? (Osama bin Laden)

USA CINEMA
The cinema of the United States, often called Hollywood, has had a large effect on the film
industry in general since the early 20th century. The dominant style of American cinema
is classical Hollywood cinema, which developed from 1913 to 1969 and is still typical of
most films made there to this day. While Frenchmen Auguste and Louis Lumière are
generally credited with the birth of modern cinema,[5] American cinema soon came to be a
dominant force in the emerging industry. It produces the largest number of films of any
single-language national cinema, with more than 700 English-language films released on
average every year.[6] While the national cinemas of the United
Kingdom (299), Canada (206), Australia, and New Zealand also produce films in the same
language, they are not considered part of the Hollywood system. That said, Hollywood has
also been considered a transnational cinema.[7] It produced multiple language versions of
some titles, often in Spanish or French. Contemporary Hollywood often outsources
production to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Hollywood is considered to be the oldest film industry, in the sense of being the place where
the earliest film studios and production companies emerged. It is also the birthplace of
various genres of cinema—among them comedy, drama, action,
the musical, romance, horror, science fiction, and the war epic—and has set the example for
other national film industries.
The major film studios of Hollywood are the primary source of the most commercially
successful and most ticket selling movies in the world.[10] Moreover, many of Hollywood's
highest-grossing movies have generated more box-office revenue and ticket sales outside the
United States than films made elsewhere.
Today, American film studios collectively generate several hundred movies every year,
making the United States one of the most prolific producers of films in the world and a
leading pioneer in motion picture engineering and technology.

4
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (and in particular, no
audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot
elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when necessary, be conveyed
by the use of title cards.
The term "silent film" is something of a misnomer, as these films were almost always
accompanied by live sounds. During the silent era that existed from the mid-1890s to the late
1920s, a pianist, theater organist—or even, in large cities, a small orchestra—would often
play music to accompany the films. Pianists and organists would play either from sheet
music, or improvisation. Sometimes a person would even narrate the intertitle cards for the
audience. Though at the time the technology to synchronize sound with the film did not exist,
music was seen as an essential part of the viewing experience. "Silent film" is typically used
as a historical term to describe an era of cinema prior to the invention of synchronized sound,
however it also naturally applies to sound-era films such as City Lights and The Artist which
are accompanied by a music-only soundtrack in place of dialogue.

5
Classical Hollywood cinema is a term used in film criticism to describe both a narrative and
visual style of filmmaking which became characteristic of American cinema between the
1910s (rapidly after World War I) and the 1960s.[4] It eventually became the most powerful
and pervasive style of filmmaking worldwide.[5] Similar or associated terms include classical
Hollywood narrative, the Golden Age of Hollywood, Old Hollywood, and classical
continuity.[6]
For centuries the only visual standard of narrative storytelling art was the theatre. Since the
first narrative films in the mid-late 1890s, filmmakers sought to capture the power of live
theatre on the cinema screen. Most of these filmmakers started as directors on the late 19th
century stage, and likewise most film actors had roots in vaudeville (eg. The Marx
Brothers[7]) or theatrical melodramas. Visually, early narrative films had adapted little from
the stage, and their narratives had adapted very little from vaudeville and melodrama. Before
the visual style which would become known as "classical continuity", scenes were filmed in
full shot and used carefully choreographed staging to portray plot and character relationships.
Cutting was extremely limited, and mostly consisted of close-ups of writing on objects for
their legibility.
6
he New Hollywood, also referred to as the American New Wave or sometimes called
the Hollywood Renaissance, refers to a movement in American film history from the mid-
1960s to the early 1980s, when a new generation of young filmmakers came to prominence in
the United States. They influenced the types of film produced, their production and
marketing, and the way major studios approached film-making. In New Hollywood films,
the film director, rather than the studio, took on a key authorial role. The definition of "New
Hollywood" varies, depending on the author, with some defining it as a movement and others
as a period. The span of the period is also a subject of debate, as well as its integrity, as some
authors, such as Thomas Schatz, argue that the New Hollywood consists of several different
movements. The films made in this movement are stylistically characterized in that their
narrative often strongly deviated from classical norms. After the demise of the studio system
and the rise of television, the commercial success of films was diminished.
Successful films of the early New Hollywood era include Bonnie and Clyde, The
Graduate, Night of the Living Dead, The Wild Bunch, and Easy Rider, while films that failed
at the box office, including Heaven's Gate and One from the Heart, marked the end of the
era.
 
7
Contemporary Hollywood often outsources production to Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand.
Hollywood is considered to be the oldest film industry, in the sense of being the place where
the earliest film studios and production companies emerged. It is also the birthplace of
various genres of cinema—among them comedy, drama, action,
the musical, romance, horror, science fiction, and the war epic—and has set the example for
other national film industries.
 
 
8
Today there are many different types of cartoons aimed both to children and adults. Many of
the American cartoons seen today have something that makes them popular and they gather
large fanbases. However, after taking a closer look at some of them there is something that all
of them share that has prevented a larger variety of cartoons. In some of the currently popular
American cartoons such as The Amazing World of Gumball, Rick and Morty, and The Loud
House the one thing they all have in common is that the main character or hero is male.
However, there are some American cartoons that do have a female character that plays the
role of the hero or protagonist. One such cartoon is Star vs. The Forces of Evil but how the
character, Star, is depicted leaves the desire for a much rounder and well-developed
character. 
Idaho
Slide 1: Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It borders the
state of Montana to the east and northeast, Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the
south, and Washington and Oregon to the west. To the north, it shares a small portion of the
Canadian border with the province of British Columbia. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 13th
least populous and the 7th least densely populated of the 50 U.S. states. The state's capital
and largest city is Boise.
Slide 2: Idaho covers two time zones, runs from Canada to Nevada, and encompasses the
western side of the continental divide of the Rocky Mountains.
Slide 3: Idaho's official nickname is the Gem State for its abundance of gems that are found
in the state. The mountains contain veins of gold, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, copper, and many
other rare minerals.
Slide 6: With 30 state parks to explore, Idaho offers a unique blend of adventures to those
who follow their curiosity. Sled down a 470-foot tall sand dune, rock climb world-class
routes, explore Oregon Trail history, or relax on a picture-perfect beach.
Slide 7: Idaho's state seal is the only one in the U.S. designed by a woman. Emma Edwards
Green entered a statewide competition for the honor in 1891 by using only her initials.
Slide 8: An early presence of French-Canadian trappers is visible in names and toponyms:
Nez Percé, Cœur d'Alène, Boisé, Payette, some preexisting the Lewis and Clark and Astorian
expeditions which themselves included significant numbers of French and Métis guides
recruited for their familiarity with the terrain. 
The name of the capital has a different meaning in French. The origin of the name is
uncertain. One account credits Capt. B. L. E. Bonneville of the U.S. Army as its source. After
trekking for weeks through dry and rough terrain, his exploration party reached an overlook
with a view of the Boise River Valley. The place where they stood is called Bonneville Point,
located on the Oregon Trail east of the city. According to the story, a French-speaking guide,
overwhelmed by the sight of the verdant river, yelled "Les bois! Les bois!" ("The woods! The
woods!")—and the name stuck.

The name may also derive from earlier mountain men who named the river that flows
through it. In the 1820s, French Canadian fur trappers set trap lines in the vicinity. Set in a
high-desert area, the tree-lined valley of the Boise River became a distinct landmark, an oasis
dominated by cottonwood trees. They called this "La rivière boisée", which means "the
wooded river."
Idaho, as part of the Oregon Country, was claimed by both the United States and Great
Britain until the United States gained undisputed jurisdiction in 1846. From 1843 to 1849,
present-day Idaho was under the de facto jurisdiction of the Provisional Government of
Oregon. When Oregon became a state, what is now Idaho was in what remained of the
original Oregon Territory not part of the new state, and designated as the Washington
Territory.
Slide 9: Idaho consistently ranks among the leading states in innovation. The lofty ranking is
in keeping with the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit characteristic to Idahoans since its
early days as a territory. Insight into the history of Idahoan innovation can be read from the
patents of the age, and this article briefly details the first few patents awarded to Idahoans,
which helped pave the way for today’s continued climate of ingenuity.
The small town of Rigby, Idaho is considered the official birthplace of television, as it was
here that inventor Philo T. Farnsworth came up with his idea of an electronic television
system. Today, the small town proudly boasts its title on a welcome sign at the town’s
entrance, and they even boast a museum where you can learn all about Philo and his
contributions to bringing the electronic television to life. All in all, Farnsworth held 300
patents to mostly radio and television-based devices, but he was most well-known for
inventing the first all-electronic television system in 1927.
In 1967, Simplot and McDonald's founder Ray Kroc agreed by handshake that the Simplot
Company would provide frozen french fries to the restaurant chain. Previously, restaurants
had cut potatoes at each location for fresh french fries, but the favored russet potato was not
available for three months in the summer, leading to a quality control problem. Simplot was
able to supply frozen russet potatoes all year long. By 1972, all fries were frozen.[6] The
frozen fry deal led to expansion of Simplot potato processing plants and construction in 1977
of a new plant at Hermiston, Oregon. By 2005, Simplot supplied more than half of all french
fries for the fast food chain.
Another great innovation to come out of Idaho would be nuclear power. It was at the Idaho
National Laboratory in the 1950s where nuclear power was first harnessed and used to power
an entire city. This innovation was a long time coming and one that put Idaho on the map for
science and technology.

 American cuisine is primarily Western in origin, but has been significantly influenced by
native American Indians, African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and many other
cultures and traditions, reflecting the diverse history of the United States.
American cuisine is very diverse and has various styles of cuisine. It continued expanding
well into the 19th and 20th centuries, proportional to the influx of immigrants from many
different nations; this influx nurtured a rich diversity in food preparation throughout the
country.
One signature characteristic of American cooking is the fusion of multiple ethnic or regional
approaches into completely new cooking styles. For example, spaghetti is Italian, while hot
dogs are German; a popular meal, especially among young children, is spaghetti containing
slices of hot dogs. Since the 1960s Asian cooking has played a particularly large role in
American fusion cuisine.
Famous dishes include but are not limited to: deep-Dish Pizza, Mac and cheese, Chicken
parm, The hamburger, fried chicken, buffalo wings, breakfast burrito, peanut butter and jelly
sandwich, shrimp cocktail, macaroni and potato salads.
The American food culture, like many countries, has evolved over time. As technology,
availability, and migration of people across the country has changed, so has the food we buy,
grow, cook, and enjoy. In today’s American food culture, meals are often a social activity
shared with friends and family. Getting together with others to share a meal, taking pictures
of food and enjoying other photos of food, watching cooking TV shows, and following
favorite food bloggers, are all an extension of the modern American food experience. 
According to John Ikerd, Professor of Agriculture Economics at the University of Missouri,
Americans value looking good and choose food that makes them look good. Trends are
moving away from processed and mass-produced foods to food that is organic and locally
sourced. Americans are becoming more aware of where their food comes from, how it’s
processed, and the culture of the companies that produce their food. Ikerd also theorized that
the average American wants their food to be fast and easy, whether they purchase it at a
grocery store or fast-food restaurant. 
Obesity in the United States is a major health issue. The National Center for Health
Statistics estimates that, for 2015–2016 in the U.S., 39.8% of adults aged 20 and over were
obese (including 7.6% with severe obesity) and that another 31.8% were overweight In the
NCHS update for 2018, statistics on severe obesity among U.S adults had already climbed to
9.2% while the total obesity prevalence had reached 42.4%. This also marked the first time in
American history that the obesity rates had reached or exceeded 2/5 people in every adult age
groups.

According to an article in the New York Times, "Let Us Now Praise the Great Men of Junk
Food", "The history of junk food is a largely American tale: It has been around for hundreds
of years, in many parts of the world, but no one has done a better job inventing so many
varieties of it, branding it, mass-producing it, making people rich off it and, of course, eating
it." Cracker Jack, the candy-coated popcorn-and-peanuts confection, is credited as the first
popular name-brand junk food; it was created in Chicago, registered in 1896, and became the
best-selling candy in the world 20 years later.

Future of food
America is at the forefront of progress and that’s also true for food. Many developments are
being made in the food industry like plant-based meat substitutes and lab-grown meat or
allergen-free nuts.

What kind of cuisine is American cuisine? 

Name three American dishes.  
What was the first popular name-brand junk food? 

Alabama
Alabama is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States of America. It is the 30th
largest by area and the 24th-most populous of the U.S. states. Alabama has 67 counties. Each
county has its own elected legislative branch, usually called the county commission. 
It is nicknamed the Yellowhammer State, after the state bird. It is also known as the "Heart of
Dixie" and the "Cotton State". The state tree is the longleaf pine, and the state flower is the
camellia. 
Montgomery is the capital of the state, but only third city by the population. The most
populated is Huntsville and the oldest city is Mobile (Мубіль), founded by French colonists
in 1702 as the capital of French Louisiana. 
2) The Spanish, in fact, were faster than the French to reach Alabama during their exploration
of North America in the 16th century. After the French lost to the British in the Seven Years'
War, it became part of British West Florida from 1763 to 1783. And after the American
Revolutionary War, the territory was divided between the United States and Spain. Spain
retained control of this western territory from 1783 until 1813. 
By 1817, Congress split up the Mississippi Territory to create the Alabama Territory. On
December 14, 1819, Alabama was admitted as the country’s 22nd state with Huntsville
serving as a temporary capital. In 1820, the government moved to Cahaba, which is now a
ghost city. Cahaba was the first permanent state capital to 1825. Tuscaloosa served as the
second capital from 1826 to 1846, after which it was moved to Montgomery.
3) On January 11, 1861 Alabama exited The Union becoming an independent republic. It
then joined The Confederate States of America, formed on February 8, 1861. The first capital
of the Confederation was Montgomery. Although few battles were fought in the state,
Alabama was heavily involved in the Civil War. After the war ended, Alabama was under
military rule from May 1865 until its official restoration to the Union in 1868. The slaves
were freed in the states but there were organized resistance groups, such as Ku Klux Klan,
Pale Faces, Knights of the White Camellia, Red Shirts, and the White League.
4) At the beginning of the 20th Century, the government of the state conducted the policy of
segregation and only in the second half of the century the policy softened. Legal segregation
ended in the states in 1964. 
5) The total area is 52,41 square miles (135,765 square kilometers). 3.2% of the area is water,
making Alabama 23rd in the amount of surface water. About three-fifths of the land area is
part of the Gulf Coastal Plain. The North Alabama region is mostly mountainous, with the
Tennessee River cutting a large valley and creating numerous creeks, streams, rivers,
mountains, and lakes. Alabama is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east,
Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. 
6) It has four National Forests: Conecuh, Talladega, Tuskegee, and William B. Bankhead.
There are also some natural wonders: 
 the "Natural Bridge" rock
 Cathedral Caverns in Marshall County, features one of the largest cave entrances and
stalagmites in the world
 Ecor Rouge in Fairhope, the highest coastline point between Maine and Mexico
 DeSoto Caverns in Childersburg, the first officially recorded cave in the United States
 Noccalula Falls in Gadsden which features a 90-foot waterfall
 Rickwood Caverns near Warrior features an underground pool, blind cave fish and 260-
million-year-old limestone formations
Alabama is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. It is usually ranked among the top in
nation for its range of overall biodiversity. Indigenous animal species in the state include 62
mammal species, 93 reptile species, 73 amphibian species, roughly 307 native freshwater fish
species,[ and 420 bird species that spend at least part of their year within the state. 
7) The population is estimated 5,024,279 as for 2020. It consists of 66.5% European
Americans, 26.9% African Americans, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% Asian, 2.2%
Native Americans and others. 
The official language of the state is English, but 3.1% of the population uses Spanish as a
spoken language. 
As of 2014, the religion is divided: 86% Christians, It`s 78% Protestants, 7% Catholic and
1% Mormon, with 12% as having no religion. The composition of other traditions is, 0.2%
Jewish, 0.2% Muslim, 0.2% Buddhist, and 0.2% Hindu.
8) Alabama has invested in aerospace, education, health care, banking, and various heavy
industries, including automobile manufacturing, mineral extraction, steel production and
fabrication. By 2006, crop and animal production in Alabama was valued at $1.5 billion.
In April 2015 state`s unemployment rate was 5.8%. As of 2018, Alabama was the sixth state
of the US with the highest poverty levels. 
9) In 2014 Alabama ranked 14th in most popular states to visit. An estimated 26 million
tourists visited the state and spent $14.3 billion in 2017. 
The state is home to various attractions, natural features, parks and events that attract visitors
from around the globe. The most notable is Hangout Music Festival, held on the public
beaches of Gulf Shores, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, one of the ten largest
Shakespeare festivals in the world,  the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of
championship caliber golf courses distributed across the state. It also has casinos such as
Victoryland, and one of the largest shopping centers in the southeast - the Riverchase
Galleria. 
10) Alabama has 1,496 individual schools that provide education for 744,637 elementary and
secondary students. It also has 14 four-year public universities, two-year community colleges,
 and 17 private, undergraduate and graduate universities. The most famous is the University of
Alabama. 
11) The events of Harper Lee`s book To Kill a Mockingbird take place in a fictional city in
the state Alabama as well as the events of Winston Groom`s Forest Gump. 
And the most famous mention of the state is the song “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd
Skynyrd. 

Biden
The current president of the USA

The president of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United
States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government
and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. Joe Biden is a man who
spent nearly a half-century in public service as a senator and vice president, and who
endured profound family loss, became the 46th president of the United States on January
20, 2021.
Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the first of four children
of his parents. President Biden graduated from the University of Delaware and Syracuse
Law School and served on the New Castle County Council.

A LEADER IN THE SENATE: At age 29, President Biden became one of the youngest people
ever elected to the United States Senate. As a Senator from Delaware for 36 years,
President Biden established himself as a leader in facing some of the nation’s most
important domestic and international challenges. Biden is widely recognized for his work
writing and spearheading the Violence Against Women Act.

THE 47TH VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As Vice President, Biden
continued his leadership on important issues facing the nation and represented the country
abroad. Biden helped President Obama pass and then oversaw the implementation of the
Recovery Act —the biggest economic recovery plan in the history of the nation. The
President’s plan prevented another Great Depression, created and saved millions of jobs, and
Biden did it all with less than 1% in waste, abuse, or fraud — the most efficient government
program in the country’s history. In a ceremony at the White House, President Obama
awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction — the nation’s highest
civilian honor.

A NEW CHAPTER: After leaving the White House, the Bidens continued their efforts to
expand opportunity for every American with the creation of the Biden Foundation, the
Biden Cancer Initiative, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement,
and the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware. Political position: Biden is
considered a moderate Democrat and a centrist, though more recently he has been seen as
shifting to the left. Reputation: Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy
members of the Senate, which he attributed to his having been elected young. On April 25,
2019, Biden announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Biden’s
candidacy was built from the beginning around 3 pillars: the battle for the soul of the
nation, the need to rebuild the middle class — the backbone of the country, a call for unity,
 to act as One America. The Democratic ticket of former vice president Joe Biden and the
junior U.S. senator from California Kamala Harris defeated the incumbent Republican
president Donald Trump and incumbent vice president Mike Pence. 2020 United States
presidential election: The election took place against the backdrop of the global COVID-19
pandemic and COVID-19 recession. It was the first election since 1992, and the fifth in the
past century, in which the incumbent president failed to win a second term. The election
saw the highest voter turnout by percentage since 1900, with each of the two main tickets
receiving more than 74 million votes, surpassing Barack Obama's record of 69.5 million
votes from 2008. Biden received more than 81 million votes, the most votes ever cast for a
candidate in a U.S. presidential election.

Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory: The Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory is a series of

unevidenced claims centered on the false allegation that while Joe Biden was vice president
of the United States, he engaged in corrupt activities relating to the employment of his son
Hunter Biden by the Ukrainian gas company Burisma. In September 2019, it was reported
that Trump had pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate alleged
wrongdoing by Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Despite the allegations, no evidence was
produced of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. The media widely interpreted this pressure to
investigate the Bidens as trying to hurt Biden's chances of winning the presidency, resulting
in a political scandal and Trump's impeachment by the House of Representatives.

In his first two days as president, Biden signed 17 executive orders, more than most recent
presidents did in their first 100 days. By his third day, orders had included rejoining the
Paris Climate Agreement, ending the state of national emergency at the border with
Mexico, directing the government to rejoin the World Health Organization. In his first two
weeks in office, Biden signed more executive orders than any other president since
Franklin D. Roosevelt had in their first month in office. Biden and Ukraine: The United
States has been a key ally and supporter of Ukraine ever since the former Soviet republic
first regained independence in 1991, with Ukrainian issues typically enjoying strong
bipartisan support in Washington. US backing has been particularly important for Ukraine
since the onset of Russian aggression in spring 2014. Now in its eighth year, this
undeclared war with Russia has made Ukraine a key battleground in the geopolitical
struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, and has enhanced the country’s position
among

America’s foreign policy priorities.

Biden is

 the oldest president

 the first to have a female vice president

 the first from Delaware

 the second Catholic after John F. Kennedy

Louisiana

Louisiana, constituent state of the United States of America. It is delineated from its

neighbours—Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, and Texas to the west—by both
natural and man-made boundaries. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the south. The total area of
Louisiana includes about 4,600 square miles (12,000 square km) of inland waters. The capital
is Baton Rouge.
History:
The pelican has long been the symbol for the state of Louisiana. The pelican is found on the
state seal, painting, and flag. Although the pelican has been a symbol for the state since
colonial times, it has not always been the state flag. Ten flags have officially flown over
Louisiana. These flags are of Spanish, French, British, and finally American influence. One
hundred years after Louisiana became a state, in 1912, the Pelican Flag was officially
adopted.
Design:
The flag consists of a solid blue field, symbolizing truth. The coat-of-arms is featured with
the pelican feeding its young, in white in the center. A ribbon beneath contains the motto of
the state, "Union, Justice and Confidence".

History
Thousands of years before European exploration, various indigenous peoples occupied the
region that later became Louisiana. Most Louisiana peoples lived in hunting and gathering
camps in the uplands and coastal prairies, though there were farming villages in the rich low-
lying areas known as bottoms. 
The first European known to have explored present-day Louisiana was the
Spaniard Hernando de Soto in 1541, but it was the French who later colonized the region.
Louisiana was named after Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 to 1715. When René-
Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle claimed the territory drained by the Mississippi River for
France, he named it La Louisiane.[22] The suffix –ana (or –ane) is a Latin suffix that can
refer to "information relating to a particular individual, subject, or place". Thus, roughly,
Louis + ana carries the idea of "related to Louis". 
When Louisiana became a French crown colony in 1731, its population had grown from
fewer than 1,000 to nearly 8,000, including slaves. In addition to the French settlers, many
thousands of Germans arrived, settling on the river just above New Orleans on what became
known as the German Coast. 
When the United States won its independence from Great Britain in 1783, one of its major
concerns was having a European power on its western boundary, and the need for
unrestricted access to the Mississippi River. The Louisiana Territory, purchased for less than
three cents an acre, doubled the size of the United States overnight, without a war or the loss
of a single American life, and set a precedent for the purchase of territory. It opened the way
for the eventual expansion of the United States across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.
Shortly after the United States took possession, the area was divided into two territories on
March 26, 1804, Territory of Orleans to the south and the District of Louisiana (subsequently
formed as the Louisiana Territory) to the north.[69]
Louisiana became the eighteenth U.S. state on April 30, 1812; the Territory of Orleans
became the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Territory was simultaneously renamed
the Missouri Territory.[70]
Climate of Louisiana
Louisiana’s climate is subtropical, a natural result of its location on the Gulf of Mexico. As it
also lies at the mouth of the vast Mississippi-Missouri river valley, roughly halfway between
the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, the state is also affected by continental weather patterns.
Hot, humid summers, tempered by frequent afternoon thunder showers, alternate with mild
winters. Louisiana is subject to tropical storms, and the hurricane season extends for six
months, from June through November. 

Plant and animal life

Natural vegetation in Louisiana is found in three major divisions: the first consists of forest,
upland pines and hardwoods, bottomland hardwoods, and bald cypress; the second consists
of prairie, or dry grassland; and the third consists of marshland, or wet grassland. In the
southern half of the state, along a zone running westward from Baton Rouge, live oaks with
their characteristic drapings of Spanish moss predominate. The magnolia, whose blossom is
the state flower, grows throughout the state.
Muskrats and other fur-bearing rodents, together with alligators, have been trapped in the
marshes of southern Louisiana. There is a great variety of birds, native and migrant, but the
once-frequent brown pelican (the state bird) has become an endangered species. The
gray squirrel, deer, and dove are plentiful. Fish, shrimp, crayfish, crabs, and oysters are a
source of food and income in the coastal and swamp areas.
Population composition
Louisiana is the second-most populous of the South Central United States after Texas. 
As a diversity of landscapes and forms of settlement characterizes the state, its peoples and
its cultures also represent many Louisianas. The earliest European settlers were French or
Spanish; only later did “les Américains” settle in the northern part of the state and in the
Florida Parishes. Each area of settlement preserved a cultural heritage strongly marked
by adherence to either Roman Catholic or Protestant faith. 
The Louisiana French, particularly the descendants of the Acadians (most of whom were
French settlers deported by the British from Canada in the 1700s), came to dominate much of
southern Louisiana; many of those who arrived to live among them have been assimilated to
the local Cajun (etymologically derived from Acadian) way of life. The Cajun
French dialect is spoken in many parishes, and throughout southern Louisiana one may hear
English spoken with a French accent. In addition, there are a number of cultural islands in
both the northern and southern regions of the state. These are made up of Italian, Spanish
(Isleños), Hungarian, German, and Dalmatian-Slavonian communities. 
Demographic trends
Louisiana has experienced some significant demographic changes in the 20th century. Prior
to World War II many African Americans migrated to other states; after the war much of the
remaining African American population left Louisiana’s rural farmlands for its urban areas. 
The number of foreign-born residents of Louisiana declined over the 20th century, leaving
some four-fifths of the population composed of native-born Louisianans. The vast majority of
foreign-born residents live within the urbanized parishes of the state, especially in New
Orleans.
Government and society
Constitutional framework
The Louisiana legislature has two houses: the Senate, with 39 members, and the House of
Representatives, with 105 members. Legislators in both chambers are elected to four-year
terms.
The highest court in the state is the Supreme Court. Its seven justices are popularly elected
for 10-year terms. Judges in the Court of Appeals, the district courts, and most of the lesser
courts are also popularly elected.
Louisiana’s current constitution, its 11th, was adopted in 1974; it requires a two-thirds
majority of each house of the state legislature, and then a majority of the electorate,
to amend it. Louisiana has had more constitutions than any other state in the country. 
The constitution that was adopted in 1921 was Louisiana’s 10th in 108 years. It remained in
force for more than 50 years, a period during which the state underwent more fundamental
change than had occurred in all the preceding years of statehood.
Economy of Louisiana
Louisiana’s economy was based mainly on agriculture in the 1700s and 1800s. In the 20th
century, expansion of service opportunities—especially in tourism, retail, and government—
helped position the service sector as the state’s top employer. Despite these developments,
Louisiana’s economic growth has been slower than that of most other states and has trailed
well behind the national average.
With cotton as the primary crop in the northern part of the state and sugarcane the principal
crop in the south. Lumbering began to grow in the late 1800s and remained a major part of
the state’s economy into the 21st century.
Agriculture and forestry
Agriculture is much less important to Louisiana’s economy than it was earlier in the state’s
history. Only a small fraction of residents earn their living on farms. Cotton, sugarcane, rice,
soybeans, corn (maize) and feed grains, and sweet potatoes are the main agricultural crops
produced in the state. Louisiana is among the top timber producers in the country. 
Resources and power
Petroleum resources are found in the southern and northwestern parts of the state; the main
oil fields have been developed between Shreveport and Monroe. Natural gas resources have
also been exploited. Including offshore drilling in federal waters, Louisiana ranks high in the
production of both crude petroleum and natural gas. 
Manufacturing
Chemical, petroleum, and coal products are Louisiana’s leading manufactures, and
manufacturing accounts for roughly one-sixth of the gross domestic product. The chemical
industry provides about one-third of all of the industrial activity in the state. The extraction
and processing of petroleum and natural gas became the state’s largest industrial activity in
the 20th century. 
Cultural life
The culture of Louisiana involves its music, food, religion, clothing, language, architecture,
art, literature, games, and sports. Often, these elements are the basis for one of the many
festivals in the state. Louisiana, while sharing many similarities to its neighbors along
the Gulf Coast, is unique in the influence of Cajun culture, due to the historical waves of
immigration of French-speaking settlers to Louisiana. Likewise, African-American
culture plays a prominent role. While New Orleans, as the largest city, has had an outsize
influence on Louisiana throughout its history, other regions both rural and urban have
contributed their shared histories and identities to the culture of the state.
Louisiana is known for many festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Festival, Bayou Country Superfest, Essence Music Festival, Festival International, Voodoo
Experience and its most famous, Mardi Gras. 
Mardi Gras is the largest annual festival in not just New Orleans, but Louisiana. The festival
of all festivals takes place 2 weeks before and through Fat Tuesday, with elaborate parades,
live music, and colourful characters livening the city streets.
The festival is at its largest during the last 5 days, when revellers enjoy a final bash before
Lent. Many fun activities take place in the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods, especially the
French Quarter. Masquerade balls are organised by krewes, or social clubs responsible for
Mardi Gras celebrations. Joining the party is all part of the fun, so many people plan their
New Orleans holiday around this annual festivity.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Mardi Gras in New Orleans takes place 47 days before Easter, with the official celebration
always starting on a Tuesday. For 2 weeks, locals get to indulge in parades, food, music, and
dance before the start of Lent.
A series of parades and balls culminating in Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) has become a
national attraction in New Orleans.
Christian churches are important influences on Louisiana’s cultural life, especially the Roman
Catholic Church in southern Louisiana and the Baptists in northern Louisiana and among
African Americans throughout the state. New Orleans and many smaller communities have
been able to support the arts and philanthropic institutions. The Creoles developed a
distinctive architecture, art, and cuisine centred on New Orleans.
In rural culture and the arts, Louisiana more than holds its own. 
Since the early 19th century, New Orleans has been a major cultural centre of the United
States. Its French Quarter has attracted such artists as John J. Audubon, the great wildlife
painter, and George Catlin, noted for his portrayals of the American West, and has been the
haunt of writers such as Walt Whitman, Sherwood Anderson, and William Faulkner. The city
has also been home to an opera company, as well as various symphony orchestras since the
mid-20th century. Other cities have established their own museums and galleries, orchestras,
choruses, theatres, and other cultural institutions, especially since the 1930s.
Tourism has developed as an important component of the state’s economy, using the appeal
of the antebellum past and the attraction of Creole cuisine—a blend of French, Spanish,
African American, and Native American dishes. A series of parades and balls culminating
in Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) has become a national attraction in New Orleans. There are
many public parks and gardens, and the state is advertised as a sportsman’s paradise for
hunting and fishing.
 Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is the only place on Earth not trying to figure out how to become
Silicon Valley. - Robert Metcalfe
Silicon Valley is a nickname for the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay
Area, which is located in part of the U.S. state of California known as Northern
California. It is home to many of the world's largest high-tech corporations, as well as
thousands of startup companies.
Silicon Valley was born through the intersection of several contributing factors
including a skilled science research base housed in area universities, plentiful venture
capital, and steady U.S. Department of Defense spending. Stanford
University leadership was especially important in the valley's early development.
Together these elements formed the basis of its growth and success.
Early military origins - The Bay Area had long been a major site of United States
Navy research and technology. In 1909, Charles Herrold started the first radio station
in the United States with regularly scheduled programming in San Jose. 
After World War II, Frederick Terman, as Stanford University's dean of the
school of engineering, encouraged faculty and graduates to start their own companies.
In 1951, Terman spearheaded the creation of Stanford Industrial Park.
 The rise was during 1956- 1957 when William Shockley, the co-inventor of the
first working transistor  and Mohamed Atalla, developer of the process of
silicon surface passivation went to Sillicon valley.
During the 60s-70s:
 Origins of the Internet
 Rise of computer culture
 Advent of software
The name of “Silicon Valley “ was first adopted in the early 1970s because of the
region's association with the silicon transistor, which is used in all modern
microprocessors.
Commercial use of the Internet became practical and grew slowly throughout the
early 1990s. In 1995, commercial use of the Internet grew substantially and the initial
wave of internet startups, Amazon.com, eBay and others.
Nowadays, the region employes about a quarter of a million information
technology workers. Silicon Valley has the highest average high-tech salary in the
United States at $144,800. Thousands of high technology companies are headquartered
in Silicon Valley: 
 Apple Inc. 
 Tesla, Inc.
 Twitter
 eBay
 NetApp
 Netflix
 Amazon.com's A9.com
 Zoom
Education 
Funding for public schools in upscale Silicon Valley communities such as
Woodside is often supplemented by grants from private foundations set up for that
purpose and funded by local residents. Schools in less affluent areas such as East Palo
Alto must depend on state funding.
Culture
Many events are held here such as Stanford Jazz Festival and Apple Worldwide
Developers Conference.
Museums
 Computer History Museum
 Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
 CuriOdyssey
 De Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University
 Hiller Aviation Museum
 History Park by History San José
Cultural references
 Start-Up—2020 South Korean television series, when three artificial
intelligence (A.I.) developers from South Korea are offered positions as
engineers for the fictional company, 2STO which is located in Silicon
Valley.
 Valley of the Boom—2019 docudrama about the 1990s tech boom in Silicon
Valley
 The Internship—2013 comedy film about working at Google
1.

New Mexico: Facts & Stats

Nickname: Land of Enchantment | Sunshine State
 Capital: Santa Fe
 The largest city: Albuquerque
 Statehood: 1912,the 47-th state
 Population : 2,117,522 (2020)
State Motto : Crescit Eundo ( It Grows As It Goes)  
 State Bird: roadrunner
 State Song: “ O, Fair New Mexico”
 State Flower: yucca flower
 Total Area: 314,917 (sq km)
2. Origin of New Mexico
The Aztecs used “Mexico” or “place of Mexitli” (Aztec god) to describe the land. “ New
Mexico” came from “Nuevo Mexico” used by the Spanish for land north of the Rio
Grande 
3. Historical facts
Some of New Mexico’s and ancient history can be seen in archaeological ruins
 Pueblo Bonito, built around 1000 AD is the largest village of Puebloan people
  The Puebloans resigned there dating back to 1000 BC and thrived before Spain ruled
the area in the 1600s
 Mexico claimed independence from Spain in 1821
New Mexico became a US territory by 1853 but did not become the 47th state until
1912
4. Geography & Landforms
New Mexico ranks fifth among the 50 U.S. states in terms of total area and is
bounded by Colorado to the north, Oklahoma and Texas to the east, Texas and the
Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora to the south, and Arizona to west
New Mexico has some of the flattest land as well as some of the most rugged
mountains in the country. Some portions of the state are rich in pine forests,
meadows, and fish-laden mountain streams, while other areas are devoid of any water
bodies, and even cacti struggle to survive.
5. Five major river systems—the Rio Grande, the Pecos, the Canadian, the San Juan, and
the Gila—drain the state.
Two of New Mexico’s most unique physical features are the caverns near Carlsbad,
which are among the most spectacular natural rock formations in the world, and the
extensive gypsum sand dunes at White Sands National Monument in south-central
New Mexico, which were created by wind and water erosion.
6. Climate of New Mexico
New Mexico’s climate is desert and semi-desert
New Mexico’s average annual temperature is in the mid F 12 °C, extremes can range
from near 48 °C to the −46 °C. 
 Generally, precipitation is greatest in the eastern third of the state and least in the
western third
7. Economy
Oil and gas production, tourism, and federal government spending are important
drivers of the state economy. The state government has an elaborate system of tax
credits and technical assistance to promote job growth and business investment,
especially in new technologies
8. TOURISM 
Tourism is New Mexico’s leading industry. Known as “the Land of Enchantment,”
the state attracts millions of visitors and part-time residents annually. For many years
Texans, fleeing hot, humid summer weather, have been drawn to the crisp, cool
mountain resorts of New Mexico.
9. Culture Life
The historical atmosphere of New Mexico is represented by its unique fusion of three
cultures—Spanish American, Native American, and Anglo-American. A number of
Old West archetypes, including the cowboy, the rancher, and the miner, have also
played a role in the state’s cultural life.

Maine

Maine, constituent state of the United States of America. The largest of the six New England
states in area, it lies at the northeastern corner of the country. Maine is bounded to the
northwest and northeast by the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick,
respectively, and to the west by New Hampshire. The famed rocky coastline of the state is
angled from southwest to northeast along the Atlantic Ocean. Maine was admitted to the
union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state; its capital is Augusta. Maine is the most sparsely
populated state east of the Mississippi River. More than four-fifths of its total land area is
under forest cover.

Climate and geology 

Geology in Maine is heavily influenced by collisions with the Earth’s plates and by the
impact of glaciers.
The land can be divided into three geographic areas.
The Coastal Lowlands start at the Atlantic coastline and stretch inland between 10 and 40
miles. This region has sandy beaches, salt marshes, bays, inlets, and thousands of coastal
islands, the largest of which is Mount Desert Island. The islands started out as mountains, but
the rising sea level during the last Ice Age put them underwater! A set of islands in northern
Maine are now home to Acadia National Park.
The Eastern New England Uplands are northwest of the Coastal Lowlands, a region with
fertile soil, lakes, streams, and the Longfellow Mountains.
The White Mountains are in the northwest of the state and include Maine’s highest point,
Mount Katahdin, as well as Baxter State Park.

Economic 
The service sector represents the largest component in the market value of Maine goods and
services; the manufacturing sector is second. Pulp and paper products and transportation
equipment constitute the largest items in manufactured goods. Tourists—attracted by Maine’s
picturesque lakes, streams, and coastal areas and by opportunities for a wide variety of
outdoor activities and sightseeing—account for a large portion of retail sales and service
income.
The state also mines semi-precious stones including some of the world’s best tourmaline
crystals. Maine produces a lot of gravel and limestone as well.
About 90 percent of Maine is covered in forests, so it’s no wonder that trees are among
Maine’s most important natural resources. Some trees are used for their wood and others for
their maple syrup.

Education
Local governments are responsible for public elementary and secondary education, under the
general supervision of a state board of education. Most rural areas are served by multi-
community school administrative districts. The state operates technical institutes for
postsecondary vocational training. The University of Maine, established in 1865 in Orono as
a college of agriculture and mechanic arts, offers a broad range of undergraduate and
graduate curricula.

Fun trivia
Author Stephen King was born in Maine, and his hometown of Bangor was the model for
many of the towns in his scary stories. Other famous Mainers include author Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow and poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.
—Maine lobster is one of the state’s most famous foods. The state also serves up fiddleheads,
which are the furled fronds of ferns and are eaten like any other vegetable.
—Because of its rocky coastline, Maine is famous for lighthouses—it has more than 60 of
them. The oldest lighthouse in Maine is the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth.
                 Oklahoma
Slide 1 
Oklahoma is a 46th state of the United States, bordered by the state of Texas, Kansas,
Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico and Colorado.  The word Oklahoma is a combination of
two words in the Choctaw language, which is spoken by the Choctaw people.
In 1889 settlers were allowed to race into parts of Oklahoma and claim land for themselves.
But some managed to get to these spots before the territory was officially open to them. They
were called “sooners,” which eventually became the state’s nickname: the Sooner State.

Slide 2
The first people may have arrived in what’s now Oklahoma 30,000 years ago. Many
thousands of years later Native American tribes including the Plains Caddo, Comanche,
Wichita, Kiowa, and Osage lived on the land. In the 1830s many Native Americans were
forced to leave their homelands in the eastern United States and relocate in what’s now
Oklahoma, which was then called Indian Territory. In the 1890s part of Indian Territory
became Oklahoma Territory. Today members of over 30 tribes still live in Oklahoma.

Slide 3 
Oklahoma experiences a humid subtropical climate in the eastern part of the state, with hot,
humid summers and mild to cold winters.

Oklahoma, the Sooner State, is home to two major rivers, the Red and the Arkansas, and four
mountain ranges: the Wichita, the Arbuckle, the Ouachita, and the Ozark. Oklahoma has an
average elevation of 400 meters, with Black Mesa as the highest point. The topography
mainly consists of plains, rolling hills, mesas, and canyons. Eastern Oklahoma consists of
eight of the eleven ecological regions in the geographically diverse state.

Summers are long and hot in Oklahoma. The south and eastern parts are more humid, moist,
and cloudy than the western region. 

Slide 4 

The Oklahoma Court System is the judicial system for the U.S. State of Oklahoma. Based in
Oklahoma City, the court system is a unified state court system that functions under the Chief
Justice of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma court system is made up of the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal
Appeals, the Court of Civil Appeals, 77 district courts and courts of limited jurisdiction.

Slide 4/1
Courts of limited jurisdiction are limited to very specific cases, like municipal courts 
District courts – also called courts of general jurisdiction – hear the majority of cases, both
civil  and criminal.
Unlike most states, Oklahoma has two courts of last resort, the Supreme Court determines all
civil matters, and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals decides all criminal matters. The
Supreme Court has nine justices and the Court of Criminal Appeals has five judges. Every six
years they appear on the retention ballot so voters can choose if these judges get to keep their
position.

Slide 5
Pronghorn antelopes, American bison, armadillos, and coyotes are just a few of Oklahoma’s
mammals. Birdwatchers can look for greater roadrunners, and scissortail flycatchers.
Oklahoma is home to amphibians like gray tree frogs and Woodhouse toads. Reptiles include
copperhead snakes, snapping turtles, and American alligators.
Common trees that grow here include red maple, sweetgum, Ponderosa pine, hickory, and
eastern redbud (Oklahoma’s state tree). Coneflower, buttonbush, Indian blanket, and ghost
flower are some of the state’s wildflowers.

Slide 6
Oklahoma City has a diversity of institutions for learning and educational enrichment.
Several colleges and universities offer associate and bachelor's degrees and the state's
teaching hospital which is  the University of Oklahoma Medical Center.
There are also a number of small private colleges and universities in the city,
including Oklahoma Christian University,  University of Phoenix, American Christian
College and Seminary.
 
Slide 7
Oklahoma’s economy is not as balanced as those of many other U.S. states. There has been in
the past overdependence on agriculture and petroleum, but the efforts of state and local
officials to attract new forms of industry as well as tourism have shown some success.
Agriculture 
Traditionally, agriculture has furnished an important part of Oklahoma’s income, though
Oklahoma’s farms, which are slightly larger than the national average, have slightly less
value per acre. In commercial agricultural production, livestock ranks first, followed by
wheat, dairy products, cotton, soybeans, and other field crops and general produce.
Slide 7/1
Oklahoma is one of America’s top producers of petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas. 
Oklahoma ranks high nationally in the value of mineral production, which includes
petroleum, natural gas, natural gas liquids, coal, and stone. Oil and gas production historically
have been the major components of Oklahoma’s economy. Coal and gas are the two main
sources of power generation; together they produce nearly all the state’s electric power.
 
Slide 8
In Oklahoma States you can visit these 5 interesting places. 
1.In Oklahoma City you can visit innumerable historical, cultural and architectural sights.
2. Tulsa is a home to the headquarters of many large energy companies and big business, it
also boasts some superb architecture and interesting attractions.
3. One of the most renowned roads in the US, Route 66 meanders from Chicago, Illinois all
the way to Santa Monica in California.
4.  Bartlesville is known for being the home of the only skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd
Wright. Besides art, architecture and animals, the city also holds some significant cultural
events and festivals over the year.
5. Covering a vast swathe of southwest Oklahoma, the wonderfully wild Wichita Mountains
Wildlife Refuge lies just to the north of Lawton. Founded in 1901, it preserves diverse
landscapes and countless species of fauna and flora.
 
Slide 9
In Oklahoma were born baseball player Mickey Mantle, folk singer Woody Guthrie, country
singer Garth Brooks, and actors Will Rogers and Brad Pitt.

New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is
bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by
the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware River and Pennsylvania; on the southwest
by Delaware Bay and the state of Delaware. At 7,354 square miles (19,050 km2), New Jersey
is the fifth-smallest state based on land area, but with close to 9.3 million residents, is the
11th-most populous and the most densely populated. New Jersey's state capital is Trenton,
while the state's most populous city is Newark. With the sole exception of Warren County, all
counties in the state lie within the combined statistical areas of New York City or
Philadelphia; consequently, the state's largest metropolitan area falls within Greater New
York.
New Jersey was named for the island of Jersey in the English Channel. Its long and beautiful
coastline has long made New Jersey a popular vacation destination, with over 50 seaside
resort towns including Asbury Park, Atlantic City and Cape May. The state also boasts an
impressive musical legacy–Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Frank Sinatra all hail from
New Jersey. It is known as industrial center, but earns its “Garden State” nickname–New
Jersey is a leading producer of cranberries, blueberries and tomatoes.

ETYMOLOGY
The state was named in honor of British colonist George Carteret, who’d previously been
governor of the Isle of Jersey, a British island in the English Channel, between the United
Kingdom and France.
New Jersey was nicknamed the Garden State in 1876, because of the huge amount of food
grown there during that time.
GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS
New Jersey is often broadly divided into three geographic regions: North Jersey, Central
Jersey, and South Jersey. Some New Jersey residents do not consider Central Jersey a region
in its own right, but others believe it is a separate geographic and cultural area from the North
and South.
The Atlantic Coastal Plain, which features low hills, pine forests, and salt marshes, sweeps
across the southern three-fifths of the state. This area includes the Barrier Islands, which have
sandy beaches.
Northeast of the Coastal Plain is the 20-mile-wide Piedmont, where the Hudson, Passaic,
Remapo, and Raritan rivers cross. This region has rolling hills and narrow valleys, and it’s
where most of the state’s major cities are located.
Toward the west is the New England Upland, also called the Highlands. This area has flat-
topped rock ridges and many lakes.
List of New Jersey rivers includes streams formally designated as rivers. Major rivers include
the Manasquan, Maurice, Mullica, Passaic, Rahway, Raritan, Musconetcong, Hudson and
Delaware rivers. Historically, the Delaware and Raritan rivers have provided transportation
of goods and people inland from the Atlantic Ocean, and were once connected by the
Delaware and Raritan Canal. Today, these rivers, and the streams that feed them, provide
sport and recreation for many people.

HISTORY
The first people came to the area that’s now New Jersey at least 12,000 years ago. Thousands
of years later, Native American tribes including the Lenape, Munsee (or Minsi), and
Unalachtigo lived on the land.

Around 1524 Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano became the first European to arrive in
the region. Then Swedish, Finnish, and Dutch colonists built settlements and fought over land
until England took control of the region in 1664. New Jersey became one of 13 American
colonies ruled by the British.

But eventually the colonists living here wanted independence. This led to the American
Revolution, which began in 1775. New Jersey was the site of more Revolutionary War battles
than any other state. In 1776 George Washington crossed of the Delaware River into Trenton,
New Jersey, where he defeated British forces. The battle was a turning point in the war, as
one of the first major military victories in the Revolutionary War. In 1787 New Jersey
became the third U.S. state and the first to sign the Bill of Rights.
POPULATION
New Jersey population in 2021 is estimated to be 9.4 million, It is 11th populated state and
47th by area rank in United States. Its Area is 8,722 sq miles (22,591 sq km) and has highest
density rank, 1210 people per sq mile. New Jersey state capital is Trenton, world largest
statue of tooth (15 feet), a giant structure is located here in Trenton and the top 5 cities are
Newark, Jersy City, Paterson, Elizabeth and Edison.
English is the official and most spoken language in New Jersey state, out of these 69% speak
English natively at home, followed by 16.1% speak Spanish Language, 8.3% speak european
langugage and 4.8% speak Asian languages.

GOVERNMENT
The government of the state of New Jersey is separated into three distinct branches,
executive, legislative and judicial. The powers of the State of New Jersey are vested by the
Constitution of New Jersey, enacted in 1947, in a bicameral state legislature (consisting of the
General Assembly and Senate), the Governor, and the state courts, headed the New Jersey
Supreme Court. Members of the New Jersey legislature are chosen from 40 legislative
districts around the state. Each legislative district elects one senator and two Assembly
members. 
Elections for state offices are held in odd years. Assembly terms are two years. The terms for
the governor and the Senate are four years except for the term that follows redistricting when
the Senate terms are two years.
Executive Branch
Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, was elected on November 7, 2017 and was sworn into
office on January 16, 2018.
Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver is the second highest ranking official in state
government. She was elected on November 7, 2017 and was sworn into office on January 16,
2018.
Legislative Branch
The 219th New Jersey Legislature met for the first time on January 14, 2020, when the 80
members of the General Assembly and 40 members of the Senate were sworn into office.
Democrats control the Assembly by a margin of 52-28. Democrats control the State Senate
by a margin of 25-15. 

CLIMATE
Due to its location the climate tends to be wet, dry, hot and very variable. 
There are 5 climate regions in the state.
The “prevailing westerly” also cause dramatic changes to the climate across the state.
The temperature differences between the north and south are greatest in the winter and the
least in the summer.
The average rainfall is 43 –47 inches.
Snowfall occurs in the highlands between October 15 and April 30.
In the southern parts snowfall occurs on the average between November 15 and April 15.
On the average, the state has 25 – 30 thunderstorms per year.
There are approximately 5 tornados during the year; however, they tend to be weak.
New Jersey also has coastal storms also known as “Nor’easters”. These storms can be very
dangerous and cause severe damage.

NATURAL RESOURCES
New Jersey has plenty of granite, sand, and gravel for mining; and is a leader in seafood
production, particularly clams harvested off the coast. Minerals found in New Jersey include
clay, peat, stone, sand and gravel. New Jersey is the only state in the United States to produce
greensand marl, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Greensand marl is used by farmers
for fertilization purposes.
Food and agriculture are New Jersey's third largest industry, behind pharmaceuticals and
tourism, bringing in billions of dollars in revenue to the state.
Farmers in the Garden State produce more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables
for consumers to enjoy either fresh or processed here in New Jersey and elsewhere in the
Northeast, in Canada and in many countries around the world.  Nationally, New Jersey is one
of the top 10 producers of blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant,
cucumbers, apples, spinach, squash, and asparagus.
Fish and seafood are also a valuable commodity with tons of bluefish, tilefish, flounder, hake,
shellfish and other species harvested annually. With its catch sold here at home and in foreign
markets around the world, the commercial fishing industry adds another $133 million to the
value of agriculture in New Jersey.
WILDLIFE
New Jersey’s mammals include black bears, bobcats, red foxes, raccoons, and Tuckahoe
masked shrews, which are similar to moles. Red-bellied woodpeckers, chickadees, northern
cardinals, and American goldfinches (the state bird) are common birds here. The state is
home to reptiles such as spotted turtles, five-lined skinks, and coastal plain milk snakes.
Marbled salamanders, red-spotted newts, and New Jersey chorus frogs are among its
amphibians.
The state’s many trees include sugar maple, American chestnut, flowering dogwood, pitch
pine, and American elm. Black-eyed Susans, orange daylilies, Queen Anne’s lace, and violets
(the state flower) are some of the wildflowers that grow here.

ECONOMY
Manufacturing is the number one industry in the state.
Tourism is the second largest industry in the state.
Newark, Elizabeth and Camden are ports for commerce and the import and export of
products.

10 of New Jersey's strangest laws

In Manville it's illegal to offer alcohol or tobacco to zoo animals
In New Jersey it's illegal to commit murder while wearing a bullet proof vest.
In Newark it's illegal to purchase ice cream after 6 pm without a doctor’s note.
In New Jersey it's illegal to frown at a cop.
In New Jersey it's illegal to sell a car on Sundays.
In New Jersey it's illegal to slurp your soup in public.
In Trenton it's illegal to eat pickles on Sunday.
In Caldwell it’s illegal to dance on Main Street.
In Raritan it's illegal to swear.
In New Jersey it's illegal for a man to knit during fishing season.

ARKANSAS
General information
Arkansas is known for its lakes, rivers, and hot springs, extreme weather and frequent storms,
rice and poultry production, and the only active diamond mine in the United States. 
Capital: Little Rock 
Population: 3,013,825 people
Total Size: 52,068 sq. miles
Major Cities: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro 
Borders: Arkansas borders Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, and
Tennessee 
Climate
The climate of Arkansas generally is mild in the winter and hot in the summer, it is classified
as “humid subtropical.” Generally, there is a significant amount of precipitation in every
month, and temperatures tend to be mild compared with the northern part of the country.
Both temperatures and precipitation decrease from south to north.
Plant and animal life
The plant life of Arkansas varies from region to region, along with the state’s geography.
This southeastern state is home to more than 2,600 species of native plants, from water-
loving cypresses that thrive in river valleys to forests of pines and oaks that populate the
state’s southern mountain ranges and colorful native orchids and passion flowers. Climatic
conditions in Arkansas range from warm, humid lowlands to drier, cooler mountain areas. 
The rice fields and reservoirs of the eastern part of the state attract many game birds and
animals, among the most plentiful of which are turkeys, quail, deer, opossums, squirrels, and
rabbits. Bobcats inhabit the hill country and feral hogs (locally known as razorbacks) are
found in many parts of the state. In the mid-20th century black bears were reintroduced into
the Ozarks. 
Arkansas has its own native carnivorous plan is a tiny plant, about 1-inch in diameter. Insects
crawl across the leaves and get trapped, then devoured by the sundew’s digestive enzymes.
The short-leaved sundew grows in boggy and disturbed areas, and its carnivorous abilities
allow it to thrive in nonfertile soil.
Resources and power
The Arkansas economy has long been tied closely to the state’s natural resources, although
this relationship has weakened significantly as the state has diversified its economy. Fertile
soil and timber were the resources that attracted early settlers. Later, oil fields in southern
Arkansas yielded natural gas and bromide salts, while coal of a nearly smokeless quality as
well as natural gas have been extracted from the Arkansas River valley. Arkansas also has
one of the country’s few commercially exploited supplies of bauxite, which is used for
making aluminum. 
Near Murfreesboro, in southwestern Arkansas, is Crater of Diamonds State Park, site of the
only active diamond mine in the country. About half of the state’s energy is provided by coal-
fired generators scattered around the state, with most of the coal imported from Wyoming.
A nuclear power plant near Russellville supplies more than one-fourth of the state’s energy.
Hydroelectric stations, mostly along the White, Arkansas, and Ouachita rivers, generate a
smaller but nonetheless significant portion of the state’s power.
ATTRACTIONS
Culturally rich and endowed with abundant natural resources, Arkansas offers a blend of
historical and outdoor attractions. Hot Springs National Park has a long history almost as
steamy as the water that fills its bathhouses, and visitors to the Crystal Bridges Museum can't
help but notice the lush Ozark landscapes that surround the five decades of American art.
Buffalo National River is an unpolluted, free-flowing river. It has three designated wilderness
areas within its boundaries. Running through the Ozark Mountains, Buffalo National River is
a protected area and home to deer, bobcats, and a variety of other wildlife. About 10 miles
south of Hot Springs National Park, Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the
University of Arkansas. Originally spurred to life in 1956 by Verna Cook Garvan, an
influential business leader of Hot Springs, the gardens have grown to include a wide array of
different plots, overlooks, and scenic structures.
Education
The public school system functions under the state’s department of education and district
school boards. Specialized institutions include schools for the deaf and the blind. The state’s
facilities for children with developmental disabilities and for the treatment of mental
illness have received acclaim across the country. Vocational-technical schools serve most
areas of state.
The University of Arkansas, founded in 1871, has its main campus in Fayetteville and
branches in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Monticello; the school of medicine and graduate
programs in health sciences and social work, all of which are on the Little Rock campus, are
nationally recognized. Arkansas State University, founded in 1909 as an agricultural college
in Jonesboro, now has branch campuses in several cities
 FACTS
 Arkansas is also the only U.S. state that actively mines diamonds.
  Rock House Cave in Petit Jean State Park contains well-preserved rock drawings that
were created by Native Americans more than 500 years ago.
 Famous Arkansans include President William Jefferson Clinton, General Douglas
MacArthur, and former U.S. Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders.
 Rice production is a billion dollar industry in Arkansas. No doubt, Arkansas is the
largest producer of rice among the 50 states. 
 About half of Arkansas is covered under forest.

QUIZ
1. What is the capital of Arkansas? Little Rock
2. What are the majors cities of Arkansas? Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville,
Springdale, Jonesboro
3. What is the own native plant of Arkansas? Carnivorous plant
4. What mines is Akansas proud of? The only active diamond mine in the United
States.


Georgia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the
north by Tennessee and North Carolina; to the northeast by South Carolina; to the
southeast by the Atlantic Ocean; to the south by Florida; and to the west by Alabama.
Georgia is the 24th-largest in area and 8th-most populous of the 50 United States.


 Quick facts
 Admission to Statehood: January 2, 1788 (4th State))
 Origin of State Name: Named for King George II of  England;
 Capital: Atlanta (Since 1868);
 The Biggest city: Atlanta
 Nickname: Peach State;
 Motto: “Wisdom, justice, and moderation” ;
 Total population: 10, 7 million;
 159 cities;
 State song: “Georgia on My Mind”. 
 Abbreviation: GA
 State bird: brown thrasher
 State flower: Cherokee rose
Founded in 1837 Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia, as well as the state's capital.
Atlanta is located in north/central Georgia. It is home to the  household names such as The
Coca-Cola Company, Delta Airlines, Home Depot, and UPS.
Religion
The composition of religious affiliation in Georgia is 79% Protestant, 9% Catholic, 1%
Mormon, 1% Jewish, 0.5% Muslim, 0.5% Buddhist, and 0.5% Hindu. Atheists, deists,
agnostics, and other unaffiliated people make up 18% of the population.
The state government of Georgia is the U.S. state governmental body established by the
Georgia State Constitution. It is a republican form of government with three branches: the
legislature(леджіслейчє), executive, and judiciary(джудішіарі). Each of these branches has
some authority to act on its own, some authority to regulate the other two branches, and has
some of its own authority, in turn, regulated by the other branches. The seat of government
for Georgia is located in Atlanta. 

Top 5 Industries in Georgia

1. Agriculture
Many U.S. residents wouldn’t have fruit, meat, and nuts if it wasn’t for Georgia’s agriculture.
The state is known as the No. 1 pecan producer in the world, and is among the leading
producers of blueberries, peaches, peanuts, and poultry products. 
2. Film
"Forrest Gump," "Glory," and "Sweet Home Alabama" are just some of the hit films that
were made in Georgia. The state has the fourth largest entertainment industry in the nation
with more than 800 film and television projects. 
3. Energy
Georgia leads the nation in net electricity due to lumber and pulpwood production ,
renewable energy, coal , and natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration. . Georgia is also ranked 15th in the country for installation of solar energy
generators.
4. Automotive
With more than 250 facilities , the automotive industry is booming in Georgia. Kia Motors
chose the state for its first U.S. manufacturing facility, and more than 20 percent of the East
Coast’s automotive exports leave through Georgia’s ports. 
5. Tourism
The tourism is one of Georgia’s most popular industries. About 14 million people visit each
year in popular destinations such as the Georgia Aquarium, the Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Park, the World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta Botanic Garden, Stone Mountain Park etc

Virginia

 constituent state of the United States of America

 It is bordered by Maryland to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, North
Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the
northwest.
 The state capital is Richmond.
FAST FACTS:
Nickname: The Old Dominion State
Statehood: 1788; 10th state
Population (as of July 2015): 8,382,993
Capital: Richmond
Biggest city: Virginia Beach
Abbreviation: VA
State bird: northern cardinal
State flower: American dogwood
WHY’S IT CALLED THAT?
-Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.
-The area that’s now Virginia was home to the first English colony in North America, and
Virginia was thought of as one of England’s dominions, or territory. That’s why it’s
nicknamed the Old Dominion State.
Now let's delve deeper into this topic
History
 Virginia was the first part of the country permanently settled by the English, who
established Jamestown on the banks of the James River in 1607.
 Virginia played an important role in the American Revolution (1775-83).
 During the Civil War (1861-65), the city of Richmond, Virginia, became the capital of the
Confederacy, and more than half of the conflict’s battles were fought in the state.
 Today, many government institutions are headquartered in Virginia,
 Famous Virginians include singer Ella Fitzgerald, tennis star Arthur Ashe, actress Shirley
MacLaine and authors Willa Cather and Tom Wolfe.
Climate of Virginia
 Virginia's weather has been described as not too hot and not too cold – and is officially
considered a humid, subtropical region due to winter frost. During the summer, it can get a
bit "sticky" due to the abundant water along the East Coast with the Chesapeake Bay and the
Atlantic Ocean as well as the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James rivers and their
tributaries. But the air is cooler with less humidity in the mountains – on average 10 degrees
cooler during all four seasons.
  In southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, January temperatures average about 40 °F
(4 °C); July temperatures average in the upper 70s F (about 26 °C). These temperatures allow
growing seasons of up to eight months, three months longer than those in far western
Virginia. Elsewhere in the Tidewater and Piedmont regions, continental weather overcomes
the eastern marine influence to produce colder winters. In the mountains winter temperatures
of 0 °F (−18 °C) may occur, and cool nights in summer follow daytime highs that usually
stay below 90 °F (32 °C). Throughout the state, precipitation averages from about 32 to 44
inches (810 to 1,120 mm). Snowfall averages from a few inches in the southeast to about 30
inches (760 mm) in the mountains. Plant and animal life
 Forests of the Tidewater and Piedmont areas have mainly pine and somehardwood. Cover
other than trees includes marsh grass in the Tidewater and broom sedge, crabgrass, wire
grass, and cultivated crops elsewhere.

Texas:

Texas
Texas is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles
(695,662 sq km), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest
U.S. state by both area (after Alaska) and population (after California).The origin of Texas's
name is from the Caddo word táyshaʼ meaning 'friends'.The Caddo were a confederacy of
Native American tribes that dominated East Texas.
If you were making a list of the things Texans say set them apart from non-Texans,
friendliness would rank pretty high. Signs of friendliness are ubiquitous here. Even reminders
along the interstate to “Drive Friendly, the Texas Way.” “Friendship” is the state’s official
motto.
Texas is nicknamed the "Lone Star State" for its former status as an independent republic,
and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico in 1836. The "Lone
Star" can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texas state seal.The flag is highly
popular among Texans and is treated with a great degree of reverence and esteem."Texas,
Our Texas" is the regional anthem of the U.S. state of Texas.
The geography of Texas is diverse and large. Occupying about 7% of the total water and
land area of the U.S., it is the second largest state after Alaska.Texas shares borders with the
states of Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New
Mexico to the west, and some Mexican states (of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and
Tamaulipas) to the south and southwest, and has a coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the
southeast. By residents, the state is generally divided into North Texas, East Texas, Central
Texas, South Texas, West Texas and, sometimes, the Panhandle.
History
Before Europeans arrived in the 1500s, Texas was the home to several Native American
tribes.In 1519, the Spanish arrived in Texas when Alonso Alvarez de Pineda mapped the
coastline. Another Spanish explorer, Cabeza de Vaca, shipwrecked off the coast of Texas in
1528. He there for seven years. Later, he wrote of gold which inspired the Spanish
conquistadors to explore Texas. 
It wasn't until the late 1600s that the Europeans began to settle in Texas. First the French
claimed the land when Robert de La Salle arrived and established Fort St. Louis in 1685.
Soon the Spanish took over. They settled Texas by establishing Catholic missions. In 1718,
San Antonio was established with the building of the Mission San Antonio de Valero. 
Texas was a part of Mexico when Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In
1825, American Stephen F. Austin established a colony in Texas. He settled the land with the
approval of the Mexican government. But they began to have many disagreements with the
Mexican government. The tensions between the Texans and Mexico turned to battle in 1835.
Then the Texas Revolution began. After the Battle of the Alamo in 1836,despite the defeat,
the Texans declared their independence and formed the Republic of Texas on March 2, 1836.
Although the Texans had declared independence, they were still very vulnerable to attacks
from Mexico. Some people wanted to join the United States while others wanted to remain
independent. Sam Houston convinced the Texan leaders that joining the United States would
offer Texas protection from Mexico as well as new trade partners. On December 29, 1845
Texas was admitted as the 28th state.
The racial composition of Texas. White: 73.97%, Black or African American: 12.13%,
Other race: 5.82%, Asian: 4.80%, Two or more races: 2.69%, Native American: 0.50%,
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.09%
The most common accent or dialect spoken by natives throughout Texas is sometimes
referred to asT exan English, which is a sub-variety of Southern American English. Creole
language is spoken in some parts of East Texas.In some areas of the stateWestern American
English and General American English, is increasingly common. Chicano Englishis
widespread in South Texas, while African-American English is notable in historically
minority areas of urban Texas.
Most common non-English languages: are Spanish 29.21%, Vietnamese 0.75%, Chinese
0.56%, German 0.33%
The majority of Texas's population have been and remain predominantly Christian. The
following largest groups were the irreligious (18%), nothing in particular (13%), Judaism
(1%), Islam (1%), Buddhism (1%) and Hinduism and other religions at less than 1 percent
each.
The U.S. state of Texas is divided into 254 counties, more than any other U.S. state.Texas has
more than 1,200 incorporated cities. They range in size from Houston, with more than 2.3
million residents, to over 400 towns with populations of fewer than 1,000. The largest cities
in Texas are Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas.It is the 11th-most populous city in
the United States,the fourth-most-populous city in Texas,The city dates back to the 1830s,
when the first Anglo-American settlers arrived in the area. In 1837, settlers founded the
village of Waterloo on the banks of the Colorado River. By 1839, Waterloo would adopt the
name Austin and the frontier town would become the capital of the Republic of Texas. The
City is named for Stephen F. Austin, the “Father of Texas.” 
Interesting facts:
Tons of movies have been filmed in Austin - Austin is one of the sunniest cities in America
(Out of 365 days, Austin gets an average of 300 days of sunshine!) - If there is one food that
describes Austin, it’s breakfast tacos
The government of Texas operates under the Constitution of Texas adopted in 1876 .Texas
has a bicameral legislature composed of 31 senators, who serve four-year terms, and 150
representatives, who are elected to two-year terms. The governor, is elected to a four-year
term.There is no constitutional limit on how many terms a governor may serve.
Anyone seeking to become Governor of Texas must meet the following qualifications:
 Be at least thirty years of age
 Be a Texas resident for at least five years before the election
The present governor is Greg Abbott (2015 – now).
The Texas State Capitol is the capitol and seat of government of the American state
of Texas. The State Capitol resembles the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. and is
notable for purposely being built seven feet taller than the U.S. national capitol.
Texas has a reputation of very harsh criminal punishment for criminal offenses. It is one of
the 32 states that practice capital punishment. 40% of all U.S. executions have taken place in
Texas.Texas also has strong right of self-defense and self defense laws, allowing citizens to
use lethal force to defend themselves or their property.
Some absurd laws that are actually active and even enforceable in Texas.
 There are some cities in Texas where it’s illegal to go barefoot without a permit.
Citizens must buy a permit for $5. They are then free to go barefoot.
 Texas outlawed owning the encyclopedia Britannica set because a volume contains
the recipe for making beer. Since lawmakers don’t want home breweries, being
caught owning the set canresult in fines and/or jail time.
 Eating your neighbor’s garbage without permission can land you in jail for trespassing
and property theft.
 In Texas, it is illegal to milk another person’s cow. Doing so results in a fine of no
more than $10. 
 In Galveston, you can be fined $500 for sitting on the sidewalk.

The economy of the State of Texas is the second largest by GDP in the United States after
that of California. Texas has the most farms of all United States both in terms of number and
acreage. It leads nationally in production of sheep and goat products and is a king of cotton
leading the nation in cotton production, a leader in cereal crop production and a large
producer of watermelons, grapefruits, and cantaloupes.Three counties in the state are
responsible for about 5% of annual U.S. rice production. Texas has been the nation’s No. 1
state for exports for the past 19 years.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, the center of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), located in Houston is a leading hub for the Aeronautics industry.
Texas has a large tourism industry. The state tourism slogan is "Texas: It's like a whole other
country.“Texas is a top filmmaking state. Healthcare is a growing industry in the state of
Texas.The Texas Medical Center, located in south central Houston, is the largest medical
center in the world. Many high-tech companies are located in or have their headquarters in
Texas, including Dell, Inc., Borland, Forcepoint, Indeed.com…
The state's two most widely recognized universities are The University of Texas at Austin
and Texas A&M University, ranked as the 21st and 41st best universities in the nation
according to 2020's latest Center for World UniversityRankings report, respectively.
Texas has a strong ranching tradition which has had significant influence on American
cowboy culture, particularly in rodeo.Cowboys make up a large part of Texan society, so it’s
hard to go anywhere in the state and not see cowboy boots, hats, and rancher attitudes. Most
bars play country western music and most meals involve beef.
The big State Fair of Texas, one of the largest state fairs in the United States by attendance,
is held in Dallas each year between late September through mid- to late October at Fair Park.
The State Fair is known for its fried food, particularly the corn dogs. The State Fair is also
home to the Texas Star, the tallest Ferris wheel in the Western, and Big Tex, a 55-foot-tall
(17 m) cowboy statue.
Famous people from Texas: Selena Gomez, Beyonce Knowles, Lyndon B. Johnson, George
Walker Bush… And it’s not even half of the list.

 The mountainous areas contain tracts of various coniferous species and hardwoods such as
hickory and oak. Bluegrass and field crops generally cover nearby valleys. Wildflowers and
berry bushes abound, depending on climate and soils.
 At the time of European settlement of the Great Valley of Virginia in the early 18th
century, large herds of native bison were prevalent along the banks of the Shenandoah River,
but, as elsewhere, the bison populations were destroyed as settlers moved westward. Black
bears still are found in Virginia’s mountains and in the Great Dismal Swamp. Common fauna
are rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, opossums, muskrats, woodchucks, foxes, and deer. Less
common are otters, beavers, mink, and wildcats. The main game birds are doves, quail,
ducks, and geese; a few wild turkeys and woodcocks may be found. Scavengers include
coastal seagulls and the ubiquitous turkey vulture. Predatory birds include a number of
hawks, owls, and the golden and bald eagles. There are numerous songbirds, including the
cardinal, the state bird. Poisonous reptiles include rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water
moccasins.
 Game fish and smaller panfish abound in Virginia’s inland waters and offshore.
Chesapeake Bay is one of the world’s richest marine-life estuaries, noted for finfish, blue
crabs, oysters, and clams. Although some yearly commercial and sport fishing catches have
suggested generally plentiful stocks, concerns have been raised about overfishing and the
diminishing populations of some species.
People
Nearly three-fourths of Virginia’s residents are of white European descent. African
Americans constitute a substantial minority—about one-fifth of thepopulation—serving as a
reminder of the important role that enslaved African people and their descendants played in
the early development of the state. Native Americans account for a tiny fraction of Virginia’s
population. The state’s Hispanic community has been growing rapidly since the late 20th
century. A small but nonetheless significant proportion of Virginia’s residents are foreign-
born; immigrant peoples of various ethnicities and their families are concentrated primarily in
the northern counties surrounding Washington, D.C.
Settlement patterns
For more than a century, the greatest growth has occurred in the urban corridor, an area that
stretches south from Washington, D.C., through Arlington county and the city of Alexandria
to Richmond before bending southeast to the Hampton Roads area, which comprises the
towns of Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth. This corridor
is often classified as an extension of the great population mass, or megalopolis, arcing across
the northeastern United States from Boston to Washington, D.C. Other metropolitan areas
include the urban environs of Roanoke and Lynchburg, as well as those around the smaller
cities of Danville, Bristol, and Charlottesville.
Religion:
Nearly 55% of Virginia’s population is not affiliated with any particular religious body
(church, synagogue, mosque, etc.) even though some might consider themselves religious;
19% of residents are evangelical Protestant, 11% mainline Protestant and 8% Catholic. The
remaining religions practiced in Virginia fall into the “other” category, such as Buddhism,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Mormonism, for instance.
Economy
 Virginia has developed a well-balanced economy far beyond its original agricultural base,
and since the 1960s the state’s annual economic productivity usually has been slightly higher
than that of the United States as a whole.
 Farming now accounts for just a tiny fraction of the total yearly value of the state’s goods
and services, and manufacturing, while a leading sector in the mid-20th century, has been
surpassed by the services sector.
 The high-technology sector has expanded considerably since the late 20th century,
especially in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., although Hampton Roads and the city of
Richmond also have become areas of concentration.
 Virginia ranks among the top states in per capita distribution of federal funds and has one
of the highest per capita incomes in the Southern region.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
 in the 17th century, European settlers learned tobacco cultivation from the local indigenous
populations, and tobacco became the mainstay of Virginia’s early agricultural economy.
Although other products now predominate, tobacco is still featured in the southern Piedmont
region.
 Poultry, cattle and dairy products, grains and feeds, and vegetables are the state’s principal
agricultural products. Rockingham county in the Shenandoah Valley is home to one of the
country’s major turkey-raising operations. Although not among the primary products,
Virginia’s apples and peaches are famous, especially those from the orchards around
Winchester and in other areas of the northwestern region.
 Virginia’s forestry industry taps both the hardwood resources from the uplands and pine
from the lower-lying areas. Hardwood boards are the primary product of the state’s sawmills.
Pine is the principal pulpwood. Since the 1970s the government has implemented
reforestation programs to counter the risk of overharvesting—particularly of pine resources.
 Virginia’s fisheries operate both in Chesapeake Bay and in the Atlantic Ocean. Products
from the bay include flounder, bass, and a number of other edible finfish, as well as oysters,
hard and soft clams, and blue crabs Considerable quantities of sea clams and scallops are
harvested in the Atlantic, and large ocean fish, such as swordfish and tuna, are caught
onbaited hooks strung out on lines that are suspended relatively close to the ocean’s surface.
Transportation
Virginia’s major transportation facilities are roads, railroads, and airports. Most road traffic is
north-south, adding to Virginia’s status as a “bridge” state between the country’s northeastern
and southeastern regions. The striking 17.6-mile (28.3-km) Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
complex links Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore with Virginia Beach, east of Norfolk.
Comprising a trestled roadway raised above the mouth of the bay and two tunnels (under the
main shipping channels), it is one of the largest structures of its kind. Virginia has a well-
established rail system. A number of large railroad-based interstate transportation companies
have their headquarters in the state. Several other companies operate shorter-line routes
pitched primarily to commuters in the major metropolitan areas.
Government
The present revision of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s constitution of 1776 was adopted in
1970 and ratified the following year. In it the state retains the organization of the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches. The only elected administrative officials are the governor,
the lieutenant governor, and the attorney general; each serves a four-year term, and the
governor is the only one who cannot serve consecutive terms. Virginia’s General Assembly, a
bicameral legislature, consists of a Senate of 33–40 members and a House of Delegates of
90–100 members. The Assembly meets annually in Richmond.
Education
Virginia’s public school system was established in 1846. In the 21st century the Virginia
Board of Education supervises public primary and secondary education, and the State
Council of Higher Education coordinates postsecondary public education. Virginia has a
strong public community-college system, with branches throughout the state. Virginia’s four-
year colleges and universities are numerous. They include both public institutions, funded by
the state, and private ones, many of which were founded by religious denominations. Among
the best known are the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, a state institution
founded in 1693 and the second oldest college in the country, and the University of Virginia
in Charlottesville, founded in 1819 largely as the creation of Thomas Jefferson both in its
organization and in the design of its buildings and grounds. Virginia Tech, established in
Blacksburg in 1872, is a large land-grant college. James Madison University, founded in
Harrisonburg in 1908, was previously a state teachers college for women. Also widely
recognized are the private Washington and Lee University (1749) and the state-supported
Virginia Military Institute (1839), both located in Lexington. Virginia also has a number of
historically Black universities. The private Hampton University (1868) is nationally
recognized, and Norfolk State University (1935) is Virginia’s largest predominantly Black
public postsecondary institution.Several urban state universities have developed into major
institutions since the 1960s. Most of these were once auxiliary campuses of larger
institutions. George Mason University (1957), in Fairfax, originally was a northern-Virginia
branch of the University of Virginia. Virginia Commonwealth University (1838), in
Richmond, has a historical affiliation with the College of William and Mary, as does Old
Dominion University (1930), in Norfolk.

Cultural life
Virginians enjoy a lively cultural life, rooted largely in the state’s colonial history and in its
central role in the early development of the United States. Virginia has more than 100
historical societies and museums. Most notable is the Virginia Historical Society in
Richmond, which houses one of the most extensive collections of materials pertaining to
colonial America and to the early republic; the society regularly exhibits segments of its
holdings. Millions of visitors annually are attracted to the state’s historical sites as well.
Foremost among these is Colonial Williamsburg, a living museum staffed by highly trained
historical interpreters, who, dressed in period clothing, reenact various aspects of colonial life
in and around the town’s expertly restored 17th- and 18th-century buildings. The natural
beauty of Virginia offers much in the way of recreation. Shenandoah National Park, in the
Blue Ridge, has an abundance of wildlife and unusual geological formations, while
Assateague Island National Seashore, off the eastern coast of the Delmarva Peninsula and
divided between Virginia and Maryland, isespecially noted for its wild horses. The broad
sands of Virginia Beach, on the state’s southeastern coast near the entrance to the Chesapeake
Bay, attract many visitors annually. Among the many scenic routes are the Skyline Drive and
Blue Ridge Parkway, which join at Rockfish Gap to form a continuous road following the
crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina; both offer spectacular
views and park facilities. The Colonial Parkway, connecting Jamestown, Williamsburg, and
Yorktown, is attractive from both natural and historical perspectives; planned in the 1930s,
this road has only two lanes. The James River provides challenging rapids for enthusiasts of
white-water canoeing, rafting, and other aquatic adventure sports, and the state’s mountain
resorts, including Homestead, Bryce, Massanutten, and Wintergreen, offer fine slopes for
downhill skiing. Golfing is also a popular pastime. Of the more than two dozen daily
newspapers that serve Virginia’s residents, The Washington Post is the most widely read. The
Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Virginian-Pilot, based in Norfolk, cover their respective
metropolitan areas. Arlington is the home of USA Today, which in the 1990s became one of
the country’s most influential news organs. Several scholarly and popular historical journals
published in Virginia enjoy a national readership. The state also has dozens of television
stations and more than 100 radio stations.
FUN STUFF
—Eight U.S. presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and
Woodrow Wilson.
—These presidents’ homes are open to visitors, including Washington’s home, Mount
Vernon; Jefferson’s home, Monticello; Madison’s home, Montpelier; Monroe’s home,
Highland; Harrison’s birthplace, Berkeley Plantation; and Tyler’s home, Sherwood Forest
Plantation.
—Many words we use today came from Virginia’s Native American languages. Raccoon,
moccasin, hickory, moose, skunk, and chipmunk are a few such words.
—Actors recreate life in Colonial Williamsburg, a working 18th-century villagewhere
blacksmiths work, colonial meals are served, and more. Many of the buildings here are the
originals from the 1700s.

History of the US Constitution

The Constitution of the United States established America’s national government and
fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on
September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Under
America’s first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, the national government
was weak and states operated like independent countries. At the 1787 convention, delegates
devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches —executive, legislative
and judicial. The Preamble outlines the Constitution's purpose and guiding principles. It
reads:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States of America."
 America’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was ratified in 1781, a time
when the nation was a loose confederation of states, each operating like independent
countries. The national government was comprised of a single legislature, the Congress of
the Confederation; there was no president or judicial branch.
 The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct
war and regulate currency; however, in reality these powers were sharply limited because
Congress had no authority to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops.
 Soon after America won its independence from Great Britain with its 1783 victory in
the American Revolution, it became increasingly evident that the young republic needed a
stronger central government in order to remain stable.
 In 1786, Alexander Hamilton, a lawyer and politician from New York, called for a
constitutional convention to discuss the matter. The Confederation Congress, which in
February 1787 endorsed the idea, invited all 13 states to send delegates to a meeting in
Philadelphia.
 The delegates had been tasked by Congress with amending the Articles of Confederation;
however, they soon began deliberating proposals for an entirely new form of government.
After intensive debate, which continued throughout the summer of 1787 and at times
threatened to derail the proceedings, they developed a plan that established three branches
of national government–executive, legislative and judicial. A system of checks and
balances was put into place so that no single branch would have too much authority. The
specific powers and responsibilities of each branch were also laid out.
 By September 1787, the convention’s five-member Committee of Style (Hamilton,
Madison, William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut, Gouverneur Morris of New York,
Rufus King of Massachusetts) had drafted the final text of the Constitution, which
consisted of some 4,200 words. On September 17, George Washington was the first to
 sign the document. In order for the Constitution to become law, it then had to be ratified
by nine of the 13 states.
 In 1789, Madison, then a member of the newly established U.S. House of
Representatives, introduced 19 amendments to the Constitution. On September 25, 1789,
Congress adopted 12 of the amendments and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten
of these amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified and became
part of the Constitution on December 10, 1791. The Bill of Rights guarantees individuals
certain basic protections as citizens, including freedom of speech, religion and the press;
the right to bear and keep arms; the right to peaceably assemble; protection from
unreasonable search and seizure; and the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury. For his contributions to the drafting of the Constitution, as well as its ratification,
Madison became known as “Father of the Constitution.”
 In the more than 200 years since the Constitution was created, America has stretched
across an entire continent and its population and economy have expanded more than the
document’s framers likely ever could have envisioned. Through all the changes, the
Constitution has endured and adapted. Today, the original Constitution is on display at
the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Constitution Day is observed on September
17, to commemorate the date the document was signed. 

Mississippi, constituent state of the United States of America. Its name derives from a Native

American word meaning “great waters” or “father of waters.” Mississippi became the 20th
state of the union in 1817. Jackson is the state capital is named after General Andrew Jackson
in honor of his victory at the Battle of New Orleans in January of 1815.
Population composition
People of white European ancestry—primarily British, Irish, or northern European—account
for about three-fifths of Mississippi’s residents, while African Americans make up nearly all
of the remainder. 
History
How did Mississippi get its name: The name Mississippi was originally given to the
Mississippi River by the Chippewa Indians.
In their language, “Mississippi” means “large river.”
The French explorer Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle used the name on his map of the area
in 1695.
Mississippi played a huge role in the Civil War.
Obviously the effects of the Civil War could be felt all over the country; however,
Mississippi played a huge role in the war since its location along the Mississippi River made
it strategically important to both the Union and Confederacy. Several notable battles,
including the Siege of Vicksburg, have been fought on the state’s soil.
Land
Mississippi is a low-lying state, its highest point reaching only about 800 feet (240 metres)
above sea level. Except for its hilly northeast corner, Mississippi lies entirely within the
eastern gulf segment of the broader Coastal Plain physiographic region. It has generally low
topographic elevations and extensive tracts of marshy land. Its major soil
areas encompass hills, plains, river lowlands, and pine woods.
Plant and animal life
Forests cover about 65 percent of the state, and so are one of its major resources.
Mississippi’s hickory and oak woods are known for their beautiful grain, so they're used in
furniture and flooring. 
The mild climate, long growing season, and plentiful rainfall provide Mississippi with a
remarkable variety of plant and animal life. Live oaks and several varieties of pines are
characteristic of the southern counties, while fruit trees and hardwoods, such
as oak and hickory, thrive in the north. Magnolia and pecan trees are favourites throughout
the state. Pine forests, often intermixed with oaks, are found extensively on the state’s sandier
soils. More than half the land area is forested, and the state is studded throughout with many
naturally occurring and cultivated flowers.
The University of Mississippi is home to the Marijuana Research Project, the only federally-
funded center devoted to growing cannabis and investigating the plant's medical effects. Just
this March, the National Institute for Health earmarked $68.8 million for the center's efforts.
In 1963, Dr. James Hardy at the University of Mississippi performed the first human lung
transplant. One year later, he performed the first animal-human heart transplant. The patient,
who received a chimpanzee heart, lived 90 minutes after the operation.
1. What is the capital of Missippi?
2. What means Mississippi in their language?
3. What is the highest point of Mississipi?

National icons
Today I’m going to talk about national icons of the USA.

Actually, national symbols represent pride and value of the country. As far as the USA is
concerned, there are a lot of symbols which represent it in general, but still, every state has its
own: flag, emblem and anthem.

The 1st one is The American Flag, which is often called as “The Stars and Stripes”, “Old
Glory” or “The Star-Spangled Banner”. On the top-left part we can see 50 stars on a blue
background – they represent states of the United States. As well there are 13 stripes: 7 of
them are red, all the rest – white. These represent 13 British colonies which, back in a day,
declared independence. The current 50-star flag is the 27th edition of the flag and it’s already
been used for 60+ years.

National bird of the USA – Bald Eagle. It was chosen because of its long life, great strength
and as well it was believed to exist only on this continent at the time. In the late 20th it was on
the verge of extinction, but later populations recovered. It  can be found in all of the
contiguous United States and Alaska. And basically Bald Eagles aren’t bald, it’s just that the
name derives from an older meaning – “white headed”.

National Mammal – North American Bison. This symbol has been for many years for its
strength, endurance, and dignity. It became an official symbol in May 2016 and, later in
November, designated during a ceremony at Wind Cave National Park. Nowadays, give or
take 30k wild bison are roaming in the country.

Now we have The Great Seal of the US; emblem. It was established in 1782 and is used to
authenticate certain documents and, as well, as the national coat of arms of The USA. It is
officially used on documents such as United States passports, military insignia, embassy
placards, and various flags. In the center of the seal we can see their national bird — the bald
eagle that holds a scroll in its beak with the national motto: “E Pluribus Unum”, which means
“one from many”. It represents a nation, created from 13 colonies. An olive branch and a
bundle of 13 arrows represents the power of piece and war.

National anthem – “The Star-Spangled Banner”. The lyrics were written by a poet Francis
Scott Key in 1814 and the melody was borrowed from one popular British song. It was
recognized for official use by the Navy in 1889, then by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916
and, finally, on March 1931 became the official anthem, signed by President Herbert Hoover.
Though, it is somewhat controversial as it has war-related imagery and the challenge that the
music poses to singers.

The next symbol is The Liberty Bell – an iconic symbol of American independence. One
side of the bell has a biblical quote: “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof.” The most notable feature of the bell, though, is a crack in the metal that
runs up from the bell’s lip. Although there is no proof, many people believe that the Liberty
Bell was rung to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. In the
1830s, abolitionists adopted the bell as a symbol of their struggle to abolish slavery; they
popularized the name the Liberty Bell. Between 1885 and 1915, the bell traveled around the
country for exhibitions and patriotic events. The bell currently resides in the Liberty Bell
Center in Philadelphia’s Independence Mall.

National Motto of the US is – In God We Trust. In 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower

approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress declaring “In God We Trust” as the official
national motto of the United States of America and it supplanted “E Pluribus Unum” that had
been in use since 1776. The motto first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.

Another american symbol – Currency. The US dollar is the official currency out there. One
of the highest traded and used currencies in international transactions. Furthermore, it is used
by many other countries as official currency as well. And its symbol is $.

The Statue of Liberty. It symbolizes American democracy. It has a formal title – “Liberty
Enlightening the World”. It was a gift from the French people in 1884 as a symbol of
friendship. The statue is located it New York Harbor, shows Libertas (the Roman goddess of
freedom) and was dedicated in 1886. It holds a torch in one hand and a tablet representing a
law in another. The date of the Declaration of Independence is inscribed on the tablet.

Uncle Sam – a common national personification of the US federal government or the country
in general. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson who was a meat packer from Troy, New
York. He’s portrayed as an older man with a beard in clothes that evoke the US flag.
National floral emblem/flower – Rose. By Senate Joint Resolution 159, the Congress
accepted Rose as the National Floral Emblem of the USA and on November 20, 1986 it was
already proclaimed so by President Ronald Reagan. It naturally grows throughout North
America, blooming in red, white, yellow or pink.  It is a symbol of love and beauty. And
several of the 50 states have also adopted the rose as their official state flower.

The National Tree of the United States of America – Oak Tree. It was designated as the
official national tree of the USA on 2004. It’s cherished for its abundant shade and beauty.
There are more than 60 species of oak in the United States. Each state also recognizes an
official tree symbol.

NEVADA:
Nevada was 36th state to be created in 1864, October 31st. Nevada is a state in the Western
region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon, California, Arizona and Utah.
Nevade has a population of 3,104,614. It is the seventh-largest state by size in the US.
 Nevada is officially known as the “Silver State”. The name Nevada from Spanish means
“snow capped.”This is because of the snowy Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Contrary to popular belief Nevada’s capital is Carson City. Nevada is divided into 16
jurisdictions, known as counties and 1 independent city.
Largest cities:
Las Vegas - population 644,644
Henderson - population 310,390
Reno - population 250,998
Carson city(capital) - 55,414

Nevada is the driest state in the United states. It is mostly made up of desert and semi-arid
climate regions. Nevada is mainly known for its beautiful desert, but it also has a lot of parks
and nature resorts. 
Nevada has 172 mountain summits, and 30 mountain ranges. Nevada ranks second in the
United States by the number of mountains, after Alaska. 
Lots of Nevada is undeveloped because it is desert land.

The lowest point in Nevada is on the Colorado River which is 143 metres above sea level.
Major rivers of Nevada: Colorado River, Humboldt River and Truckee Rives
Major Lakes of Nevada: Pyramid lake, Lake Mead and Lake Tahoe (the largest lake in North
America)
Highest Point: Boundary Peak 

Economy:
Nevada has one of the strongest economies in the United states. The economy of Nevada is
driven by tourism, mining, and gaming.
Tourism: Nevada is mostly known for Las Vegas and Las Vegas is known for casinos, which
attract millions of gamblers.
Mining plays a major economic role. The most important minerals mined are gold and silver.
Nevada produced ¾ of the gold produced in the US. The state is one of the largest sources of
gold in the world. Other minerals in Nevada include copper, lithium, iron, salt and others. 
Cattle ranching is the main agricultural activity in rural Nevada, followed by sheep rearing.
Nevada's agricultural outputs are cattle, hay, alfalfa, dairy products, onions, and potatoes.

Demographics

Population: As of 2020 the population of Nevada is 3,104,614.  Nevada had the highest
percentage growth in population from 2017 to 2018. At the 2010 census, 6.9% of the state's
population were reported as under 5, 24.6% were under 18, and 12.0% were 65 or older.

Racial composition of population : According to the United States Census Bureau estimates,
as of July 1, 2018, non-Hispanic Whites made up 48.7% of Nevada's population.

Religion: Church attendance in Nevada is among the lowest in the US. 

Only 30% of Nevadans said they attended church weekly or almost weekly, compared to
42% of all Americans (only four states were found to have a lower attendance rate than
Nevada's).
Major religious affiliations of the people of Nevada are:
Protestant - 35%
Irreligious- 28%
Catholic - 25%

Law:
Nevada is the only state where prostitution is legal 
Nevada has very liberal alcohol laws. The alcohol can be sold at any time. But at the same
time Nevada has the harshest penalties for drug offenders. 

Famous people: Abby Dalton, Nicolas Cage, Dan Reynolds, Brandon Flowers

Montana is a state in the Mountain West region of the Western United States. It is bordered

by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south and
Canada to the north. Montana is the fourth largest U.S. state by area, behind Alaska, Texas
and California, but with an average of just six people per square mile, it is one of the
country’s least densely populated states.
Nicknames
Montana has several unofficial nicknames: "Big Sky Country", "The Treasure State", "Land
of the Shining Mountains", and "The Last Best Place".
Montana’s large gold and silver mines gave rise to its nickname, the Treasure State, and its
state motto, “Oro y Plata” (Spanish for “Gold and Silver”). 
But what does Montana mean?
The name Montana comes from the Spanish word montaña, which in turn comes from the
Latin word montanea, meaning "mountain". Montaña del Norte was the name given by early
Spanish explorers to the entire mountainous region of the west. U.S. Rep. James H. Ashley of
Ohio in reference to the Rocky Mountains proposed the territorial name Montana in 1864
A little bit of history.
The first Europeans to venture into Montana were French fur traders in the 1700s. They set
up trading posts and traded with the Native Americans for beaver furs. Over the next several
years, the land was claimed by both the French and Spanish. In 1803, the United States
bought the majority of Montana from the French as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
Many people came to Montana when gold was discovered in 1858. Boom towns such as
Virginia City and Helena sprung up almost overnight. The Bozeman Trail was established as
a route for people to take from the Oregon Trail to Virginia City.
As more and more settlers arrived in Montana, the Native Americans were pushed out of their
traditional lands. In the 1870s, tribes such as the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Sioux began to
organize and fight back. In 1876, the U.S. Army suffered one of its greatest defeats at the
Battle of Little Big Horn. At this battle General George Custer and his men were soundly
defeated by Native Americans led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. This battle is sometimes
called "Custer's Last Stand." Despite this victory, the Native Americans were eventually
defeated.
In the 1880s, the railroad arrived in Montana bringing even more growth to the state. Cattle
ranching had also become a large industry and farming grew as a result of homesteading in
the area. On November 8, 1889, Montana was admitted as the 41st state with Helena as the
capital.
And now I want to show you some famous places, famous people and famous food in
Montana.
First of all – Yellowstone national park. Yellowstone National Park is the most famous of
Montana attractions. Though it’s primarily located in Wyoming, it covers so many miles that
it also stretches into Montana and Idaho as well.
Activities at Yellowstone include traditional fare such as hiking and camping as well as more
unique experiences such as horseback riding in the backcountry.
Next one is The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
It’s a bit surprising to come across the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in the middle of
Montana, but that’s part of the beauty. Located on an American Indian reservation, it was
originally established as a centre for peace in 2000. Each of the buddhas are made from white
concrete and are placed symmetrically around the circle.
Some famous people were born in Montana: David Lynch, famous filmmaker. He is famous
for “Twin Peaks” series, for the films Dune (1984) and Mulholland Drive. Also Jesse Tyler
Ferguson an actor who is best known for portraying Mitchell Pritchett on the sitcom Modern
Family. And Brad Bird, an animator who is known for the cartoons The Incredibles,
Ratatouille and The Simpsons.
And now food!
Huckleberry pie is a traditional American double crust pie with a sweet huckleberry filling.
This dessert is typically made by covering a pie crust with a mixture of huckleberries, sugar,
lemon juice and butter with ice cream.
The next one is Pasties. In the 19 century, the British miners would often eat pasties as a meal
when they were down in the mines. Though the mining days are long gone, pasties are still
around. Pasties are just pastry pockets stuffed with meat and potatoes and then covered in
sauce.
maple bar is a rectangular doughnut topped with a maple glaze.They can be filled with
custard, or cream, or left unfilled. Maple bars are also known as a maple-glazed Long John,
Maple-Creamstick or maple Bismarck.
1. What trail was established during gold rush in Montana? Bozeman Trail
When Montana was admitted as the state? 8 November, 1889)))

f81. I would like to talk about Olympic Games in the USA

The United States attended the first Olympic Games in 1896, and have participated in all of
the Summer Olympic Games except in 1980 in Moscow. The USA have also hosted the
Olympic Games on several occasions: St Louis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and they will host the
event again in LA 2028.
The US is a dominant force in the Olympics in the overall medal athletics, swimming,
shooting, wrestling, diving, gymnastics, rowing, basketball, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting,
cycling, and tennis.

Taking about the most prominent champions, The first athlete to represent the US was
Thomas Burke, who clinched the gold medals in the one hundred m sprint and 400-meter run
events. In the 1896 James Connolly became the first modern Olympic champion when he
captured the triple jump in athletics during the opening day of the Games. Swimmer Michael
Phelps is the most bemedalled athlete in the history of Summer Olympic Games as he
pocketed twenty eight medals from two thousand to twenty sixteen.

Talking about history, In (1896) The first brothers to win Olympic gold medals were
Americans John and Sumner Paine - they came first in the military pistol and free pistol
shooting events.
In 1900 Margaret Abbott was the first American woman to win an Olympic event, claiming
gold in golf at Paris.
In the period from 1904 to 1948, America twice took first place in the largest number of
medals won. 
In 1920 Charley Paddock won the race.
And Sammy Lee became the first Asian American to win an Olympic medal and the first
diver to win back-to-back gold medals in two different Olympics — in London and Helsinki.
From the 1950’s to the late 1980s, the United States was closely rivaled by the Soviet Union
at the Summer Games in medal-rich sports and in overall medal tally.
In 1968, Al Oerter won the discus throw for the fourth straight time. 
In 1972 Frank Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon at the Munich Olympics. 
And Mark Spitz  won seven gold medals at the Games, and won them all in world record
time.
Also, in 1972, the American basketball team lost a game for the first time, falling to the
Soviet Union, but refused to accept the silver medal, claiming that the clock had been
improperly restarted in the final moments.
In 1976, five American boxers won gold medals, including three future world boxing
champions: Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, and Leon Spinks.
In 1984 The United States won 83 gold medals. The most prominent of them were Joan
Benoit who won the first women's Olympic marathon in Los Angeles. And sixteen-years old
Mary Lou Retton.
In 1988, Florence Joyner won four medals, in running events.
Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board but successfully defended his Olympic
springboard title a few days later.
In 1992 and 1996, America did not win many medals, but also showed good results. The best
were Michael Johnson, Amy Van Dyken. Also The American women's teams won the first-
ever softball and women's soccer events in 1996.

After the 2000s, the most favorable years for America were - 2000 when they won 34 medals
and 2016 Olympics were the third most productive.
In two 2008 Swimming superstar Michael Phelps became the most successful man at an
Olympics by winning eight gold medals.
For the first time in American Olympic history, the 2012 team featured more female athletes
than male. 
In 2016, the most prominent champions were Nate Ebner, Michael Carter, sprinter Bob
Hayes, and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad who made history when she became the first female
Muslim-American to medal at the Olympics for the United States in the team saber
competition., She was also the first American to compete in a hijab.
Americans often showed good results at the Olympics, but if you count, you can identify the
main sports where the United States won the most medals. For example, in the summer
games, they won in 47 sports, namely athletics, swimming, shooting, boxing, diving, rowing,
tennis and basketball.
Speaking of winter sports, the situation is a bit worse, but in general Americans are leading in
speed skating, figure skating and snowboarding.
Also USA has never won an Olympic medal in the following current summer sports and
disciplines such as badminton, handball, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline gymnastics.
To conclude, American athletes have won a total of 2,673 medals making the United States
the most prolific medal-winning nation in the history of the Olympics. The US athletes has
won gold medal at every games at which it has participated and captured more gold and
overall medals than any other nation in the Olympiad.The US is ranked first in the all-time
medal table.
Theodore Roosvelt:
1) Theodore Roosevelt unexpectedly became the 26th president of the United States in
September 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley. Young and physically robust,
he brought a new energy to the White House, and won a second term on his own merits in
1904.
1. confronted the bitter struggle between management and labor head-on and became known
as the great “trust buster”
2. was proud and fervent nationalist who bucked passive Jeffersonian tradition of fearing the
rise of a strong chief executive and a powerful central government
3. in the foreign policy arena, Roosevelt won a Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiations to end
the Russo-Japanese War and spearheaded the beginning of construction on the Panama
Canal.
4. he was also a dedicated conservationist, setting aside some 200 million acres for national
forests, reserves and wildlife refuges during his presidency.
2)Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858 to Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and Martha
Bulloch Roosevelt, a wealthy family in New York City. Known as “Teedie”–later “Teddy”–
he was frail and sickly as a boy, and as a teenager followed a program of gymnastics and
weightlifting to build up his strength. Upon graduating from Harvard College in 1880,
Columbia University Law School, though he dropped out after only one year to enter public
service. He was elected to the New York State Assembly at the age of 23 and served two
terms (1882-84). 
Both his wife and mother died on the same day in 1884, and the grieving Roosevelt spent the
next two years on a ranch he owned in the Badlands of the Dakota Territory, where he hunted
big game, drove cattle and worked as a frontier sheriff. In 1886, Roosevelt ran unsuccessfully
for mayor of New York City.
In 1895, Roosevelt became president of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners,
and in 1897 William McKinley named him as assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy. Upon the
outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, Roosevelt left his post as naval secretary to
become colonel of the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as the “Rough Riders.”
3) Rough Riders, member of 1st Volunteer Cavalry, in the Spanish-American War, member
of a regiment of U.S. cavalry volunteers recruited by Theodore Roosevelt and composed of
cowboys, miners, law-enforcement officials, and college athletes, among others.
The regiment was also nicknamed "Wood's Weary Walkers" for its first commander, Colonel
Leonard Wood.
When Wood was promoted to become commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, the regiment
became known as "Roosevelt's Rough Riders." That term was borrowed from Buffalo Bill,
who called his traveling Western show "Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough
Riders of the World."
The Rough Riders would receive more publicity than any other Army unit in that war, and
they are best remembered for their conduct during the Battle of San Juan Hill, though it is
seldom mentioned how heavily they outnumbered Spanish soldiers who opposed them.
4) In 1900, the leading New York Republican Thomas C. Platt conspired with national party
boss Mark Hanna to get Roosevelt named as McKinley’s running mate, in order to keep him
from running for a second term in the governor’s office. Roosevelt campaigned vigorously
for McKinley, traveling by train for more than 21,000 miles to speak in 24 states, and
McKinley and Roosevelt won in a landslide over Democrats. 
On September 6, 1901, a deranged anarchist named Leon Czolgosz shot McKinley at the
Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. McKinley died eight days later, and
Roosevelt was sworn in as the 26th president. Only 42 years old when he took office, he was
the youngest president in the nation’s history, and his youth and vigor immediately
transformed the public image of the presidency.
5) 
6) Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” domestic program included a promise to battle large industrial
combinations, or trusts, which threatened to restrain trade.
1. The Square Deal was based on three basic ideas: conservation of natural resources,
control of corporations, and consumer protection.
2. The Square Deal sought to protect both business and labor, and to ease the radical
voice in both and reach a compromise.
3. Roosevelt sought to break up large monopolies and did so aggressively, gaining him
the name ” Trust Buster.” His Elkins Act made it illegal for railroads to give rebates
to favored companies.
4. Another industry that was monitored under this period was the food industry.
Mislabeled and tainted food came under scrutiny and was reported in order to protect
the health of consumers.
7) More in detail: Labor unions in the age of Samuel Gompers were generally on the
Democratic side, but Roosevelt felt that favorable policies toward them would gain votes or
at least neutralize their opposition. He had opposed unions in 1896, when they supported
William Jennings Bryan, then came to appreciate their value after 1900. He played a central
role in negotiating a compromise to end the Coal strike of 1902, which was threatening the
nation's energy supply. He decided they also needed a square deal, and a stronger voice and
collective bargaining with corporations.
Roosevelt responded to public anger over the abuses in the food-packing industry by pushing
Congress to pass the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and the Pure Food and Drug Act. The Meat
Inspection Act of 1906 banned misleading labels and preservatives that contained harmful
chemicals
Enacted in 1906, the Antiquities Act gives the president the ability to “declare by public
proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of
historic or scientific interest that are situated on land owned or controlled by the Federal
Government to be national monuments.”
8) Roosevelt sought to bring the United States out of its isolationism and fulfill its
responsibility as a world power. He believed that America should “speak softly and carry a
big stick” in the realm of international affairs and that its president should be willing to use
force to back up his diplomatic negotiations. Roosevelt followed this big-stick policy most
conspicuously in his dealings in Latin America. 
In 1903, he helped Panama secede from Colombia in order to facilitate the beginning of
construction on the Panama Canal, which he later claimed as his greatest accomplishment as
president. 
To prepare the United States for its expanded role on the world stage, Roosevelt sought to
build up the country’s defenses, and by the end of his presidency he had transformed the U.S.
Navy into a major international force at sea. Outside the Western Hemisphere, he led
negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-05, winning the Nobel Peace Prize for
his efforts
9) The Spooner Act of 1902 by the U.S. Congress, which authorized purchasing the assets of
the French company and building a canal, provided that a satisfactory treaty could be
negotiated with Colombia (of which Panama was then an integral part). Panama, with the
implicit backing of the United States, declared its independence and was recognized by the
United States in November 1903. The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty was then negotiated
between Panama and the United States. The treaty satisfied the Spooner Act and created the
Panama Canal Zone; it was proclaimed in February 1904. Roosevelt, once committed,
supported the project so enthusiastically that he is almost universally thought of as the
“father” of the canal. Most of the actual work on the canal was done during the
administration of William Howard Taft (1909–13), who had also been involved earlier in
Roosevelt’s administration.
10) Fighting had erupted between Russia and Japan in 1904, following Japan's attack on the
Russian fleet at Port Arthur. As the Russo-Japanese War raged on with many Japanese
victories, Roosevelt approached both nations about mediating peace negotiations. Roosevelt
also arbitrated a of Morocco. Britain had recognized French control over Morocco in return
for French recognition of British control in Egypt. Germany felt excluded by this agreement
and challenged France's role in Morocco. dispute between France and Germany over the
division. Some historians think that Roosevelt's intervention in these two hot spots averted
fighting that might have engulfed all of Europe and Asia in a world war.
11) As the 1908 election approached, Roosevelt prepared grudgingly to fulfill the campaign
pledge he had made in 1904 not to seek another term, and threw his support behind Secretary
of War William Howard Taft. Immediately after leaving office in early 1909, Roosevelt left
for a 10-month African safari and a tour of Europe, where he enjoyed international acclaim.
Upon his return, Roosevelt found that President Taft had failed to follow through on the
promised program of progressive reforms
Incensed, Roosevelt campaigned against Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912; when
that effort failed, he and his supporters bolted to form the Progressive Party, popularly known
as the Bull Moose Party. (Roosevelt had once referred to himself in a letter as being “as
strong as a bull moose.”)
12) With the Republican Party split, Democrat Woodrow Wilson took the White House,
winning 435 electoral votes to Roosevelt’s 88 (Taft received only eight). Despite the loss,
Roosevelt’s run marked the most successful third-party effort in American history, and many
of Wilson’s progressive reforms over the next eight years would echo Roosevelt’s 1912
platform. 
13)Once the United States entered the war in 1917, all four of Roosevelt’s sons volunteered
to fight; his beloved youngest son, Quentin, was shot down and killed while flying a mission
over Germany. By 1918 Roosevelt’s support of the war and his harsh attacks on
Wilson reconciled Republican conservatives to him, and he was the odds-on favourite for the
1920 nomination. But he died in early January 1919, less than three months after his 60th
birthday.
14) If Roosevelt’s presidency had to be summed up in a word, “strength” would serve. He
strengthened the office of the presidency as well as the regulatory power of the federal
government. He refereed the unending contest between capital and labor, arguing that only
the national government had enough power to ensure fair play. His foreign policy has been
intelligently praised and intelligently damned, but beyond question, it strengthened the
United States in world affairs in the opening decade of the 20th century.

Universities of the USA:

Слайд 1: Вступ
The United States of America has long been the dream destination of individuals who are
aiming for quality higher education. The country stands to its status as a ‘superpower’ when it
comes to its academic strength. It has seen the birth of not just its native leaders, but many
global leaders of the contemporary era.  So, let us cut to the chase and try and understand
what makes the institutions in the country so special and review some of the top universities
in USA

Слайд 2-3:  на слайдах

Слайд 4: The main difference between private and public institutions is the source of
funding. Public universities are funded by local, state, or federal government while private
schools are generally funded through tuition paid by the students.
Слайд 5: Interesting fact: The U.S. also has the second largest higher education system
(China overtook the U.S. in this regard roughly around 2001), and it is the top destination for
globally mobile students.

Cлайд 6: про student mobility americans in : The U.S. is and, for a long time, has been the
top destination of internationally mobile students worldwide. Far fewer U.S. students go
abroad for their education – either for a degree or short-term credit – though the number of
such students has increased steadily over time.

Cлайд 7:Student mobility: international stud: In the 2016/17 academic year, the U.S.
hosted 1,078,822 international students, making it, as mentioned earlier, the top host country
of globally mobile students worldwide. The country surpassed the one million mark during
the previous academic year. International student enrollments over the past decades have
soared. There are now twice as many international students in the U.S. than there were in the
1980s: The number of international students increased by 621 percent during the three and a
half decades leading up to the 2015/16 school year alone.

Слайд 8: on the slide

Слайд 9: on the slide

Слайд 10:
-Pursuing higher education in the USA comes packaged with an opportunity to experience
the 1st world lifestyle for all students. It is not just fulfilling, but a learning experience for
students as they learn how to better conduct themselves personally and professionally.
-Universities in USA top the rankings chart every coming year for good reason. Presently,
Universities in USA are the most prolific in producing polished talent for a variety of
disciplines and domains. Not only they are recognised all over the world, but individuals
holding degrees from these universities also hold a niche in the eyes of the recruiters owing to
the sheer brand value of American universities.
-While the standard tuition fees may be high for students, American universities offer
generous scholarship opportunities to domestic and foreign students alike to study in USA.
Students with innate endowments can find it easy to score a scholarship for pursuing their
course.
-Individuals who do not wish to limit themselves to a master’s degree must seriously consider
pursuing higher education in the states. The research opportunities and resources available
with the universities are unparalleled in the whole world. Having a degree from the USA can
make it easier to pursue a PhD from the same country or even the same university.

Missouri:
I would like to share some information about state Missouri. Let’s begin with general
information. State Missouri has some other names common among residents. For example
Bullion State(штат злитків золота), Lead State(свинцевий штат), Show me state(штат
покажи мені), Cave state(штат печер). Missouri is constituent state of the US of America.
With the exception of Tennessee, Missouri has more neighbouring states than any other U.S.
state. Other info you may see on the slide.
Climate is susceptible to the influences of cold Canadian air, of warm, moist air from the
Gulf of Mexico, and of drier air from the southwest. Although winds are variable throughout
the year, summer winds generally blow from the south and southwest and winter winds from
the north and northwest. 

State bird of Missouri is The Bluebird that is commonly found in this area from Spring  until
November. 

The vast majority speak English, small latine communities in kanzas city metro and st louis.
Missouri is home to an endangered dialect of the French language known as Missouri French.
Speakers of the dialect, Créoles, are pioneers who settled the area then known as the Illinois
Country beginning in the late 17th century.

Eighty percent of Missourian identity with a religion. 77% affiliate with Christianity and its
various denominations and the other 3% are adherents of non-Christian religions. The
remaining 20% have no religion

Economy . Agriculture Products of the state are beef, soybeans, pork, dairy products, hay,
corn, poultry, sorghum, cotton, rice, and eggs. Missouri is ranked in the top five states in the
nation for production of soy beans, and it fourth for the production of rice. 
Missouri has vast quantities of limestone. Other resources mined are lead, coal, and crushed
stone. Missouri produces the most lead of all the states.
Tourism, services, and wholesale/retail trade follow manufacturing in importance—tourism
benefits from the many rivers, lakes, caves, parks, etc., throughout the state. 

Culture: The arts have flourished in Missouri from the early years of statehood. In the 21st
century, diversity characterizes the state’s artistic milieu, from the cosmopolitan centersof
fine art, music, and theatre along the St. Louis–Kansas City axis to the small communities
and local arts of the Ozark Mountains. Government organizations such as the Missouri Arts
Council, created in 1965, have been instrumental in stimulating awareness, appreciation, and
development of the state’s artistic activities.

Mark Twain has remained Missouri’s most distinguished literary figure, world renowned for
his immortalization of mid-19th-century life in Hannibal, Missouri, and along the Mississippi
river in general. Modernist poet Eliot was born and raised in St. Louis, although as an adult
he settled in England. Many of the traditions and ways of the Ozark Mountains
were illuminated  by a noted folklorist of the 20th century, Vance Randolph.

Famous people and interesting facts are on the slide

Question:
What does the state's economy specialize in and make the most profit? Agriculture)
Who of the famous writers was born in Missouri? (Mark twan)
What dialect is common in the state? (Missouri French)

Video from presentation: https://youtu.be/wCA7khNawg0

The first ladies of the USA:

 American women’s history has been full of pioneers: Women who fought for their rights,
worked hard to be treated equally and made great strides in fields like science, politics,
sports, literature and art. These are just a few of the remarkable accomplishments by trail-
blazing women in American history. Here are some famous firsts in women’s history.
Amelia Earhart is the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, 1928
After that first trip across the ocean, which took more than 20 hours, Amelia Earhart became
a celebrity: She won countless awards, got a ticker-tape parade down Broadway, wrote a
best-selling book about her famous flight and became an editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In
1937, Earhart attempted to be the first female pilot to fly around the world, and the first pilot
of any gender to circumnavigate the globe at its widest point, the Equator. Along with her
navigator Fred Noonan, Earhart successfully hopscotched from Miami to Brazil, Africa, India
and Australia. Six weeks after they began their journey, Earhart and Noonan left New Guinea
for the U.S. territory of Howland Island, but they never arrived. No trace of Earhart, Noonan
or their plane was ever found.
Madeleine Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State, 1997
In January 1997, the international-relations expert Madeleine K. Albright was sworn in as the
United States’ 64th Secretary of State. She was the first woman to hold that job, which made
her the highest-ranking woman in the federal government’s history. Before President Bill
Clinton asked her to be part of his Cabinet, Albright had served as the country’s Permanent
Representative to the United Nations. In 2004, Condoleezza Rice became the second woman–
and first African American woman to hold the job. Five years later, in January 2009, the
former Senator (and First Lady) Hillary Rodham Clinton became the third female Secretary
of State.
Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director, 2010
The American film director Kathryn Bigelow’s 2008 film “The Hurt Locker” garnered six
Oscars on March 7, 2010, including the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
Written by Mark Boal, a former journalist who covered the war in Iraq, the movie follows an
Army bomb squad unit as they conduct dangerous missions and battle personal demons in
war-torn Baghdad. Bigelow, whose previous films include “Strange Days” and “Point
Break,” was the first woman to take home the Best Director distinction. She triumphed over
her former husband, James Cameron, whose science fiction epic “Avatar” was another
presumed front-runner.
Hillary Clinton becomes first female presidential nominee of a major party, 2016
On July 26, 2016, the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state was officially
nominated as the Democratic nominee, becoming the first woman from a major party to
achieve that feat. Clinton had previously mounted an unsuccessful presidential campaign in
2008 (before losing to Barack Obama in the Democratic primary), and fought off a strong
challenge by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016 before clinching the glass ceiling-
breaking nomination.
 Kamala Harris becomes first female, first Black and first South-Asian vice president in
U.S. history, 2021.
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in alongside 46th U.S. president Joe
Biden as the first-ever female vice president. Harris's husband, Doug Emhoff, broke a barrier
of his own, becoming the nation’s first second gentleman. 
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Harris is the daughter of Jamaican and Indian
immigrants to the United States. She attended Howard University, a historically Black
university in Washington, D.C., before embarking on a career trajectory that took her from
district attorney of San Francisco to California attorney general to U.S. senator. After Harris
ended her own 2020 presidential run, former vice president Biden, the Democratic nominee,
chose her as his running mate. 
Jane Addams was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Peace; she shared the
prize with Nicholas Murray Butler.
Laura Jane Addams[1] (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935) was an
American settlement activist, reformer, social worker,[2][3] sociologist,[4] public administrator[5]
[6]
 and author. She was an important leader in the history of social work and women's suffrage
in the United States and advocated for world peace.[7] She co-founded Chicago's Hull House,
one of America's most famous settlement houses. In 1910, Addams was awarded an honorary
master of arts degree from Yale University, becoming the first woman to receive an honorary
degree from the school.[8] In 1920, she was a co-founder of the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU).[9]
In 1931, she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and is
recognized as the founder of the social work profession in the United States.[10] She was a
radical pragmatist and the first woman "public philosopher" in the United States.[11] When
Addams died in 1935, she was the best-known female public figure in the United States.[12]

Kathy Kozachenko was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in the United
States when she won an Ann Arbor City Council seat on April 2, 1974.
Kathy joined thousands of LGBTQ+ folks who “came out” as a political act after the 1969
Stonewall Inn Uprising. Before Stonewall, people rarely “outted” themselves, because they
faced losing their jobs, their housing, and their lives for being identified as gay or
transgender. “Coming out” became a protest against discrimination and violence.
In the 1970s, Ann Arbor and Detroit developed into centers for the Gay Liberation
Movement in Michigan. Ann Arbor was the first municipality in the U.S. to acknowledge
Gay Pride Week and one of the first to pass anti-discrimination protections based on sexual
orientation.
Today, the LGBTQ+ community is underrepresented in American politics making up just
0.17% of all elected officials.

California:

The Bear Flag is the official flag of the U.S. state of California.[1] The precursor of the flag
was first flown during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt and was also known as the Bear Flag.
The Great Seal of the State of California was adopted at the California state Constitutional
Convention of 1849 and has undergone minor design changes since then, the last being the
standardization of the seal in 1937
 
The territory of California was discovered in 1535 by the Marine Pacific expedition of
Hernan Cortez. The first Europeans to explore these shores were Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in
1542 and Sir Francis Drake in 1579. Beginning in the late 1700s, Spanish missionaries built
small settlements on vast tracts of land on empty land north of Baja California. After the
Declaration of independence of Mexico, the entire chain of such settlements (missions) was
declared the property of the Mexican government and they were abandoned.

California was the northwestern part of the Spanish empire in North America. After the
Mexican-American War of 1847, the region was divided between Mexico and the United
States. In 1846, during the war, the Republic of California was proclaimed, whose existence
quickly ended after the Commodore of the United States Navy, John Sloat, landed in the Gulf
of San Francisco-and declared the territory U.S. property.

The American part, Upper California, became the 31st U.S. State in 1850.

With the discovery of gold in 1848, the so-called "Gold Rush" began, during which time the
population of California increased several times.

During the American Civil War, California officially supported the North. But the population
was divided in their preferences, and squads of California volunteers fought on both sides.

The completion of the first transcontinental railway in the 1870s led to explosive population
growth. The settlers liked the climate, which was perfectly suitable for life and agriculture.
Since 1950, California has become the most populous state in the United States, which it
remains to this day
 
The state is organized into three branches of government—the executive branch consisting of
the governor and the other independently elected constitutional officers (and seven other
elected constitutional officers: lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state
controller, state treasurer, insurance commissioner, and state superintendent of public
instruction. They serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once);
 the legislative branch consists of a 40-member Senate and 80-member Assembly. Senators
serve four-year terms and Assembly members two. Members of the Assembly are subject to
term limits of three terms, and members of the Senate are subject to term limits of two terms.
and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts

California's judiciary system is the largest in the United States with a total of 1,600 judges
(the federal system has only about 840). At the apex is the seven-member Supreme Court of
California, while the California Courts of Appeal serve as the primary appellate courts and
the California Superior Courts serve as the primary trial courts. Justices of the Supreme Court
and Courts of Appeal are appointed by the governor, but are subject to retention by the
electorate every 12 years. The administration of the state's court system is controlled by the
Judicial Council, composed of the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, 14 judicial
officers, four representatives from the State Bar of California, and one member from each
house of the state legislature.

Local government

California is divided into 58 counties. Per Article 11, Section 1, of the Constitution of
California, they are the legal subdivisions of the state. The county government provides
countywide services such as law enforcement, jails, elections and voter registration, vital
records, property assessment and records, tax collection, public health, health care, social
services, libraries, flood control, fire protection, animal control, agricultural regulations,
building inspections, ambulance services, and education departments in charge of
maintaining statewide standards.[285][286] In addition, the county serves as the local
government for all unincorporated areas. Each county is governed by an elected board of
supervisors.[287]

City and town governments

Incorporated cities and towns in California are either charter or general-law municipalities.
[154] General-law municipalities owe their existence to state law and are consequently
governed by it; charter municipalities are governed by their own city or town charters.
Municipalities incorporated in the 19th century tend to be charter municipalities. All ten of
the state's most populous cities are charter cities. Most small cities have a council–manager
form of government, where the elected city council appoints a city manager to supervise the
operations of the city. Some larger cities have a directly elected mayor who oversees the city
government. In many council-manager cities, the city council selects one of its members as a
mayor, sometimes rotating through the council membership—but this type of mayoral
position is primarily ceremonial. The Government of San Francisco is the only consolidated
city-county in California, where both the city and county governments have been merged into
one unified jurisdiction.
 
Constitutional framework
California is governed under a constitution that was framed in 1878–79, a period of rampant
graft. It has been revised several times. Amendments instituted by Gov. Hiram Johnson in
1911 included provisions for voter initiative of and referendum on legislation, the recall of
elected officials (used to oust a sitting governor in 2003), the direct primary, woman suffrage,
and a unique system that allowed candidates to run in primaries of opposing political parties.
Before a series of deletions began in 1966, it had grown to be one of the world’s longest
governmental constitutions. Since 1962, revisions to the constitution could be made by voters
without calling a convention, and most general ballots now contain dozens of propositions on
issues that have included tax rates, affirmative action, bilingual education, and same-sex
marriage. The methods under which primary elections are conducted in the state also have
been subject to a number of ballot initiatives, including one in 2010 that created a system that
calls for the two top vote getters in a primary, irrespective of party affiliation, to advance to
the general election. The state government and local governments have also been increasingly
subject to such initiatives, particularly in planning and zoning decisions and in tax issues.
 
 
California is the most populated state in the United States, with an estimated 39 million
people living within its borders. With a population of this magnitude, diversity is displayed,
particularly when it comes to religion. Being home to representatives of virtually every race
on the planet, the state of California has Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus,
Muslims, Mormons, and Atheists.

Protestants - 32%
Protestants make up the largest religious group in California with about 32% of the
population subscribing to the faith. There are more than 200 mega churches in the state with
some dating back to the late 19th century.

Catholics - 28%
Until 2000, Catholics formed the most significant part of the population in the state of
California, but now the Protestants have the largest following, however, California still has
the largest number of Catholics in the whole of the United States making up 28% of the
population. The Catholic faith has been part of California for 250 years and has been growing
stronger over the years.

Non-Religious - 27%
The third largest group in California is incidentally made up of people who are not affiliated
with any known religion. This group makes up about 27% of the total population of
Californians.

Jews - 3.2%
California is home to more than 1 million Jews which makes it the second state with the
largest population of Jews after the state of New York.

Muslims - 1%
Muslims make up 1% of California’s population which, despite their low numbers in
comparison to the other religions is still the highest number of Muslims by any state. Most of
them live in the San Diego area.

Others
Other religions prevalent in California include Buddhism, Shinto, Sikhism, Hinduism, and
Taoism that became part of California thanks to the Asian emigrants who constitute a
sizeable percentage of the population. California is also home to the 2nd largest number of
Mormons after the state of Utah. Mormons trace their origin back to the 1800s which is the
time they came from Brooklyn to make San Francisco their new home. About 780,000
Mormons live in California.09:24
 
 

As a result of the state's increasing diversity and migration from other areas across the
country and around the globe, linguists began noticing a noteworthy set of emerging
characteristics of spoken American English in California since the late 20th century. This
variety, known as California English, has a vowel shift and several other phonological
processes that are different from varieties of American English used in other regions of the
United States.[193]09:24
The culture of California is a Western culture and most clearly has its modern roots in the
culture of the United States, but also, historically, many Hispanic Californio and Mexican
influences. As a border and coastal state, Californian culture has been greatly influenced by
several large immigrant populations, especially those from Latin America and Asia.[194]
[failed verification]

California has long been a subject of interest in the public mind and has often been promoted
by its boosters as a kind of paradise. In the early 20th century, fueled by the efforts of state
and local boosters, many Americans saw the Golden State as an ideal resort destination,
sunny and dry all year round with easy access to the ocean and mountains. In the 1960s,
popular music groups such as The Beach Boys promoted the image of Californians as laid-
back, tanned beach-goers.

The California Gold Rush of the 1850s is still seen as a symbol of California's economic
style, which tends to generate technology, social, entertainment, and economic fads and
booms and related busts.09:24
Hollywood and the rest of the Los Angeles area is a major global center for entertainment,
with the U.S. film industry's "Big Five" major film studios (Columbia, Disney, Paramount,
Universal, and Warner Bros.) being based in or around the area.

The four major American television broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) all have
production facilities and offices in the state. All four, plus the two major Spanish-language
networks (Telemundo and Univision) each have at least two owned-and-operated TV stations
in California, one in Los Angeles and one in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to several prominent internet media and social media
companies, including three of the "Big Five" technology companies (Apple, Facebook, and
Google) as well as other services such as Netflix, Pandora Radio, Twitter, Yahoo!, and
YouTube.

One of the oldest radio stations in the United States still in existence, KCBS (AM) in the Bay
Area, was founded in 1909. Universal Music Group, one of the "Big Four" record labels, is
based in Santa Monica. California is also the birthplace of several international music genres,
including the Bakersfield sound, Bay Area thrash metal, g-funk, nu metal, stoner rock, surf
music, West Coast hip hop, and West Coast jazz.

Metropolitan California newspapers have decreased in number, but their total circulation has
grown, led by the Los Angeles Times, with the largest number of readers in the state. Dozens
of smaller cities also have daily and weekly newspapers. Other prominent newspapers in the
state include the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, the East Bay Times,
the Sacramento Bee, the Mercury News (San Jose), and San Diego Union-Tribune.09:24
California is Not Quite as Liberal as You’d Think

 
California is a liberal state – but not as liberal as you think. By geographic area, California is
far more red (conservative) than blue (liberal). Big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco
are very liberal. However, San Diego, central California and northern California tend to be
fairly conservative. Los Angeles, San Francisco and the coast of California are the only big
blue areas in the state.
штат Міссурі
1. На чому спеціалізується економіка штату і має найбільший прибуток? (Agriculture)
2. Хто з відомих письменників народився в Міссурі? (Mark twan)
3. Який діалект поширений в штаті? (Missouri French)

Wisconsin questions:
1. The capital of Wisconsin? (Madison)
2. Name three branches of the state government. (Executive, legislative and judicial)
3. The special focus of manufacturing is on what? (Transportation and capital equipment)

national parks
1. how many national parks are there in the u.s.?
(63)
2. in which state is the park rocky mountain located?
(colorado)
3. of the three parks I mentioned, which one is designated as unesco world heritage site?
(grand canyon)

Wyoming:
1)What’s the national symbol of Wyoming?(bison)
2)What is the meaning of the word “Wyoming”? ("at the big plains")
3)1 interesting fact that you’ve remembered.

1. which nickname has a New Jersey? - The State Garden

2. What is the capital of NJ? - Trenton
3. Name at least 2 rivers in NJ. - Passaic, Rahway, Raritan, Musconetcong, Hudson and
Delaware rivers
4. Name two main industies in NJ. - manufacturing and tourism
5. Name at least one strange law in new jersey. - In Newark it's illegal to purchase ice cream
after 6 pm without a doctor’s note.

1. What is one of the most influential industries in the state?(Financial Services)

2. Who is the state's chief?(governor)
3. What is the most popular University in New York State?(State University of New York)

1. Where is Vermont Located?

Vermont is a state in the northeastern United States in the region of New England.
2. What is the population of Vermont?
The population is 624 000 inhabitants.
3. What is the largest city in terms of population in the state?
The largest city in terms of population is Burlington.
4. What is the state's economy based on?
Dairy farming, growing vegetables and fruits (apples, maple syrup), forestry, furniture, office
equipment, and paper industry are thriving in Vermont. White clay, granite and marble are
mined. There is tourism and places for winter sports.
5. What religion predominates in Vermont?
The Pew Research Center also determined the largest religion was Christianity;Catholics
made 22% of the population and Protestants were 30%.

1.What is the capital of Texas? (Austin)

2.What cities are the largest in Texas? (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas)
3.What states does Texas border with? (Texas shares borders with the states of Louisiana to
the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west)
4.What strange laws in Texas do you know? (There are some cities in Texas where it’s illegal
to go barefoot without a permit. Eating your neighbor’s garbage without permission can land
you in jail.)
5.What famous people from Texas do you know? (Selena Gomez, George Bush)

Where is Silicon Valley located? THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA, WHICH IS LOCATED IN PART OF THE U.S. STATE OF CALIFORNIA
When did the term "Silicon Valley" come into common use? in the early 1970s
How many high tech jobs did silicon valley accounts for in the USA? quarter of a million
information technology workers.
Which universities are located in Silicon Valley? Stanford University, National University
San Jose Campus, University of Silicon Valley

1. What is the full name of the Statue of Liberty? (Liberty Enlightening the world)
2. Under whose direction was the statue created? (French sculptor Frederic-Auguste
Bartholdi)
3. What does the statue have in its hands? (A torch and tabula ansata with the date of the US
declaration of independence)
4. What is the height of the Statue of Liberty? (93 meters)

1. when Hollywood cinema started its development ?

-from 1913 to 1969
2.how many periods are distinguished in cinema development?
- four periods
3. how these periods are called?
- silent film era
-classical hollywood cinema
- new hollywood cinema
- contemporary period

1. The name of the regiment Roosevelt was part of starting from 1898? - Rough Riders
2. Name of Roosevelt‘s domestic program and it’s three basic ideas. - Squire Deal,
conservation, control of corporations and consumer protection
3. Negotiations to end which war won Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize - Russo-Japanese war
in 1904-1905

1. In which groups christians are divided in the US? - Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox.
2. How name the holy book of muslims? - Qur'an, and the Sunnah.
3. What do Bahá'ís believe? - Baha'is believe that every person has an immortal soul which
can not die but is freed to travel through the spirit world after death.
Maine.
What is the name of the capital? - Augusta
For what Maine is famous? - Pine, blueberries, lobster, lighthouses
What is the moto of the state? - Dirigo ( I lead)

Nevada:
1.What is the capital city of Nevada (Carson City)
2.What is the other name of Nevada(The Silver State)
3. What are the main minerals mined in Nevada? (Gold and silver)

South Carolina
1) How many regions
are in the South
Carolina? - 6
2) The South Carolina has a
colony of... - monkeys🙈

1.Who made "White House an official name?Theodore Roosevelt

2. How many rooms are there in the"White House"? more than 130
3.What kind of emergency happened to the "White House" and when did it happen?The
White House was set on fire by the British during the War of 1812.

Kentucky
1.when did the state join the Union 1 June, 1792
2) what is the biggest city of the state?Louisville (>780000 people)
3) Kentucky produces 95% of..
bourbon whiskey

1. Name nicknames of MA (the Bay State, The Pilgrim State; The Puritan State, The Old
Colony State, The Baked Bean State)\
2. Massachusetts produces more than 25% of what? (the cranberries)
3. Name at least 3 Universities or College of MA (Harvard University, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Boston College, Brandeis University, Boston
University and Northeastern University)

What is the capital of Kansas? - Topeka

What is Boot Hill? - museum where you can experience what the Wild West was like during
the 1800s
What is the biggest city in the whole USA? - Wichita

Georgia
1. Peach state
2. Agriculture, film industry, energy industry, automotive industry, tourism industry
3. the Georgia Aquarium, The world of Coca Cola, Atlanta Botanic Garden, Stone Mountain
Park

1.which types of universities do you know? -private and public

2.Name the best student’s cities? - New York, Boston, Chicago
3.Name top3 universities of the Us- Massachusetts institute of technology, Stanford
university, Harvard university
Is USA a safe country?
The US is a very safe country to travel to. Tourists are unlikely to experience any incidents or
inconveniences. What contributes to the general feeling of insecurity in this country are the
mass shootings and isolated terrorist attacks, but they are highly unlikely to occur at a place
frequented by tourists.
What is the safest state in America?
The study found the safest states overall were Vermont (No. 1), Maine (No. 2) and New
Hampshire (No.3).
Does the death penalty still exist USA?
Twenty-seven states across America still have the death penalty. They are Alabama, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky. Although it is a
legal penalty in 27 states, only 21 states have the ability to execute death sentences, with the
other 6, as well as the federal government, being subject to different types of moratoriums.

Oklahoma
1.What is the capital of Oklahoma?Oklahoma City
2.What is the motto of the state of Oklahoma?Work Conquers All.
3.What are four mountain ranges in Oklahoma? These are the Wichita, the Arbuckle, the
Ouachita, the Ozark
4.What is the state bird of Oklahoma?Scissor-tailed flycatcher.

What is the capital of Kansas? - Topeka

What is Boot Hill? - museum where you can experience what the Wild West was like during
the 1800s
What is the biggest city in the whole USA? - Wichita

9/11
How many commercial airliners were hijacked by terrorists? (4)
Was all terrorist attacks successful? (1 was unsuccessful)
Who orchestrated the attacks? (Osama bin Laden)

1. When was Indiana admitted to United States? (1816)

2. What religion is the most dominant one? (Protestants)
3. What are the state`s most valuable natural resources? (Gas, oil, and coal)

Georgia
1. Peach county
2. Agriculture, film industry, energy industry, automotive industry, tourism industry
3. the Georgia Aquarium, The world of Coca Cola, Atlanta Botanic Garden, Stone Mountain
Park

1. which museums were mentioned in this presentation? - Ukrainian Museum and Ukrainian
Institute of America in New York, Ukrainian-American Archives and Museum in Detroit,
and Ukrainian Institute of modern Art in Chicago.
2. In which museum was the 1st multimedia presentation of the history of Ukraine
presented? - in Ukrainian Institute of America
3. what is located at the entrance to the Ukrainian Institute of America? - a memorial plaque
to the Jewish lawyer Rafal Lemkin, who proposed the term “genocide” in particular in
relation to the Holodomor.
 4. What you can see in the Ukrainian Museum in New York? - Photo from the war in
Donbas by Andy Warhol in the collection of Ukrainian clothes, and exhibition about the
struggle for independence of 1917 1820, a Photo exhibition about the expulsive of the Crimea
Tatars.

QUESTIONS:

Are there any caves?

Tucked within the Grand Canyon are an estimated 1,000 caves, and of those, 335 have been
recorded. Even fewer have been mapped or inventoried. Today, only one cave is open to the
public -- the Cave of the Domes on Horseshoe Mesa.

How many people visit Grand Canyon National Park per year?
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world's premier natural attractions, attracting about
five million visitors per year. Overall, 83% were from the United States: California (12%),
Arizona (9%), Texas (5%), Florida (3%) and New York (4%) represented the top domestic
visitors. Seventeen percent of visitors were from outside the United States; the most
prominently represented nations were the United Kingdom (3%), Canada (4%), Japan (2%),
Germany (2%) and the Netherlands (1%).

What other animals live in the area?

Grand Canyon and the surrounding regions are home to desert bighorn sheep, mule deer,
mountain lions, coyotes, gray fox, and a large variety of reptiles, birds and rodents.

Sofia Bruchkovska, Mississippi

1.What is the capital of Missippi? (Jackson)
2. What means Mississippi in their language?(It means large river)
3. What is the highest point of Mississipi? (Highest point has 800 feet above sea level)

QUIZ(Тема: Arkansas)

1. What is the capital of Arkansas? Little Rock

2. What is the own native plant of Arkansas? Carnivorous plant
3. What mines is Arkansas proud of? The diamond mine which is only one active in the
United States.

New Mexico:
1. When did New Mexico became a state? (1912)
2. How many major river systems are there in NM? (5)
3. What are 3 culture represented in NM?( Spanish-American, Native American, Anglo-
American)

What kind of cuisine is American cuisine? a fusion cuisine

Name three American dishes. The hamburger, Mac and cheese, buffalo wings
What was the first popular name-brand junk food? Cracker Jack

1. When and where was the Seneca Falls Convention held?

19th and 20th of July, 1848, New York
2.What was the meaning behind the 19th Amendment?
It granted women the right to vote in elections throughout the country.
3.Who became the first female speaker of the US House of Representatives?
Nancy Pelosi

1. Who were the first European settlers in Minnesota? (Pierre Esprit Radisson and Médard
Chouart)
2. Minnesota is also known as...(Land of 10,000 Lakes)
3. When did Minnesota finally become 32nd state of the United States? (On 11 May 1858)

1. Thanksgiving day is considered the most American of the holidays. It is celebrated on the
fourth Thursday of November. The holiday commemorates the first hard year the Pilgrims
lived in the New World.
2. July 4
3. Many families go away for the holiday and there are numerous parties.
How was the first constitution called? (Articles of Confederation)
When was it created? (In 1787)

1. Name at lest 3 Native American tribes. Навахо, Черіокі, Чейоні

2. Who issued six-point plan of ‘civilization’? Вашингтон
3. Which are main religious beliefs of Native American Tribes? They varies from tribe to
tribe +

1.How many waves of resettlement are distinguished in history? 4

2. Name at least one famous American of Ukrainian descent. Міла Куніс, Ян Кум, Ігор
Сікорський
3.What was the name of the first Ukrainian immigrant to America? Іван Богдан