shpory_amerika_1

1. The climate is extremely varied and hostile. In heavily populated parts the summer is hot with high humidity. Winter- very cold. On the West coast - much more equable. No extremes in California: summers – never intolerably hot, winters mild. The coastal region suffers from mist and drizzle. Much of A. suffers from hurricanes which afflict the southwest (during the autumn). The Midwest suffers from wind storms - tornadoes. Another problem - behind the Appalachian mountains, in the whole basin of the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers - the danger of flooding . In the Rocky Mountains the climate - heavy snow in winter and brilliant sunshine and warm days in summer. The climate of the US is frosty and snowy in winter and hot in summer. Oceans: Atlantic and Pacific. Rivers: Mississippi, Ohio. Colorado, Columbia, Rio Grande. Lakes: Michigan. Superior, Huron, Erie, Great Salt lake. Mountains: the Appalachian, the Rocky mountains The Louisiana purchase gave the US a very large distinct geographical region known as Great Plains or western Prairies. Around 1803 this was a region of flat or gently rolling land covered with tall grass. There were practically no trees, bushes or rocks. Early travelers through the region called it "a sea of grass". In general the Great Planes region is drier than the land east of the Mississippi. Rainfall ranges from around 40 inches a year on the eastern rim of the Great Plains to less than 18 inches a year the western position. Summers on the Great Plains can be very hot, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit and dry. Summer rain, when it comes, is usually in the form of fierce thunder-storms. Both droughts and flood; are common to some parts of the vast region. Father south , in what are now the states of Virginia, N and S Carolina, the soil was generally richer. Except for some swampy coastal areas the soils mostly red - yellow. The long growing season, abundant rainfall, warm climate and relatively flat land made the Southern coastal region ideal for certain Wsh crops.

2. New England "Yankee land" as New England is called includes 6 states: Maine, Massachusetts. Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island. N.E. characterized by story sail which is poorly suited for agriculture, has an abundance of water power which gave impetus to its development as an industrial region. In the 1st half of the I9th century N.E. became the centre of the American's Industrial Revolution. All across Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island new factories appeared. They produced clothing, rifles, clocks. Today a key New state. Massachusetts was also one of the most important of the 13 colonies. It was at Plymouth in 1620 that the Pilgrim Fathers landed. The capital of M. is Boston. New England's largest city. It's population is 600 000. 4/5 of Maine is covered by forest that feed its wood - processing industry. New Hampshire is relatively small but well-wooded state of many mountains, lakes and rapid rivers. Vermont, the only N.E. state lacking an ocean-line, is noted for its green mountains and maple-sugar groves. Connecticut got its name from the river which had previously been named by the natives end means "long river". The state is a leader in the production of such items as hall-roller-bearings, electronic goods, chemicals, plastics, jet-engines helicopters. N.E's oldest schools of higher learning, such as Harvard University, Yale University. Brown University, Barimouth college (New Hampshire), were origin religious in their purpose and orientation, but gradually became more secular, N.E’s don't flunk of their hills and valleys merely as home but also as centre of civilization.

3. Demography. The US is an urbanized nation with 80,8% of its population residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-year 2005. The mean population center of the US has consistently shifted westward and southward, with California and Texas currently the most populous states. US population growth is among the highest in the developed countries although like most of them its rate 0,88% annually, is below the world average rate of 1,16% annually. The total fertility rate in the US estimated for 2007 is 2,09% which is roughly the replacement level for industrialized countries. Children (people under age 18) made up 1/4 of the population (24,6%), and people over age 65 1/8 (12,4%) in 2006. The US population is predicted to increase by 1/3 by the year 2050. The total US population crossed the 100-million mark around 1915, the 200-million mark in 1967 and the 300-million mark in 2006 (estimated to be on Tuesday, October 17). The US population more than tripled during the 20th century , a growth rate of about 1,3% a year , from about 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. This is unlike most European countries, especially Germany, Russia, Italy and Greece, whose fertility rates are below replacement. The US has dozens of major cities, including 11 of the 55 global cities of all types with 3 “alpha” global cities: New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The most densely populated state is New Jersey (1,121 million per 433km). Racial demography : The US population’s racial distribution in 2006 was as follows: White along – 73,9% or 221,3 million; Black or African American alone - 12, 2% or 73,1 million; Asian alone - 4,4% or 13,1 million; American Indian or Alaska native alone – 0, 8% or 2,4million; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone – 0,14% or 0,43 million; Some other race alone – 6,3% or 19 million; two or more races – 2% or 6,1 million.

4. Labor in U S. Labor is considered to be the necessaries of life not only in America, but all over the world. As the Industrial Revolution was beginning in the US a lot of factories appeared all over the country. Such king of labor was difficult and low paid: the average pay was about 3,5 $ a week and working hours were 11-13 hours a day, six days a week. The workers were not satisfied with the working conditions and in 1836 1,500 factory girls went on strike. But it was useless. As the factory system grew, workers began to form labor unions to protect their interests. The first union was organized by Philadelphia shoemakers in 1792. Soon after, some other unions were organized.

In 1851 New Jersey passed a law calling for 10-hour working day in all factories and it was forbidden to employ children under 10 years old. Meanwhile trade unions were joining together in cities to form federations. They tried to improve wages and working conditions. Hundreds of strikes took place during 1850. The most violent confrontation between labor and employers was the Great Railway Strike of 1877. It led many workers to join a labor organization the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, founded in 1869. In 1886 a new organization was founded : The American Federation of Labor. It was sure that skilled workers are best kind. By 1904 it has 1,75 million members and was the nation's dominant labor organization.

In the early 20th Progressivism swept the country. Their goal was to improve conditions for all Americans. They were also concerned about labor's problems. Together with the Am. Fed. of Lab., they pressured state government for laws to protect wage earners, the employment of children under 14 was forbidden, the working day was limited to 9 hours a day, worker's compensation laws were passed. Congress established a Department of Labor in the president's Cabinet. In 1920 the worst economic depression in the nation's history took place. People lost their jobs. By the 1932 millions of people were unem-ployed. In 1932 Congress passed the Wagner Act. It guaranteed workers the right to join unions and bargain collectively. It also created a powerful National Labor Relations Board.

Unemployment remained high until the US entered Word War 2. By 1943 the unemploy-ment ended and industry was faced with a shortage of labor. During the war labor cooperated with government and industry. When peace came, a wave of strikes for higher wages swept the nation.

In recent years there has been a steady decline in the percentage of workers who belonged to labor unions. But organized labor in the US still remains strong and working conditions steadily improved: the length of working day has been shortened, 40 hours of work a week, insurance pension and health care plans have been included. By the early 1990 the labor force consisted of a large percentage of minorities and women. Employers provide them with education and training programs, with accommodation and on-site child cure and flexible hour. Labor-management issues also changed. Now unions want laws to strengthen their right to strike by prohibition companies from hiring permanent replace-ment for striking workers. Employers want the right to test their workers for drug use. There is a common belief that all employers should provide adequate health insurance to their workers. Workers want the right to take unpaid leave when they have babies or when a family member is ill. And to stop unemployment government should help create jobs.

5.Social Security. The S.S. program began as a measure to implement "social insurance" during the Great Depression of the 1930s.The original S.S.Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare or social insurance programs signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935. The larger and better known initiatives of the program are: Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance,Unemployment Insurance, Health Insurance for Aged and Disabled ,State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) etc. The program has been one of the most popular government programs in American history.Most women and minorities were excluded from the benefits of unemployment insurance and old age pensions. Employment definitions reflected typical white male categories and patterns. Job categories that were not covered by the act included workers in agricultural labor, domestic service, government employ-ees, and many teachers, nurses, hospital employees, librarians, and social workers. S.S.in the United States is a social insurance program funded through dedicated payroll taxes called Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Officials have responded more to the concerns of women than those of minority groups. S.S.moved toward universal coverage. By 1950, debates moved away from which occupational groups should be included to how to provide more adequate coverage. In 2004 the U.S. Social Security system paid out almost $500 billion in benefits. Spouse's benefit:Any current spouse is eligible, and divorced or former spouses are eligible generally if the marriage lasts for at least 10 years. While it is possible for one worker to generate spousal benefits for up to five of his/her spouses that he/she may have, each must be in succession after a proper divorce for each after a marriage of at least ten years. Widow's benefits:The earliest age for a nondisabled widow(er)'s benefit is age 60. The benefit is equal to the worker's full retirement benefit for spouses who are at, or older than, normal retirement age. Children's benefits:Children of a retired, disabled or deceased worker may receive benefits. There are some benefit programs for disable people:A worker who has worked long enough and recently enough to be covered can receive disability benefits. These benefits start after five full calendar months of disability, regardless of his or her age. As with the retirement benefit, the amount of the disability benefit payable depends on the worker's age and record of covered earnings.

6.The South Atl States 9:Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The 1st Europeans to settle here were Eng protestants. In coastal areas settlers grew wealthy by raising and selling crops such as tobacco and cotton. Delaware is located on the Atl Coast in the Mid-Atl region. The st is named after D Bay and River, which were named for Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr . Florida here is Disney world. Is a low-lying peninsula with a coast line 2nd in length only to Alaska. Is flat. Georgia was the last of the 13 Colonies to be establ as a colony in 1733. It was the 4th st to ratify the US Constitution in 1788. G is also known as the Peach St and the Empire St of the South. Atlanta is the most populous city and the capital. Here is the museum of Margaret Mitchel. Maryland is now the wealthiest state in the US.It bears 2 nicknames, the Old Line St and the Free St. M is a life sciences hub with over 350 biotechnology firms, making it the 3d-largest such cluster in the nation. North Carolina was one of the original 13 Colonies and the home of the 1st Eng colony in the Am-s. Today is a fast-growing st with an increasingly diverse economy and population. A leader n agriculture and business. The nation’s major producer of tobacco. South Carolina Originally known as C, the Province of SC was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the Br Crown during the Am Revolution. The st is named after King Charles II, as Carolus is Latin for Charles. Tourism; many racism problems. Virginia Agriculture, colonialism and slavery played significant roles in V's early economy and politics. It was the 1st permanent New World Eng colony and became one of the 13 colonies that would take part in the Am Revolution. West Virginia broke away from V during the Am Civil War and was admitted to the Union in 1863. It is one of only 2 states formed during the Am Civil War (along with Nevada). The capital and largest city is Charleston.The st is noted for its great natural beauty, its historically significant logging and coal mining industries, and its labor history.

7.The US Congress Presidency. Election System

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election. Each of the 435 members of the House of Representatives represents a district and serves a two-year term. "House" seats are apportioned among the states by population. The 100 Senators serve staggered six-year terms. Each state has two senators, regardless of population. Every two years, approximately one-third of the Senate is elected. Congress has authority over financial and budgetary matters, the Constitution also gives C. an important role in national defense, including the exclusive power to declare war, to raise and maintain the armed forces, and to make rules for the military. The C. shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform through-out the United States; the C. meets in regular sessions beginning with January 3. The nature of the electoral system in the USA is complex as there are a multitude of elective offices and many elections, not all of which are held at the same time. The president and vice-president, one-third of the Senate, and every member of the House of Representatives are elected at the same time every four years, and two years later the mid-term elections involve all representatives and one-third of the Senate. The President of USA is the head of state and head of government and is the highest political office in US. Presidents are elected indirectly. A number of electors, collectively known as Electoral College, select the president. Each state is allocated a number of electors, equal to the size of its delega-tion in both houses of C. combined. The 23 Amendment to the Constitution grants electors to the District of Columbia as if it were a state. Voters in each of the states elect a presi-dent on Election Day, set by law as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, once every four years. Each state holds a number of electoral votes that correspond to electors in the Electoral College. Tickets of presidential and vice presidential candidates are shown on the ballot; each vote for the tickets actually corresponds to a vote for a slate of electors chosen by the candidates' political partyThe winning set of electors meets at their state's capital on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, a few weeks after the election, to vote, and sends a vote count to Congress.

8.The Central Southeast States. The region is blessed with plentiful rainfall and a mild climate. Crops grow easily in its soil and can be grown without frost for at least six months of the year.4 states: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Alabama became the 22nd state in 1819. Capital City: Montgomery. Largest Cities: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile. Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, cattle, nursery stock, peanuts, cotton, vegetables, milk, soybeans. Industry: Paper, lumber and wood products, mining, rubber and plastic products, transportation equipment, apparel. Kentucky. Capital: Frankfort. Admitted into the Union in 1792, Kentucky is the 15th state and the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains. It is known as the "Bluegrass State" because of the blue blossoms of the lush grass around Lexington. Kentucky is one of the border states that lie between the North and the South. Rich tobacco fields and champion race horses have long been symbols of Kentucky. Today, Kentucky is associated with coal mines, horse farms ,and racing. Kentucky Derby horse race, America's most prestigious horse race. The name "Mississippi" comes from an Indian word meaning "great waters" or "father of waters". In 1817, Mississippi was admited as the 20th state to the Union. Part of the Deep South, it was once a land of farmers and quiet towns. It is becoming a state of factory workers and busy cities. Agriculture: Cotton, poultry, cattle, catfish, soybeans, dairy products, rice. Industry: Apparel, furniture, lumber and wood products, food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment. In 1796, Tennessee was the first territory admitted as a state under the federal Constitution (16th state). The lonely pioneer, wearing a coonskin cap and carrying a flintlock rifle, is a symbol of Tennessee's great past. Pioneers crossed the mountains of Tennessee to settle in the wilderness. They brought with them the spirit of independence. rugged mountains, thick forests and beautiful lakes and rivers. The capital Nashville is known as a center for country music; Memphis

9.The US Constitution

The members of the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention convened in response to dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation and the need for a strong centralized government. After four months of secret debate and many compromises, the proposed Constitution was submitted to the states for approval. Although the vote was close in some states, the Constitution was eventually ratified and the new Federal government came into existence in 1789. The Constitution established the U.S. government as it exists today. The C. sets up a strong division of powers, classifying governmental powers as executive, legislative and judicial. It consists of the preamble, 7 articles, and 26 amendments. The Preamble establishes the fact that the federal government has no authority outside of what follows the preamble, as amended. "We the people", is one of the most-quoted sections of the Constitution. Amending the Constitution is a two-part process: amendments must be proposed and then they must be ratified. Amendments can be proposed one of two ways. The only way that has been used to date is through a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress. Unlike many other constitutions, amendments to the U.S. constitution are appended to the existing body of the text without altering or removing what already exists. The Constitution has a total of 27 amendments. The first ten, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified simultaneously. The following seventeen were ratified separately. The amendments that became the Bill of Rights address the rights of freedom of religion freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition,

prohibit the government from using private homes as quarters for soldiers during peace-time without the consent of the owners, guard against searches, arrests, and seizures of property without a specific warrant or a "probable cause" to believe a crime has been committed, the protection against ‘cruel’ punishments. The constitution and the Bill struck a balance between 2 conflicting aspects of Am. politics – the need for a strong efficient central authority and the need to ensure individual liberties.

10.The Southwest. 4 states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The South-west is drier than the adjoining Midwest in weather. The population is less dense and, with strong Spanish-American and Native-American components, more ethnically varied than neighboring areas. Outside the cities, the region is a land of open spaces, much of which is desert. The magnificent Grand Canyon is located in this region, as is Monument Valley. Arkansas. The early French explorers of the state gave it its name. Joined the Union in 1836, was the 25th state. Arkansas is a beautiful land of mountains and valleys, thick forests and fertile plains. The Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges in northern and western Arkansas are known as the Highlands; the southern and eastern parts of Arkansas are called the Lowlands. Arkansas' mineral and hot spring waters are well-known. Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, milk. Industry: Food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, vanadium. Louisiana, named in honor of the French King Louis XIV. It was admitted to the Union as the 18th state in 1812. A strong French influence is still evident throughout the state. Situated in the Deep South, Louisiana lies where the mighty Mississippi empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Tourists visit New Orleans for the city's festive Mardi Gras, the old French Quarter and the city's jazz clubs. Oklahoma. In 1889, Congress opened up 2 million acres for white settlement (it was previously open only to Native Americans who were forced to leave their homelands), and the first of a number of land runs began. In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state in the Union. Oklahoma is a major fuel and food-producing state. Thousands of oil and natural gas wells dot the Oklahoma landscape. Millions of white-faced beef cattle graze on Oklahoma's flat plain and low hills. Fertile fields produce vast crops of wheat. The name Texas is a Spanish name, which comes from an Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." The Republic of Texas achieved its independence from Mexico in 1836. It became the 28th state in 1845. Texas is the second largest state. Today Texas is a major producer of oil. Cowboys with their 10-gallon hats have long been a symbol of the state. Agriculture: Cattle, cotton, dairy products, nursery stock, poultry, sorghum, corn, wheat. Industry: Chemical products, petroleum and natural gas, food processing, electric equipment, machinery, mining, tourism.

11. History from Leif Ericson to 1865. New Land. English settlements

Erikson was an Icelandic explorer and probably the first European visitor to North America, 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Leif Erikson was the second of three sons of Erik the Red, who established a settlement in Greenland after he was exiled from Iceland. Leif Erikson's story was recorded in several different sagas, but the accounts they give are so different it is impossible to be certain of the details of his life. He is a Norse explorer, and the first European known to have discovered North America—more specifically, the region that would become Newfoundland and, by later extension, Canada.

New Land. English settlements. Roanoke is the name of the island where the first English settlement was started in North America in 1587. Roanoke is located near the coast of present-day North Carolina. Shortly after the attempt to settle Roanoke, 105 Englishmen arrived in present-day Virginia. They hoped to find gold and other riches. They began a settlement called Jamestown in 1607. Despite many hardships, Jamestown became the first successful English colony in North America. A few years later, 102 English people arrived in present-day New England. They built a settlement called Plymouth in what is now Massachusetts. Most of these people left England to seek religious freedom. They became known as the Pilgrims. Pilgrims are people who go on a religious journey.

12. The Midwest. The Great Lakes Industrial Belt. The Midwest is known as the nation's "breadbasket." The fertile soil of the region makes it possible for farmers to produce abundant harvests of cereal crops such as wheat, oats, and corn. 5 states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Great Lakes region is distinguished for significant contributions in natural resources, political economy, technology and culture. The lakes hold almost one fifth of the world's surface freshwater. Illinois. "Land of Lincoln," because it's where the 16th president was raised. Became the 21st state in 1818. At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and on the farms that dot the state's gently rolling plains. Indiana. "land of the Indians." It joined the Union in 1816 as the 19th state. A state of mostly small towns and midsize cities. Its largest city and capital is Indianapolis, where the nation's most famous auto race, the Indianapolis 500, is held each year. Indiana has broad, fertile plains and is a part of the Corn Belt. Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, eggs. Industry: Steel, electric equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products, petroleum and coal products, machinery. Michigan "large lake." in 1837, Michigan became the 26th state in the Union. One of the nation's leading manufacturing states and it leads in the production of automo-biles. Detroit, Michigan's largest city, is called the Automobile Capital of the World or Motor City. M. touches four of the five Great Lakes - Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Ohio, a major producer of machines, tools, and other products, is one of the leading industrial states. O. is an Iroquois word meaning "great water." As part of the Midwestern Corn Belt, agriculture also plays an important role in the state's economy. Wisconsin. The state's name is an English version of a French adaptation of an Indian name said to mean "the place where we live." In 1634, Frenchman Jean Nicolet became Wisconsin's first European explorer. The French controlled the area until 1763, when it was ceded to the British. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as the 30th state. Clean lakes, rolling hills, quiet valleys, deep forests and cool, pine-scented breezes. Wisconsin is first in the country in the production of milk, cheese, and butter.

13. COLONIAL ERA

By 1770 Philadelphia, with 28,000 inhabitants, was the largest city, followed by New York, Boston and Charleston, South Carolina. By 1733, English settlers had occupied 13 colonies along the Atlantic coast. The French controlled Canada and Louisiana, which included the entire Mississippi watershed. By 1756, England and France were fighting the Seven Years' War. William Pitt, the British prime minister, won an empire. British forces captured the Canadian strong points of Louisburg, Quebec and Montreal. The Peace of Paris, signed in 1763, gave Britain title to Canada and all of North America east of the Mississippi River. Britain's victory led directly to a conflict with its American colonies. The British government began punishing smugglers and charged new taxes on sugar, coffee, textiles and other imported goods.

REVOLUTION On April 19, 1775, 700 British soldiers marched from Boston to forestall a rebellion of the colonists by capturing a colonial arms depot in the nearby town of Concord. At the village of Lexington the American War of Independence began.At first, the war went badly for the Americans. In 1781, 8,000 British troops under General George Cornwallis were surrounded at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis surrendered, and soon afterward the British government asked for peace. The Treaty of Paris, signed in Septem-ber 1783, recognized the independence of the United States. Devising a constitution The 13 colonies were now "free and independent states"—but not yet one united nation. In May 1787, a convention met in Philadelphia with instructions to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates— among whom were George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison—went beyond their mandate and drafted a new and more workable Constitution. It established a stronger federal government empowered to collect taxes, conduct diplomacy, maintain armed forces, and regulate foreign trade and com-merce among the states. Most importantly, it established the principle of a "balance of power" to be maintained among the three branches of government—the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The Constitution was accepted in 1788, but only after much bitter debateNew nation As the first president of the United States, George Washington governed in a Federalist style. When Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay a federal liquor tax, Washington mobilized an army of 15,000 men to put down the "Whiskey Rebellion." In 1797, Washington was succeeded by another Federalist, John Adams, who became involved in an undeclared naval war with France. In an atmosphere of war hysteria, the Federalist-controlled Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. The repression which occurred under the Alien and Sedition Acts ended in 1801, when Thomas Jefferson was elected president. Although he wanted to limit the power of the president, political realities forced Jefferson to exercise that power vigorously. In 1803, he bought the huge Louisiana territory from France for $15 million: Now the United States would extend as far west as the Rocky Mountains. In 1812 President James Madison went to war with Britain. During the War of 1812, American warships had some impressive victories, but the vastly superior British Navy blockaded American ports. British forces captured and burned Washington, the nation's new capital city. Britain and the United States agreed on a compromise peace in December 1814; neither side won any concessions from the other. After the war, the United States enjoyed a period of rapid economic expansion. The Industrial Revolution had reached America: there were textile mills in New England; iron foundries in Pennsylvania. By the 1850s, factories were producing rubber goods, sewing machines, shoes, clothing, farm implements, guns and clocks. In 1828, Andrew Jackson became the first man born into a poor family and born in the West to be elected president.

14. Ethnic groups and minorities1) nationality groups - English, Dutch, Germans, Irish. 2) racial groups - White, black, native Americans. 3) religious groups - catholic Christians and protestant Christians (Baptists, Mormons, Methodists, Congregational-ists and Unitarian). The US is a country of many ethnic groups. An ethnic group is made up of people who share 1 or more characteristics which make them different from other groups They may share specific racial or physical trails, speak their own language or practice distinctive religion. They are US bound to one another by common traditions values, and by their own folklore and music. Some of their activities may be determined by unique instit-ms members of an ethnic group tend to see themselves as separate from other people.

Major groups in the US today Native Americans, Albanians, Afroamericans, Arabs, Chinese, Eskimos, Greeks, Irish, Italians, Jews, Mexicans, Swiss, etc. Most members of ethnic groups have lost much of the distinctiveness of their culture. In ethnic groups the third generation of Germans may only speak English and may think of themselves as "plain" Americans.

Members of most ethnic groups full participants in the broad tapestry of American life, even if they keep many of their old traditions. Some ethnic groups, however, suffer disadvantages, which continue to keep them from freely participating in some areas of American professional and cultural life. Those ethnic groups which suffer systematic economic or social disadvantages are called minority groups. About 1 of 5 Americans is a member of such a group. In the past many minority groups overcame the barriers that confronted them. There are many signs that today's minorities are following the same path. For several decades it has been an official aim of public policy to encourage such an outcome.

15.The Central Northwest.

It includes the states of Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri and the western states of North and South Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas. It is a country of planes, the chief agricul-tural region of the US, the "Breadbasket" of the nation.

Minnesota - "The north star state". Manufacturing of farm products has in recent years become the leading industry. The state has been the largest source of iron in the US. Tourism is the major industry, the state also has high agriculture with live-stock and corn.Iowa - 'the hawk eye state" produces the 10th of the nation's food supply; 2nd to Texas in cattle.Missouri - "The show-me state". Industrial and agricultural importance to nation's and largest rivers - the Mississippi and Missouri. The leading industry is agriculture. The chief crop is corn. Wheat, tobacco, soy¬beans and cotton are also grown. Cities: St. Units and Kansas city.Nebraska is rich with the grass and grain agriculture which is its mainstay. It is 3rd in cattle.Kansas - a part of the "Great American Desert", is the leading, wheat producer and flour-miller, as well as one of the lop 10 mining states farms covering 95% of the land area produce the biggest winter wheat crop in the nation.S. Dakota has contained the geographical center of the US as well as the leading gold-mining center. S. Dakota draws lots of tourists annually: it has one of the country's most famous land marks and tourist attractions.

N. Dakota. Agriculture and mining are 2nd of its mainstays.

16. American Civil War The Am.Civil War (1861–1865) was a civil war between the United States of America (the "Union") and eleven Southern slave states that declared their secession from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America (the Confederacy). The Union included all of the free states and the five slaveholding border states and was led by Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party. The Confederacy was led by Jefferson Davis. In 1859 John Brown tried to begin a slave rebellion in Virginia but was quickly captured and hanged. North was preparing to end slavery by bloody warfare. South voted against Lincoln but the N. supported him and he won the election. A few weeks later South Carolina voted to leave the Union. It was joined by the Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. They proclaimed themselves an independent nation – the Confederate states of America, the war began. Southerners proclaimed that they were fighting not just for slavery, the S.was waging a war for independence – a second Am. Revolution. The Confederates had the advantage of fighting on their home territory; they had superb soldiers, cavalrymen and generals but they were outnumbered by the Union forces. The Union navy quickly imposed blockade, which created serious shortages of war material and consumer goods in the Confederacy. Lincoln’s two priorities were to keep the US one country and to rid the nation of slavery. On January 1, 1863 he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which granted freedom to all slaves in areas still controlled by the Confederacy. The Southern army won some victories in the early part of the war but Confederate commander Robert E. Lee's loss at Gettysburg in early July, 1863 proved the turning point. . The capture of Vicksburg and Port Hudson by Ulysses S. Grant completed Union control of the Mississippi River. In 1864 a Union army under General William Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia, and began his famous March to the Sea. Confederate resistance collapsed after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. The war caused 620,000 soldier deaths. But it put an end to slavery. All slaves in the Confederacy were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, which stipulated that slaves in Confederate-held areas, but not in border states or in Washington, D.C., were free. Slaves in the border states and Union-controlled parts of the South were freed by state action or by the Thirteenth Amendment, although slavery effectively ended in the U.S. in the spring of 1865.

17. The West. The Mountain States. The West is a region of scenic beauty on a grand scale. In much of the West, the population is sparse and the federal government owns and manages millions of hectares of undeveloped land. 8 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Arizona. "arizonac", meaning "place of the small spring". Arizona was the 48th state to join the U.S. in 1912. It is rich in farm and mineral products and manufacturing is growing rapidly. Vast irrigation systems have transformed the desert into rich farmland. The outstanding scenic feature is Grand Canyon, one of the seven wonders of the world. Colorado. from a Spanish word meaning "red" or "ruddy". Prospectors discovered gold in the middle of the last century, and the mining booms beginning in the late 1850s spurred Colorado's initial growth. The state's economy broadened when irrigated agriculture developed, and by the late 19th century livestock raising had become important. Early industry was based on the processing of minerals and agricultural products. In the second half of the 20th century the industrial and service sectors have expanded greatly. Denver is an important financial center. Camping, hiking, hunting and fishing. Idaho, the 43rd state, joined the U.S. in 1890. Logging as well as mining are big industries in the state. Best known for its potatoes. I. has a rugged landscape with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the country. Snow-capped mountain ranges, swirling white rapids, peaceful lakes and steep canyons. Montana. from the Latin word meaning "mountainous." M. was admitted into the Union as the 41st state in 1889. The state is the fourth largest state of the United States. Western Montana is a land of tall, rugged mountains; while eastern M is a land of broad plains. M experienced sudden development when gold was discovered in 1862. Agriculture: Cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay, hogs. Industry: Mining, lumber and wood products, food process-ing, tourism. Nevada's from the Spanish word meaning "snow clad". A mountain region that includes semiarid grasslands and sandy deserts, and is the most arid (dry) state in the nation. . Large, luxurious casinos in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno. Agriculture: Cattle, hay, dairy products, potatoes. Industry: Tourism, mining, machinery, printing and publishing, food processing, electric equipment. New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. The state has a large Hispanic population, as New Mexico was under Spanish control from the 16th century until about 1846. Part of the "Old West", New Mexico was a place known for cowboys and cattle drives. The landscape ranges from rose-colored deserts to snow-capped mountains. Utah from the Ute, meaning “people of the mountains,” an Indian tribe who lived there before the pioneers arrived. One of Utah's most interesting places to visit is Mormon Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, hay, turkeys. Industry: Machinery, aerospace, mining, food processing, electric equipment, tourism. Wyoming gets its name from the Algonquin words for "land of vast plains." In 1890, Wyoming became the 44th state. The first state to elect a woman governor. Yellowstone National Park (the world's first national park). Active geysers, spectacular towering waterfalls, hot springs, deep canyons and excellent fishing. Agriculture: Cattle, sugar beets, sheep, hay, wheat. Industry: Mining, chemical products, lumber and wood products, printing and publishing, machinery, tourism.

18. The Pacific States. California. 5 states Alaska, C, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington C is on the West Coast of the US, along the Pac O. It is the most populous state. Its 4 largest cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco (considered to be the most beautiful). Is known for its varied geography, ethnically diverse population(White Am, White Hispanics, Black Am,Asian Am,Am Indian, mixed, Latino).Geography is rich, complex, and varied. In the middle lies the C Central Valley, the Sierra Nevada to the east, the Cascade Range in the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. The Sierra Nevada include the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, Mount Whitney. About 35% of the state's total surface area is covered by forests. C is famous for earthquakes. It is vulnerable to tsunamis, floods, droughts, Santa Ana winds, has sev volcanoes. It is the 3d-largest st by land. Along with C's prosperous agric industry, other industries include aerospace, petroleum, computer and information technology. C ranks among the 10 largest economies in the world, and were it a separate country it would be 34th among the most populous countries. Climate varies from Mediterranean to subarctic. The 2 most prominent rivers are the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River. The official language has been English. C also has several imp. seaports (the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Southern C). C is governed as a republic, with 3 branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of C and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate;and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of C and lower courts. The capital is Sacramento. C is divided into 58 counties.

19. The Pac States(Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii)/ All have coastlines on the Pac. O. (and are the only that border that O). Additionally, Nevada and Arizona are sometimes incl. despite the fact that neither of these states actually border the Pac. This is primarily because of strong ties that each state has to neighboring California. Hawaii is on an archipelago in the central Pac. O. southwest of the continental US. Was admitted to the Union in 1959, as the 50th st. Its capital is located in its major city, Honolulu. At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the 8 "main islands". Hawaii is the largest, and is often called the "Big Island" to avoid confusion with the st as a whole. H is the only st of the US that: is not geograph. located in North Am; completely surrounded by water, continuously grows in area(due to active lava flows). The 1t recorded Europ. contact with the islands was in 1778 by Br. explorer James Cook. H has 2 official lang: Eng and Hawaiian. Washington is named after G. Washington, the 1t President of the US. Was carved out of the western part of W Territory and admitted to the Union in 1889. W is sometimes called W state or The state of W to distinguish it from the US capital. W's position on the Pac O and the harbors of Puget Sound give the state a leading role in maritime trade with Alaska, Canada. W is a land of contrasts. The deep forests of the Olympic Peninsula, such as the Hoh Rain Forest, are among the only temperate rainforests in the continental US, but the semi-desert east of the Cascade Range has few trees. Mount Rainier, the highest mountain in the state, is covered with more glacial ice than any other peak in the lower 48 states. W is a leading agric. st. Oregon joined the Union in 1859. The region was part of the O Territory that was created after Euro-Am settlement began in the 1840s. Salem is the capital, while the most populous city is Portland. The valley of the Willamette River in western O is the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of the st. The origin of the name "Oregon" is unknown. According to Stewart, the name came from an engraver's error in a French map published in the early 1700s, on which the Ouisiconsink (Wisconsin) River was spelled "Ouaricon-sint", broken on 2 lines with the -sint below, so that there appeared a river named "Ouaricon". Alaska is the largest st, one of the wealthiest and most racially diverse. Was purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867 for $7.2 mln. The land went through sev. administer. changes before becoming the 49th state in 1959. The name "A" is derived from the Aleut "the mainland". A is larger than the combined area of the next 3 largest states(Texas, California, Montana). A's economy relies heavily on petroleum extraction. A's main export product (excluding oil and natural gas) is seafood, primarily salmon, cod, pollock and crab. Agricultural production is primarily for consumption within the state.

20. The largest metropolitan cities

Most Americans live in urban setting today. By 1990 – 80% lived in metropolitan areas. Strong economic & social currents encourage the continued concentration of the urban population which otherwise might disperse into more sparsely settled areas. Creation of large metropolitan markets for goods, services, jobs acts as a magnet for further growth. Industrial revolution – increasing number of unneeded farmers. Largest cities: New York(has always been the gateway to the US. It is the nation’s largest city and leader in business, finance ,fashion and arts.5 borough: Manhattan, The Bronx, Qu, Brooklyn and Richmond. M- the heart of the city. Br-the richest in population. The Bronx is residential part of the city.), Los Angeles ,Chicago(the 2nd largest city. The centre of the country, the most important Great Lakes port. An important centre of culture and science. It is the seat of the University of CH. And of several institutions. Is known for its sky-scrapers) Boston, Dallas, Denver, Baltimore, Washington,D.C., (was created to be the seat of government. Only industry is government. The White House where the US`s president lives and works, the Capitol, the home of the US congress and the supreme court are all here), San Fran-cisco, Phoenix, Houston. Today cities are overpopulated & people try to relocate from them to suburbs.

21. The American city

Almost 80 percent of the population live in cities. Strong economic and social currents encourage the continued concentration of the urban population. The creation of large metropolitan markets for goods, services and jobs acts as a magnet for further growth. There are many activities which can only thrive in central locations with large populations. These include manufacturing, business and government administration, large-scale cultural and retail activities, and a whole host of service occupations.

The city is a product of the machine age; it is a creation of the industrialization which produced much of the country's wealth and strength. Much that is best and most innovative in education, culture, and political and social thought is available in cities. On the other hand, poverty, overcrowding, social conflict and criminal violence are also much more common in cities than in rural areas. Demands for social services which cities can’ provide have created problems which make living in the cities less attractive.