The United States
Nov 11, 2015
The United States
The United States
The American People
308,745,538 residents in 2010
Third largest nation in the world
A nation of nations
The Native Americans
Came from Asia 40,000 years ago
10 million Native Americans in the 15th century
Today: 0.8% of the total population (2.5 million)
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0.008
0.992
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0.80%
99.20%
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The Native AmericansWestern states: California, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico
1/3 on reservationsothers mostly in citiesMajor problems:- poverty-unemployment
The British
13 % of population
Started settling in 1600s
British culture was the foundation on which America was built
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0.13
0.87
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13%
87%
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African-Americans12% of population
1620-1820: 8 million slaves brought from Africa
200 years of slavery
100 years of segregation
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0.12
0.88
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12%
88%
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African-Americans
Major problem:poverty and its bad effects
South, cities of the Northwest and Midwest
Immigrants from Northern and Western Europe
Immigration began in the 1820s
Reason: to escape poverty, war, discrimination
Immigrants from Germany (17%), the UK (13%), Ireland (11.9%), Scandinavia (3.9%)
Midwest
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0.458
0.542
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45.80%
54.20%
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Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe1870s 1930s; after 1960s
Reason: poverty and discrimination
Immigrants from Italy (5.6%), Greece, Poland, Russia
Serbian Americans
170,000
Chicago the Serbian stronghold in America
1893 the first Serbian parade in Chicago
Hispanic Americans15,8% of total population
3 main groups:- Mexican Americans (Texas and California)- Puerto Ricans (New York)- Cuban Americans (Florida)
The fastest growing group of immigrants
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0.158
0.842
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15.80%
84.20%
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Asian Americans
5% of population
Since 1960s
California, Hawaii, New York and Texas
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0.05
0.95
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5%
95%
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Melting Pot vs. MosaicMelting pot immigrants should adopt American culture
Mosaic Americas strength lies in its diversity
The Political System
Indirect democracy people rule through representatives they elect
The Constitution
The supreme law of the USA
Written in 1787
Amendments
Three Branches of Governmentsystem of checks and balances
Legislative branch makes laws
Executive branch administers the laws
President of the USA
Barack Obama
Since 2009
Vice President of the USA
Joe Biden
Secretary of State
John Kerry
Judicial branch interprets laws
Federalism
Each individual state has its own governmentThere is also federal, or national, government
State and local government
Each state has its own constitution
State governments are also divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches
The leader of a state is the governor
Below the state level: county and city governments
Two-Party System
Republican party (upper-class, conservative)
Democratic party (working class, liberal)
Economy
Free enterprise system: private businesses compete against one another with relatively little interference from the government
ReligionSeparation of church and stateNo official religion
Christians 76%Other 5.5%Non-religious 15%
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0.76
0.055
0.15
0.035
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Christian76%
Non-Christian (Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu)5.50%
Non-religious15%
Refused to answer3.50%
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The FamilyThe American family has changed
Dual-earning familiesSingle-parent and other non-traditional families
Generation gap
Elementary and High SchoolFrom age 7 to 16: compulsory education
90% attend public schools10% attend private schools
School year: September June
Advanced SchoolingCommunity / junior colleges (2 years)
Colleges and universities (4 years)
Public and private
Culture
The US is an international centre of culture
Cultural centres: New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles
High Culture
Popular Entertainment
Leisure
Holidays
New Years DayJanuary 1st
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day3rd Monday of January
Presidents Day3rd Monday of February
Memorial DayLast Monday in May
Independence DayJuly 4th
Labor Day1st Monday in September
Columbus DayOctober 12th
HalloweenOctober 31st
Thanksgiving4th Thursday of November
ChristmasDecember 25th