1、.1A Brief Introduction.2The LandThe PeopleAmerican EconomyGovernment SystemHistory At a Glance.3.4The United States of America is :In the southern part of North America, just south of Canada.Divided in to 50 different states, each having their own government.Quite large, with Texas being larger than
2、 France and Alaska being twice as large as Texas!Composed of the Eastern Highlands (about 800 meters above sea in some places), the Central Plains, and the Western Mountains (the Rocky Mountains being over 3000 meters high).Affected by both VERY cold climates in New York and the north, and sub-tropi
3、c climates in the south. Has rich nature, with forest, beaches, rivers and lakes, and wildlife flourishing.Some of the most well known cities exist throughout the USA.5.6Americas flag has 13 stripes that symbolize the original 13 colonies.The flag also has 50 stars which symbolize the 50 states. Eve
4、ry time a new state entered the union, the flag would change for it!.7The USA has 3 main regional land types. These land types are :.8Eastern Highlands This area holds the Appalachian Range of mountains. To the east is the narrow stretch of coastal states. Dense forests, and plenty of wildlife are h
5、ere.9Central Plains This is where the majority of US agriculture comes from. Cowboy movies are shot here.10Western Mountains High and rocky, this area is generally cold and volcanic looking.11The United States is a conservation center of the world. There are very large national parks and strict rule
6、s about hunting, fishing, and construction.One of the first things tourists see when visiting the USA is the beauty of nature, and the wildlife all around them.12CityPopulationImportanceRegionStateNew York City19 millionStatue of Liberty, Times SquareNorth EastNew YorkWashington D.C.6 millionWhiteho
7、use, Pentagon, MemorialsNorth EastNONE!Los Angeles15 millionMajor PortWestCaliforniaHouston2 millionOil and Spacecraft CenterSouthTexasPhoenix1.4 millionNative American CultureWestArizonaDetroit1 million90% of Car ManufacturingMidwestMichiganBoston500,000Nuclear PowerNorth EastMassachusetts.13The Un
8、ited States is called the “Melting Pot” because it has no true cultural majority. The U.S. is built from the culture of every country in the world, and is a mixture. In other words, the culture of the United States is like a soup. The ingredients and flavor come from the entire world.14Unlike many o
9、ther countries, the U.S.A. doesnt require that immigrants assimilate in to the American culture. Immigrants often create their own community, keeping their old culture! China town in NY and CA are a good example of this! .15 The U.S. was originally settled by Native Americans. “Discovered” by Christ
10、opher Columbus in 1492, colonists from Europe soon began traveling there. Because of the European colonists being the first to arrive (after the Native Americans), there is a feeling of racism and discrimination against all people who are not white with European descent. There is no official languag
11、e in the USA. The two most common languages are English and Spanish. It is now a common requirement to be able to speak one of those two. Different religions populate the U.S., with Christianity being the most common. As a capitalistic society, wealth is divided in to three major groups. The 29% of
12、lower class, or poor people, follow the 62% middle class, who follow the 9% upper class. .16The Native Americans of the United States could be divided in to 300 different groups. These groups looked, spoke, and acted quite differently and often would war with one another.They numbered, in the 18th c
13、entury, at over 8 million. In modern times they have a population of little more than 2 million people. .17Like the Chinese, Native Americans give traditional names to each other as well as English names. These names are quite similar to Chinese names in structure. Beautiful Earth, Broken Hand, Craz
14、y Horse, Little Horse, and Big Foot are all famous Native American Names.18Having pioneered many music genres, including Blues, Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Country, and Rap it isnt odd to note that most Americans feel strongly about music. Politically motivated music, generally critical, and songs dealing
15、with the darker emotions are frequently among those most listened to. The U.S. doesnt have the wealth of prominent painters and artists that European countries do. What it lacks there, it makes up for with media. A large portion of the worlds movies are American, and the world views Hollywood as the
16、 premier place for movies to be made. American pop songs are also known throughout the entire world, and American sports such as the NBA have been quickly growing in popularity during the last decade.19American food is a combination of every cultural group in the USA. The most common foods are pizza
17、 (Italian) and hamburgers (German).There is a common misconception about the “fat American”, but this is more of a political statement made regarding the economic and political standing of the United States. While the U.S. population is moving towards obesity, so are the rest of the first world nati
18、ons.It is true Americans mainly live off of a fast food diet, however. That is because the majority of families in a household consist of a father, a mother, and children. Both the father and mother are expected to work, leaving little time for food preparation.20America is a capitalistic economy. C
19、apitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit. Income in a Capitalist system is split between the business owners and the workers, with profit sent to the owners, in other words the Capitalists, who have invested money in businesses, and
20、 wages are paid to workers.The American Government is a Democratic Republic. A democracy is one where the government is directly chosen by the people (i.e., through elections); a Republic is one where government authority is derived through the will of the people. Thus, a Democratic Republic would b
21、e one where ultimate authority and power is derived from the citizens.21The United States Government was initially set up in 1776, but was reformed in 1787-1789 by the drafting of the constitution.The constitution is the framework of the government, focusing on the federal system of a democratic republic and “separation of powers”. “Separation of powers” simply means that no part of the government is strong enough to control it, but power is separated.22.23THANK YOU!
