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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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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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