英语国家概况The United States

TheUnitedStates Chapter10TheLand Location Size andAdministrativeAreas 9166601squarekilometers 4thlargestcountryofworld 50statesandafederaldistrict theDistrictofColumbia GeographicFeatures Thehighlandsintheeast themountainsinthewest avastplainregioninbetween 1 TheEasternHighlandsAppalachianRange 2 TheWesternMountainsCordilleraRange TheCoastRangeTheSierraNevadaTheCascadesTheRockyMountains 3000metershighGrandCanyonwithamaximumdepthof1800meters 3 TheCentralPlainsTheCentralLowlandintheeast fromfiveGreatLakestocentralTexas TheGreatPlainsinthewest TheeasternhalfoftheGreatPlainsisthemostimportantagriculturalareas Thewesternhalfisthegreatprairies 4 AlaskaandHawaii AlaskawasboughtbytheUSAfromRussiain1867 3200kilometersawayfromthemainlandoftheUS MaunaLoaistheworld slargestactivevolcano Rivers TheMississippiRiverandtheMissouriRiverandtheirbranchesfroma19000 kilometersystemofwaterwaysthatareconnectedtotheGreatLakesinthenorthbyacanal TheMississippiis fatherofwater flowsabout6400kilometersfromthenorthernRockyMountains tothemouthofMississippiintheGulfofMexico Lakes Climate NaturalResources 1 WaterTheUSAisblessedwithlargesuppliesoffreshwaterexceptinthedrydesertregionsofthewest 90 offreshwaterusedforgeneratingelectricpower 2 Forests 1 3oflandareaiscoveredbyforests Foundintheeasternandwesternhighlandsofcountry 3 MineralsandMetalsImportantminingareasofthecountryare thenorthernpartoftheAppalachianHighlands thefiveGreatLakesarea andtheWesternmountainousregions PrincipleCities WashingtonD C thecapitaloftheUS Thecityisnowtheseatofthefederalgovernmentaswellasaleadingculturalcenterandacenterofworldaffairs WashingtonD C ThelargestcityandchiefportoftheUnitedStates Thefiveboroughs Manhattan Brooklyn theBronx QueensandRichmond thatcomprisethecityareseparatedbywaterwayslinedbydocks NewYorkCity Withitsman madeharboratSanPedroBay LosAngelesservesasanimportantshipping industrial communicationsandaviationcenter Itleadsthecountryinthemanufactureofaircraftandparts ThecityhasalsobecomeanimportantelectroniccenterandthefilmcenteroftheUnitedStates LosAngeles Theadvantageouslocationhasmadeitthegreatesttransportationcenterinthecountryeversincethebeginningofthesettlement AsachiefrailwaycenterfortheUSA Chicago BothMayDayandInternationalWorkingWomen sDayweredecidedtosupporttheworkers andwomen smovementsinChicagointhelate19thcenturyandearly20thcenturyrespectively Chapter11People The MeltingPot TheUnitedStates meltingpot manyethnicgroupsfromdifferentpartsoftheworld Theyweredissipatingtheirdifferentethnicculturestowardsome standard bylivingandworkingtogetherinthe meltingpot oftheUnitedStatesandgraduallyforminganewnation Totalpopulation 301 4million 2007 AmericanIndiansweredividedinto IndianReservation Theyrepresentinglessthan0 9 ofthetotalpopulationofcountry WASPsfromEngland NorthernandWesternEuropeImmigrantsfromothercountriesreachingapeakintheyearbetween1880and1914 TodayAmericanEuropeanmakingupover70 5 ofthetotalpopulationofcountry BlackpeoplearedescendedfromNegroslavesimportedfromAfrica Makingupabout12 3 ofthetotalpopulationofcountry PopulationandSettlement AlargenumberofChineseweretrickedandshippedtoAmericainthe19thcenturybyslavetradersasnumberofChinese 3 5 MexicohadownedvastregionsoftheWestandSouthwestuntilthe1840sand1850s HispanicsoriginallysettledlargeareasoftheUS Constitutethelargestethnic minority12 8 InAmericaindividualsencounternotonlyclassoppressionbutalsodiscriminationbasedonethnicityandrace Non WASP WASP HispanicsBlackChinese White Theprincipalreasonforthepopulationmovementtodayisthegrowthofnewindustries especiallyintheWestandSouth Since1790s the populationcenterofgravity hasbeenmovingwestward Language TheUnitedStateshasnoofficiallanguagethoughEnglishisthenationallanguageandisspokenby82 ofthepopulationasthemothertongue HispanicsspeakSpanish BlackEnglishasaseparatesocialdialectofEnglish Religion 90 Americansaremembersofachurchortemple 52 ofthetotalpopulationareProtestants Theprincipalof separationofchurchandsate thegovernmentofthecountrygivesnodirectsubsidiestoanyfaith butexemptsthemfrompayingtaxesonincomeandproperty TheAmericanSociety Super rich20 Poor29 Middle class51 Chapter12AmericanEconomy CorporateCapitalism Imperialism Threestages Commercialcapitalism17thC Industrialcapitalism18th 20th Corporatecapitalismorimperialism20th SurpassedBritaininindustrialproductionandbecomethemostpowerfulnationintheworldbythe1880s Largecorporationshavecentralizedcapitalandestablishedownershipoverthemeansofproduction Factorysystem Americansystem Businessorganization Watertosteampower Industry 1 TheIndustrialNortheastWith95 ofthenation sironandsteelandmachine makingindustries Otherimportantindustriesincludeshipbuilding coalmining textileandchemicalindustries 2 ThesouthCheaplaborTextileplants3 TheWestMiningareaThemainareelectronicequipment aerospace aircraftandoiletc Agriculture agribusiness Transportation ForeignTrade ExportImportTherehasbeenanunfavorablebalanceoftradesincethe1970s Americangovernmentbegantopursueaprotectionistpolicyintrade Majorpartners Canada Mexico Japan theUnitedKingdom ChinaandGermany Chapter13GovernmentSystem TheConstitution TheUnitedStatesisafederalunionof50states theConstitutionoftheUnitedStates 1787 Twoprinciple Thefederalsystem stateshavetherighttoself governmentThe separationofpowers balance Thelegislative congress Theexecutive president Thejudicial SupremeCourt President BoththeheadofstateandtheheadofgovernmentTheConstitutiongivestheexecutivepowertothePresidentalone Allthegovernmentdepartments agenciesandofficesareledbythePresidentandareresponsibletohim TheCabinetonlyadvisesthePresidentnotmakeanydecisions CarryoutthegovernmentprogramsenactedintolawbyCongressVetopoweroverbillspassedbyCongressPowerofappointingofficers withtheconsentoftheSenateConductforeignaffairsCommander in Chiefofthearmedforces ExecutiveDepartmentandAgencies TheDepartmentofStateHeadedbytheSecretaryofStateAdvisesthePresidentonforeignrelations TheTreasuryDepartmentManagesgovernmentfinances collectstaxes andmintscoinsandprintspapermoney TheDepartmentofDefenseResponsiblefornation ssecurity2 4millionarmedforce TheDepartmentofJusticeLedbyAttorneyGeneralActsforthegovernmentinlegalmattersandmovesagainstviolatorsoffederallaws DepartmentoftheSecurityoftheNationalTerritoryandResourcesEnhancinganti terroristactivities andkeepingsecurityofnationalterritoryandresources ThepowerofPresidenthaskeptenlargingTherearenumerousindependentagencieschargedwithspecialfunctions CIA 1947 Instancesofsubversion interference andattemptingtocontrolothercountries Organization budgetandpersonnelarekeptsecret Congress TheSenate Eachofthe50stateselectstwoSenators SixyearsOver30yearsold beenAmericancitizenforatleastnineyears OneRepresentativeforover500000peopleFixedat435TwoyearsOver25yearsold beenAmericancitizenfornolessthan7years TheHouseofRepresentatives Makeanylawsthatareconsidered necessaryandproper Imposeandcollecttaxes decidetheexpendituresofthegovernment controltradewithforeignnationsandamongthestates establishandprotectamonetarysystemandborrowmoneyonthecreditoftheUnitedStates RaiseandmaintainanarmyandanavyanddeclarewaruponothercountryAdmitnewstatesintotheUnionandproposeAmendmentstotheConstitution BeproposedbytheHousebutdecidedonbytheSenate Impeachments Specialcommittees Standingcommittees ThePresidentandCongress cooperation independent Impeachments Billofimpeachment approvedby2 3inHouseofRepresentatives AtrialintheSenate TheFederalCourtSystem Federalsystem enforcefederallawsStatesystem enforcefederallaws Secondhighestleveloffederaljudiciary 11courtsofappeal Districtcourts trialcourts SupremeCourt ChiefJusticeandeightJustices Chapter14PartyPolitics TheFederalParty Representedtheinterestsofthecommercialcapitalists infavorofastrongcentralgovernment thedevelopmentofcommerceandindustry andoffriendlyrelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandEngland AlexanderHamilton Representedtheinterestsofthesouthernslave ownersandthemiddleclassesintheNorth infavorofaweakcentralgovernment themaintenanceofstatepowersandthedevelopmentofagriculture friendlywithFrance ThomasJefferson DemocraticParty 1828 wantedtokeeptheslavesystem TheNewRepublicanParty 1854 Trytoabolishslavesystem TheprocessofelectingaPresidentwassetupintheUnitedStatesConstitution TheConstitutionrequiresacandidateforthepresidencytobe Atleast35yearsoldAnaturalborncitizenoftheUnitedStatesAresidentoftheUnitedStatesfor14years StepI PrimariesandCaucusesTherearemanypeoplewhowouldliketobecomePresident Eachofthesepeoplehavetheirownideasabouthowourgovernmentshouldwork Someofthesepeoplecanbelongtothesamepoliticalparty That swhereprimariesandcaucusescomein Intheseelections partymembersgettovoteforthecandidatethatwillrepresenttheirpartyintheupcominggeneralelection Step2 NationalConventionsAttheendoftheprimariesandcaucuses eachpartyholdsanationalconventiontofinalizetheselectionofonePresidentialnominee Duringthistime eachPresidentialcandidatechoosesarunning mate orVice Presidentialcandidate Step3 TheGeneral orPopular ElectionNowthateachpartyisrepresentedbyonecandidate thegeneralelectionprocessbegins Candidatescampaignthroughoutthecountryinanattempttowinthesupportofvoters FinallyinNovember thepeoplevoteforonecandidate Whenapersoncastsavoteinthegeneralelection theyarenotvotingdirectlyforanindividualPresidentialcandidate Instead votersineachstateactuallycasttheirvoteforagroupofpeople knownaselectors TheseelectorsarepartoftheElectoralCollegeandaresupposedtovotefortheirstate抯preferredcandidate Chapter15 17 Theearliestinhabitants TheearliestinhabitantsinNorthandSouthAmericaweretheAmericanIndians theyhadcomeoverfromAsiaabout25000yearsagowhenAsiaandNorthAmerica separatedbytheBeringStraittoday weretiedtogetherbyalandbridgeanditwaspossibletowalkfromAsiatoAmericabecausemuchoceanwaterwasfrozeninglaciersandthesealevelwaslowerthantoday TheDiscoveryoftheNewWorld TheIndiansandthepeopleoftherestworldknewlittleabouteachotheruntiltheNewWorldwasdiscoveredin1492 OnAugust3rd 1492 ColumbusstartedsailingfromtheharboratPalos Spain with87sailorsinthreeships AtlastonOctober12th 1492 abeautifulislandstretchedbeforethem Columbussteppedashore thankedGodfortheirsafearrivalandtookpossessionofthelandinthenameoftheKingandQueenofSpain WhatColumbusandthosewhofollowedhim discovered andexploredwasagreatandrichworld NorthandSouthAmericastogethermadeupanareaalmostaslargeasAfricaandEuropecombined InAmericatherewereallthoseresourcesnecessaryforagriculturalandindustrialdevelopment fertileland seasfulloffish greatforests alltheessentialmetalsandminerals hugecoalandoilsupplies andriversrichinwater power TheColonizationinNorthAmerica In1620thefirstgroupofPuritansarrivedfromEngland Theyweresocalledbecausetheyrepresentedtherisingbourgeoisieoftimeandwishedto purify theChurchofEngland theestablishchurch withtheKingasitshead Inordertoescapefromreligiouspersecutionashome agroupofPuritanssetsailforAmericaonashipcalledMayflower Thisgroupof pilgrims astheycalledthemselves wenttotheNewWorldinsearchofreligiousfreedom Beforetheylanded theysignedanagreementcalledthemayflowercompact inwhichtheypromisedtoobeytherulesandlawsofthecolony thirteenBritishcolonies AlongthisstretchofcoastwerethirteenBritishcolonies Owingtogeographical economicandsocialfactors thethirteencoloniesdevelopedindifferentdirections First theNewEnglandColonies Massachusetts NewHampshire ConnecticutandRhodeIsland becomeacenterforlumbering shippingandfishing Secondly theCentralColonies NewYork NewJersey Pennsylvania DelawareandMaryland becomearegionofsmallfarms Thirdly theSouthernColonies Virginia NorthandSouthCarolinasandGeorgia developedaplantationsystemwiththeexploitationsofslavelabor TheFrenchandIndianWar TheFrenchandIndianWar 1756 1763 FoughtbytheEnglishagainsttheFrenchandtheirIndianallies DesireofEnglandtolevymoretaxesonthecoloniesandthedesireofthecoloniestohavemorerightmadethecoloniesandtheirmothercountrypullapartindifferentdirections TheEnlightenment ReasonledLocketocondemnabsolutegovernmentandledthebourgeoisietoadvocatefreetrade freespeech andfreethought JohnLocke anEnglishmaterialistphilosopher furnishedthecenturywithatheoryaboutreason TheBritishMercantilistPolicyandtheColonies Resistance TheBritishgovernmentpracticedthepolicyofmercantilistinthecolonies ThecoloniesexistedtoenrichthemothercountrybyprovidingEnglandwithrawmaterialsandbuyingbackmanufacturedgoods Theresultofthispolicywasthatthecoloniesusuallywoundupowingmoneytothemothercountryowingtoanunfavorablebalanceoftrade BostonTeaPartyOnDecember16th 1773 agroupofBostoncitizens whodisguisedthemselvesasIndians boardedthreeBritishshipsintheharborandtossedacargoofteaworth17000overboard ThefirstContinentalCongress 1774 DrewupapetitionaskingtheKingtograntself governmenttothecolonies TheyagreednottoimportanygoodsfromEnglanduntilEnglandrepealedalltheunfairlaws In1775 agroupofminutemenmettheBritishatLexington wherethefirstshotsoftherevolutionwerefired FightforIndependence ThesecondContinentalCongress 1775 Establisharegulararmy withGeorgeWashingtonascommander in chief TheDeclarationofIndependence Allmenarecreatedequalandhavecertaininalienablerights amongwhicharelife liberty andthepursuitofhappiness Governmentgettheirpowersfromtheconsentofthosetheygovern Agovernmentthatdoesnotliveuptothepurposesforwhichitwascreatedcanbeabolishedbythepeople AmericanswonagreatvictoryatSaratogainOctober17th 1777 whichwasaturningpointofthewar ApeacetreatywassignedinParisonSeptember3rd 1783 Englandacknowledgedtheindependenceoftheformerthirteencolonies TheConstitutionalConvention Theconstitutionwasratifiedin1789 GeorgeWashingtonwaselectedthefirstPresidentofUnitedStatesandtookofficein1789 HeorganizedthefirstadministrationunderthenewConstitution AmericanCivilWar Theantagonismofthetwosocial economicsystemsledtoincreasedpoliticalconflictbetweentheNorthandtheSouthandfinallytotheoutbreakoftheCivilWar TheswiftlygrowingindustriesintheNorthrequiredtherestrictionofslaveryaswellasitsexpandingterritorysoastoprovidecapitalistproductionwithrawmaterials marketsandanabundantlaborsupply TheslaveeconomyoftheSouthwasanobstacletoindustrialgrowthandexpansion Inelectionof1860 therepublicanputupAbrahamLincoln anortherner forthepresidency Lincolnwasthoughttobeanabolitionist SotheslavestatesalmostimmediatelybegantosecedefromFederalUnionwhenLincolnwaselectedPresident TheAmericanCivilWarbrokenoutonApril12th 1861andendedonApril9th 1865 Chapter18USImperialism TheFormationofUSImperialism 1 HighlyDevelopedIndustryTheendofthe19thcenturytheUntiedStateshadalreadybecomeahighlydevelopedcapitalistcountryandreachedthestageofimperialism By1894 Americahadbecometheworldleadingindustrialcountry 2 TheRapidConcentrationo