A Brief Introduction to USA

1、A Brief Introduction to The United States of America Land and People Name, Size and Position 1.Name: the United States of America; the United States; the U.S.; America; 2.Size: about 9.4 million km2; the fourth largest country; 50 states and a federal districtthe District of Columbiathe seat of the

2、Federal Government; Land and People 3.Position: The United States of America is located in the south of North America with its two youngest states Alaska in the northwestern part of North America and Hawaii in the central Pacific. It is bounded by Canada on the north and Mexico on the South with the

3、 Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west. National anthem: The Star Spangled Banner ( 星条旗永不落) Map of USA National Flag Flag Description: 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 5

4、0 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory. National Emblem The Bald Eagle was officially dec

5、lared the National Emblem of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1782. It was selected by the U.S.A.s founding fathers because it is a species unique to North America. The Bald Eagle has since become the living symbol of the U.S.A.s freedom, spirit and pursuit of excellence. Its

6、image and symbolism have played a significant role in American art, folklore, music and architecture. Land and People People WASPs: White Anglo-Saxon Protestants; minorities: the black; Indians; Hispanics; Chinese-Americans; Jews; the Melting Potthe mixture and assimilation of different races that h

7、ave immigrated into the USA. A Brief Introduction Britains American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original

8、 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nations history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Co

9、ld War in 1991, the US remains the worlds most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology. Geographical Features Three Geographical Divisions: u The Atlantic Seacoast and the Appalachian Mountains in the east; (high

10、lands, 1/6) u The Great Mississippi River Basin in the middle; (the central plain, 1/2) 1. The Rockies west to the Pacific Ocean; (high plateaus and mountains, 1/3) Map of America Geographical Features Three Major River System: 1. the system of Gulf: the Mississippi River the longest and most import

11、ant river; flows from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico; called as “Old Man River” and “father of waters”; two large tributaries: the Missouri River; the Ohio River; the Rio Grande River the natural boundary between Mexico and America; Geographical Features Three Major River System: 2. the syste

12、m of the Atlantic: the Hudson River flows through the State of New York; the Dalaware River forms the boundary of Pennsyvania and New Jersey; The Potomac River bordering the national capital of Washington; The St. Lawrence River forms part of the boundary between Canada and America; Geographical Fea

13、tures Three Major River System: 3. The system of the Pacific: the Columbia River rises in Canada; the Colorado River finally pours into the Gulf of California; The Great Lakes Geographical Features The Great Lakes: The Great Lakes lies between the boundary of Canada and the United States, including

14、Lake Superior (the largest fresh water lake in the world), Lake Michigan (the only one entirely in the U. S.), Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls: located on the U.S.A Canadian boundary between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario; The Great Salt Lake: in northern Utah; the largest inland s

15、alt lake in North America. Niagara Falls Climate types: subtropical and tropical; features: u northeast (New England): humid continental climate hot in summer, cold in winter, much rain and snow; u south u the central plain: continental steppe climate hot in summer, cold in winter, much snow; u the

16、intermountain region: continental desert climate; u The Pacific Coast: u northwest : maritime climate; 1. southern part in California : Mediterranean climate warm, dry summers, moist winters; 美国各地气候资料美国各地气候资料 .hk/wxinfo/climat/world/chi/n_america/us/us_c.htm History Discovery of

17、the New World Two long-continuing immigration movement: 25000 years ago, Siberian tribes crossed over the Bering Strait to Alaska. From the 16th century, the expansion of Europe and the establishment of permanent settlements in North America. Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries the development of

18、capitalism the Renaissance the Religious Reformation History Discovery of the New World In 1492, Christopher Columbus discover a group of islands,but he mistook them for part of India. Later Amerigo Vespucci confirmed that a new continent had been discovered. So the New World was named after him, “A

19、merica”. In 1497, John Cabot arrived in todays Canada and the English King claimed that the whole of the territory of North America belonged to England. Enforcing this claim, the Englishmen began to establish permanent settlements in North America by the beginning of the 17th century. History The Co

20、lonial Period: the English Colonies: four patterns the first English colony Jamestown, Virginia; by the London Company, a chartered company, in 1607; the second English colony Plymouth, Massachusetts; by Puritans, known as Pilgrim Fathers in 1620; the third colonial pattern: Catholic Maryland, by th

21、e second Lord Baltimore in 1632. His feudal experimental plan failed. History The Colonial Period: the English Colonies: four patterns the fourth colonial pattern: Quaker Pennsylvania, by William Penn. “Some Account of the Province of Pennsylvania” The Holy Experiment: had great impact on American c

22、ulture. the others: Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia; Causes for the immigration: to live a better life, to escape religious and political persecution. History The American Revolution The Seven Years War / the French an

23、d Indian War (1756-1763) Result: uthe Peace of Paris, signed in 1763 between Britain and France gave Britain title to Canada and all of North America east of the Mississippi River. History The War of Independence cause: the development of economy political power (colonies), collect more taxes (Engla

24、nd) conflict; uThe Boston Tea Party: Dec. 1773; uThe First Continental Congress: Sept. 1774; uThe First Shot: on April 19, 1775; the Shots at Concord and Lexington; uno taxation without representation History The Declaration of Independence - On July 4, 1776; uThe Second Continental Congress: on May

25、 10,1775; - founded a Continental Army and Navy; - appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration; uThe Treaty of Paris (1783) uThe end of the War: in 1781 The Declaration of Independence It was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was adopted by the Congress on July 4, 1776. The Declaration

26、officially proclaimed the independence of 13 North American colonies. It also declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Most importantly, it explained the philosophy of governments: the powers of g

27、overnments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of the governments was to secure the rights mentioned above. History Appearance of American Constitution The Articles of Confederation: After the War of Independence was won, the new nation of the United States was organized under the

28、agreement of the Articles of Confederation with a weak national government called the Congress. According to it, the Congress had no power to pass laws for the different states. Even if it had passed laws, it did not have power to enforce them. The need of a new form of government was felt by an inc

29、reasing number of Americans. History The Constitutional Convention: In May 1787, a conference was held in Philadelphia to consider what should be done to strengthen the Articles of Confederation. Fifty-five delegates from all the states except Rhode Island attended the Convention to revise the Artic

30、les of Confederation and draw up a new plan of government. After struggle, the Constitution was ratified at last. This conference is called the Constitutional Convention. Appearance of American Constitution *Federalists In 1803: the area of Louisiana Napoleon I (purchase); In 1819: Florida Spanish;

31、In 1845: Texas Mexico (war); In 1867: Alaska Russia (purchase); it became a state in 1958; In 1889: Hawaii: it became a state in 1959; In 1848: California and the land east of it Mexico (purchase after war); History The Civil War The Civil War ( (April 12, 1861- April 9,1865) ) the breakout: the att

32、ack of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861; the progress of the war: *Emancipation Proclamation (Sept. 22, 1862) *the Battle of Gettysburg (1863) the turning point; the Confederate States of America: in 1861; History Its significance and effect: The Civil War was an epoch-making event in American history.

33、 It was a bourgeois revolution in nature, a continuation and expansion of the War of Independence. The abolition of slavery and the emancipation of the black enabled the country to develop more rapidly in every field. Three decades after the war, the United States led the world in industry. It also

34、extended its far-reaching influence to the European revolutions; History America during and after two World Wars The United States declared war on Germany on April 6,1917. WWI ended on November 11, 1918. immediately after the WWI, the United States entered a period of industrial boom which was mainl

35、y based on the progress of science and technology. The False Prosperity in the 1920s The Great Depression of 1929-1933 Roosevelts “New Deal” History W.W.II broke out in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and England, together with France, declared war on Germany. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan made a swift and sudden raid on the United States naval base at Pear Harbor. The next day Congress declared war on Japan. On May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered. On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally and the Se