United States of America

Basic information:
•    4th largest country of the world – after Russia, Canada and China, Situated in North America
•    bordered on: Canada (in the north); Mexico (in the south); Atlantic Ocean (in the east), Pacific Ocean (in the west)
•    Other parts of the USA: Alaska – North; Hawaiian Islands – west of California
•    50 states
•    President: Barack Obama - the 44. president of the USA, the first African American
•    Capital: Washington D.C.
•    Many nationalities mixed so is sometimes called a great ,,melting pot” or ,,Salad bowl”
History
•    History of the USA is much shorter, than the history of other countries.
•    History is only little more than 3 centuries old.
•    Started with: Declaration of independence in 1776 (July, 4th). But for Europe, the history of American continent started in 1492, when Ch. Columbus discovered America. He thought that he found India, so he named the aborigines Indians. He had three ships (Pinta, Nina, Santa Maria)
•    After this, America was colonised - The most important is British colonisation
•    Settlers rose up against British colonisation and in 1775 broke out the War of independence, between colonies and Britain. (George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were in the lines).
•    1776 July 4th   the Declaration of independence was adopted. It declared 13 states like United states of America
•    The first president of the USA was George Washington. This day is celebrated as the day, when the USA came to existence. It is a national holiday. 
•    Another big conflict was between years 1860 and 1866 between South and North.
o    Liberal and industrial north on the first side and on the other side agricultural South with slavery.
o    North wanted to abolish slavery in the south, but south didn’t want it, because it was afraid of bigger power of north.     
o    The north won and A. Lincoln abolished slavery.
•    The expansion of the USA continued and they started to be the biggest economies power of the world.
•    The enlargement was done by: Annexe (Hawaii); purchase (Alaska – from Russia) or by wars.
•    In both of the world wars, the USA was on the side of Alliance, and their influence was big.
•    Now, the USA are a big power of economy, industry etc.
•    USA - the third popular country, after China and India, of the world.
Geography:
•    Eastern highlands are the Appalachian Mountains (the Appalachians).
•    Half the area of the continental USA lies in the Interior (Central) Plains. The western highland - Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada - are the parts of the Cordilleras and covers a third of this country. The highest peak on this continent is Mt. McKinley (6 149 m, in Alaska Range).
•    There are many rivers in the USA. The Mississippi (with its 6 000 km it is the third longest in the world), the biggest river in the USA. The Missouri, the Ohio,the Rio Grande, which makes the boundary 4 between the USA and Mexico.
•    Climate:
o    The climate is quite various - from the arctic cold in northern Alaska to subtropical warmth in Hawaii and the Gulf Coast States.
Economy:
•    Very strong – almost the strongest in the world. - $ is used fort trade in countries across the world
•    There are mainly services and researches – show business, oil industry, electronics, ear making
•    The primary sector of industry is very small
•    The biggest problems with economy are: state’s debts, which have 73 % of GDP (Grand Domestic Production), bigger inflation and of course economical crisis.
•    Is very rich in mineral resources. There are vast deposits of gold, silver, platinum, petroleum mainly in Alaska
•    Petroleum and natural gas is produced in huge amounts in Texas, Oklahoma and in the Gulf of Mexico.
•    It has one of the world’s largest resources of coal
•    The business partners are: Canada, Japanese, China and Great Britain
•    Companies: Microsoft, IBM, Ford, Chrysler, Boling
•    Agriculture: major role in US – corn, soybeans, tomatoes, oranges, apples, tobacco
Political system:
•    The oldest federal union of 50 states, one federal district, where you can find the capital and other territories.
•    Constitutional republic – The head of the republic is president – now it is Barack Obama
•    Each state has its own government and makes its own laws concerning sales taxes, education, speed limits…
•    Federal government controls national taxes and the armed forces.
•    In the American democratic system, rights and powers are divided between the individual states and federal government.
•    The federal government has three branches:
o    Executive power – President and Executive office - The president can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the Cabinet
o    Legislative power – both houses of Congress - The bicameral Congress, made up of the Senate(It has 100 members – 2 politicians from every state) and the House of Representatives, makes federal laws - - The House of Representatives has 435 members, each representing their district for a two-year term.
o    Judiciary power – the supreme court and all other Federal courts - whose judges are appointed by the president, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional.
•    These three branches are designed to check and balance the others, so no branch has too much power in the federal government.
•    President:
o    Is elected for a four year term and may only be elected twice.
o    is the commander-in-chief of the military
•    The Congress consist of two houses:
o    Senate
o    House of representatives
•    Two main political parties:
o    Democratic party: liberal (now)
o    Republican party: conservative

•    The Constitution of the USA is the most important legislative document of American legal system. All laws and procedures of states must comply with the constitution. It is a living document - it can be changed.
o    The Bill of Rights, which includes the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, the right for a just law-suit, the right to bear arms, general voting rights and the right of possession. It also guarantees republican foundation to all states.
Flag
•    Consists of two oblongs.
•    It is smaller blue blong with 50 white stars symbolizing 50 states and one larger blong consisting of 6 white and 7 red stripes symbolizing the original 13 colonies.
•    It’s often called ,,Old glory” or ,,Stars and stripes”
•    National anthem is called “The star-spangled Banner”
Places of interest:
•    Yellowstone national park is the largest and best-known park in the USA. It is located in the     Rocky Mountains on the territory of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. It is visited by thousands of people every day.
•    Grand Canyon. It is the largest canyon in the world in Arizona. The creator is the Colorado River. There is also the biggest crater in the world in Arizona.
•    The Monument Valley is in Utah and the best known western films were shot here. There are many red stone spires, columns and chimneys on a plateau which is often called „Desert Gothic“.
•    Niagara Falls are the most famous waterfalls in the world. Niagara Falls lie about halfway on the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario – two lakes of  The Great Lakes. They are one of the major American tourist attraction.
•    In Wyoming is natural landmark the Devil’s Tower, which is known from Spilberg’s famous sci-fi film „Close Encounter of the Third Kind“.
•    Mt.Rushmore is high mountain with colossal portrait heads of the US presidents - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. It is national monument.
Cities:
New Orleans is the city where jazz was born.
- It has old houses built in the French style.
- It is called an American Paris
-  attraction for visitors is the city’s night life – the night clubs, exotic dancers, unique shows, shops, restaurants and bars
- Mississippi river
Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities. It used to be the first US capital. And Declaration of Independence on 4th July 1776 was adopted there
San Francisco, one of the cleanest, is the victim of frequent earthquakes. It is also known for the Golden Gate Bridge spanning between the Pacific and San Francisco Bay. There you can find for example Alcatraz, super security prison for famous criminals like Al Capone.
Las Vegas in Nevada is known for gambling and night life. It has the reputation of being the entertainment capital of the world. Every hotel has a casino and several playing rooms
Los Angeles (City of Angeles) we can find the famous film centre - Hollywood and luxurious quarters - Beverly Hills.
- Walk of Fame with bronze stars on the sidewalk, which are marked with names of the famous actors
- LA is also the centre of crime.
- The biggest ZOO in the world is here.
Culture:
•    Food:
o    Traditional American cuisine uses ingredients such as turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, pork, beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, and chocolate cookies
o    Apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs
o    Traditional Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
•    Religions
o    Most of them are protestant, Catholics make up 21%
o    Another like Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and some of the Christian religious
•    Sport:
o    Very important
o    Football isn’t the most popular (different)
o    Baseball and American football, Ice-hockey
•    Famous personalities:
o    Luis Armstrong – singer, Neil Armstrong – astronaut, Al Capone – criminalise, Walt Disney – film producer, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Bush, Abraham Lincoln