- •1. The geographical position of the usa, its climate, the major rivers, lakes, mountain rangers, some general information about the country.
- •2. Discovery of America. American Indians.
- •3. The European exploration of the North American continent (Spanish, Dutch, French, German territories)
- •4. The first English settlements in North America.
- •5. The war of independence: its reasons and results
- •6. Territorial Expansion of the usa.
- •7. The Civil War: reasons, economic and social results.
- •8. The War of Independence and the Civil War: differences and similarities.
- •9. The First Half of the 20th Century.
- •10. The Great Depression and the Presidency of Franklin d. Roosevelt.
- •11. The us home and foreign policy after wwii.
- •12. The usa in the modern world
- •13. The American Constitution, the Bill of Rights.
- •14. The structure of the Federal Government. The system of checks and balances.
- •15. The Congress of the us. Supreme legislative body.
- •16. President as the head of the Executive power, the us administration.
- •17. The Presidential Elections.
- •18. The North-East
- •19. The Midwest
- •20. The South
- •21. West
- •22. Education in the usa.
- •23.The usa as a multiethnic society.
- •24. Speak on one of the American Presidents.
- •25. American Culture.
1. The geographical position of the usa, its climate, the major rivers, lakes, mountain rangers, some general information about the country.
The USA is situated in the central part of the North American continent and borders with Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. It's washed by the Atlantic ocean in the west. The USA covers the territory of over 9 million square km. The USA is the 4th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. It runs 3d in population after China and India. Population is 280 562 489. The main feature of the USA population is ethnic diversity. The USA originated with the declaration of independence comprises 50 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and Virgin islands. The main landmass includes 48 states .Two separate states of Hawaii in the Pacific ocean and Alaska which occupies the north western part of North American continent.
The capital of the USA is Washington, which is in the district of Columbia. The official language is English. National anthem-the star -spangled Banner .National flag -the old glory. 50 white stars represent 50states of the USA.13stripes*red and white denote the original 13states.The red colour symbolizes courage. The white colour –purity .The blue -justice and firmness .National moto *in god we trust. Bold headed eagle-national bird. National cartoon figure-uncle Sam.
The main geographical areas of the USA a» the atlantic lowland to the east of Appalachians b»the central plains between the Rocky mountains in the west and Appalachians in the east .c»the narrow pacific lowlands of the west coast .d»the southern part of the great lakes in the central USA e»the great plateau most of which is desert between the Rockies and Sierra Nevada .The main mountains*the Appalachians ,the Rocky mountains ,Sierra Nevada ,the Cascades ,Coast Rangers.
The Rockies are a sort of natural border .All the rivers west of Rockies flow to the Pacific Ocean .All the ricers east of the Rockies flow to the Atlantic Ocean .The greatest rivers of the USA*the Colorado ,the Columbia flow into the Pacific ocean .The Mississipi runs from the west ,is the longest river ,called the father of waters .Has tributaries the Missouri river and the Ohio river ,flow into the Gulf of Mexico .The Hudson river ? .The rivers in the west are unsuitable for navigation as they are cut by deep rapids .They serve as a great source of electricity .World famous is the region of Great Lakes * Huron ,Ontario ,Erie ,Superior ,Michigan .The lakes are joined together by short rivers and canals and cut by rapids .The greatest of them is the Niagara Falls .In the west of the USA -the Great Salt Lake .The deepest lake is situated in Oregon ,called Crater lake.
Climate There're different climatic zones of the territory of the USA.On the whole the climate is continental .Alaska lies in sub-arktic and arktic zones .The southern part of Florida and Hawaii are situated in the tropical zones .
Large reserves of coal ,oil, gas ,iron ,ferrous and non-ferrous metals form a solid base for the development of the USA industry.
The american states * 1 New England states –Maine ,Vermont, New Hampshire ,Massachusetts ,Rhode Island, Connecticut. 2Middle Atlantic states -New Jork ,New Jersey ,Pennsylvania ,Maryland, Delaware ,District of Columbia .3 the South – Virginia ,West Virginia ,Kentucky ,North +South Carolina ,Georgia, Florida ,Alabama ,Tennessee , Mississippi .4South Central states -Arkansas,Louisiana,Oklahoma,,Texas.5 the Mid Western states –Ohio ,Indiana ,Illinois ,Michigan ,Wisconsin.6 the Plains states –Iowa ,Kansas ,Minnesota ,North +South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri .7 the Mountain states –Arizona ,Colorado ,Idaho ,Montana ,Nevada ,New Mexico,Utah,Wyoming.8 the Pacific states –California ,Oregon ,Washington. 9 Alaska +Hawaii. Each state has an elected government and state legislature to make the states laws with state courts to enforce them .Every state has its own official name ,flag ,song, animal, bird, moto. There is at least 1 university in each state.