THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

USA NATIONAL ANTHEM  The Star-Spangled Banner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPKp29Luryc

NATIVE AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS.

The first North American settlers migrated from Siberia by way of the Bering land bridge approximately 15,000 or more years ago. Some, such as the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, developed advanced agriculture, grand architecture, and state-level societies. After European explorers and traders made the first contacts, the native population declined due to various reasons, including diseases such as smallpox and measles, intermarriage, and violence.

The  European colonization begun in the 16th century. The United States emerged from 13 British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard. Disputes between Great Britain and these colonies led to the American Revolution. On July 4, 1776, as the colonies were fighting Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War, delegates from the 13 colonies unanimously issued the Declaration of Independence. The war ended in 1783 with the recognition of independence of the United States from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and was the first successful war of independence against a European colonial empire. The current Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787. The first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil rights and freedoms.

CIVIL WAR OR SECESSION WAR.

A civil war is a war between different groups of people who belong to the same country.  The American Civil War was fought between the North (Union states) and the South (Confederate states). It lasted from 1861-1865, triggered by the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.  Lincoln wanted to end slavery and keep the Union together. 

The conflict between the North (the Yankees) and the South (the Rebels) started because of their different ways of living.  The North wanted the South to give up their farms, build factories, and abolish slavery.  Congress treated the slaves as personal property and would not take away rights of ownership. 

Thus, America began the conflict that would take the lives of more than 620,000 of its citizens and injure more than 375,000.  Most of the battles took place in the South and the recovery from the destruction took many years.  

DEMOGRAPHICS

The United States of America has people of many different race and ethnic backgrounds. 80% of the people in the United States descend from European immigrants. Many people are descended from Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Africa, and Italy. 13% of the people in the United States are African-American. Most of them descend from the African slaves that were brought to America. Asian-Americans make up only 5% of the population in America but make up a bigger portion in the west coast. For example in California, Asian-Americans make up 13% of the population of that state. Hispanic-Americans or people of Latin origins make up 15% of the nation. The original peoples, called Native American or American Indians and Inuit (Eskimos) are a very small group.

RELIGION

Native American religions included various animistic practices, including reverence for nature and spirits. There are many different religions in the U.S. Statistically, the largest religion is Christianity, including groups such as Catholicism, Protestantism and Mormonism. Other religions include Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism, Wicca, Druidry, Baha'i, Raelism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism and Jainism.

The United States is one of the most religious countries in the Western World, and most Americans believe in God. The number of Christians in the U.S. has gone down. 86.2% called themselves Christian in 1990 and 78.4% said this in 2007.

Doubts about the existence of a God, gods or goddesses are higher among young people.

COUNTRY FACTS

The United States of America is also called the USA, US, United States or sometimes America.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued, establishing the United States of America.

The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population.

On February 25, 2013, the estimated population of the US was 315,568,000.

The US is a diverse country with a multicultural society.

The US has the world's largest economy.

The US developed the first nuclear weapons, using them on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of World War 2.

The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river system in the US and the fourth longest in the world.

The tallest mountain the US is Mt McKinley, located in the state of Alaska it reaches 20,320 ft (6,194 m) above sea level.

Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and is the largest state in the US by land area.

Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states in the US (joining in 1959) and is the only one made up entirely of islands.

Most of the world's tornadoes occur in the Midwest region of the US known as Tornado Alley.

The most populated city in the US is New York City, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.

English is the most commonly spoken language in the US, followed by Spanish.

The first man to walk on the moon was American Neil Armstrong (July 21, 1969).

The US was the leading force behind the development of the Internet.

The US consumes more petroleum than any other country in the world.

The most popular team sports in the US are American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey.

HERE THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITHISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH:

HERE THERE IS A VIDEO ABOUT THE USA.  Yes, it is for kids, but I find it appropriate, for our purpose is, to read and listen at the same time, also, it is pretty short.

BLIBLIOGRAPHY

Wiki.

Simple.wikipedia

sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/unitedstates.html

radford.edu/~sbisset/civilwar.htm