WORLD SOCIAL STUDIES, PART I
ESTUDIOS SOCIALES DEL MUNDO, PARTE I
Copyright 2007
By Mason Emerson
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GEOGRAPHY: Cultures and civilizations differ partly
because there are different areas of geography. This is
sometimes because of the different landforms. Some areas
have many mountains and rivers. Some cold areas have many
glaciers and fjords. Rivers, lakes, gulfs, seas and oceans are
important. Sometimes bodies of water and mountain chains
form borders.
LA GEOGRAFÍA: Las culturas y las civilizaciones diferencian
en parte porque hay diversas áreas de la geografía. Esto está a
veces debido a las areas diferentes de geografia. Algunas áreas
tienen muchas montañas y ríos. Algunas áreas frías tienen
muchos glaciares y fiordos. Los ríos, los lagos, los golfos, los
mares y los océanos son importantes. A veces los cuerpos de
aguas y cadenas de la montañas forman fronteras.
ARCHAEOLOGY: Archaeology is the study of ancient
humans. Early humans left artifacts which archaeologists
study. For example they have left arrowheads and parts of
spears and pottery.
LA ARQUEOLOGIA: La arqueologia es el estudio de seres
humanos antiguos. Los seres humanos antiguos dejaron los
artefactos que los arqueólogos estudian. Por ejemplo tienen
puntas de flecha y partes dejados de lanzas y de las cerámicas.
EARLY HUMANS were hunters and gatherers of plants.
Often hunters and gatherers are nomads or people who move a
lot. Eventually they stay in places where towns and cities
begin. Civilization is born.
SERES HUMANOS TEMPRANOS eran cazadores y
recogedores de plantas. A menudo los cazadores y los
recogedores son nómadas o las personas que se mueven mucho.
Permanecen eventualmente en los lugares en donde las
ciudades y las ciudades comienzan. La civilización nace.
Two large early groups of humans were the Neanderthals and
the Homo sapiens. Modern humans come from Homo sapiens.
Homo sapiens probably killed most or all of the Neanderthals.
Dos grupos antiguos grandes de seres humanos eran los
Neandertales y los Homo Sapiens. Los seres humanos
modernos vienen de los Homo sapiens. Los Homo sapiens
mataron probablemente a la mayoría o a todo los
Neandertales.
CIVILIZATIONS: The Stone Age was when all tools and
weapons were made of stone. Later came the Bronze Age and
the Iron Age. Many people say humans are now in a
Technology Age.
LAS CIVILIZACIONES: La Edad de Piedra era cuando todas
las herramientas y armas fueron hechos de piedra. Vinieron
más adelante la Edad de Bronce y la Edad de Hierro. Mucha
gente dice que los seres humanos ahora están en una Edad de
la Tecnología.
RIVERS: Civilizations have developed near large bodies of
water. For example about 6,000 years ago a civilization began
along the Huang River in northern China. The Chinese
people developed cities, a system of writing etc.
RIOS: Las civilizaciones se han desarrollados cerca de cuerpos
grandes de agua. Por ejemplo hace aproximadamente 6.000
años una civilización comenzó a lo largo del Río Huang en
China norteña. La gente china desarrolló ciudades, un sistema
de la escritura etc.
Civilization developed in the area between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers in the area we call Mesopotamia. It is in a
larger area called the Middle East in Asia. The system of
writing used in ancient Mesopotamia is called cuneiform.
Las civilizacion también se desarrollo ka área entre los Ríos
Tigris y Eufrates en la área que llamamos Mesopotamia. Está
en una área más grande llamada el Oriente Medio en Asia. El
sistema de escritura usado en Mesopotamia antiguo se llama
cuneiforme.
The Roman civilization developed on the Mediterranean Sea in
Europe. Indonesia is an archipelago, a large group of islands
in Asia. Civilization quickly went across the Indian Ocean
from ancient India to Indonesia.
La civilización romana se desarrolló en el Mar Mediterráneo
en Europa. Indonesia es un arquepiélago, un grupo grande de
islas en Asia. La civilización fue rápidamente a través del
Océano Índio de India antigua a Indonesia.
ANCIENT AFRICA CIVILIZATIONS: From studies of DNA
etc, many scientists say humans began in Africa, but then went
to other continents to hunt and farm. Therefore many
civilizations developed in Africa including Carthage, the
Kingdom of Aksum, the Nubian kingdoms, Kanem-Bornu,
Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Great Zimbabwe, and the Kongo.
However, the best known was ancient Egypt.
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION: Ancient Egypt’s
civilization began along the Nile River. The king of ancient
Egypt was called the pharaoh. One of the pharaohs built the
great pyramid at Giza and the statue called the Sphinx. The
ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics, a type of writing.
Archaeologists continue finding and studying many mummies
and ruins in Egypt and other parts of Africa.
RELIGIONS: The most common religion for early humans
was animism. An animist believes that things that are not alive
such as trees and rocks also have spirits. After animism later
people may believe in many gods and goddesses. They tell
stories or myths about the gods. That kind of religion is called
polytheism. Polytheists sometimes sacrifice people or animals
to their gods.
Besides animism and polytheism, some large religions are
Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity
and Islam. Hinduism began in India. A Hindu can believe in
no god, many gods or only one God. Buddha also began
Buddhism in what is now India. Confucius began
Confucianism in what is now China. Judaism began in the
Middle East. Mohammad began the Muslim faith or Islam in
Arabia. Jesus Christ began Christianity in what is now Israel.
THEOCRACY: When a religion rules a nation, we say its form
of government is a theocracy. At first Muslims had a
theocracy. A theocracy in a Muslim land is called a Caliphate.
Today some Muslims want a new Caliphate for all the world.
Muslims worship in buildings called a mosque.
GOVERNMENTS: There are many other kinds of
government. For example there are democracies, dictatorships
and republics. A democracy is ruled almost directly by
representatives of the people. A republic is indirectly ruled by
representatives of the people. A dictatorship is ruled by one
person.
ECONOMICS: Governments differ by how they operate their
economies. Some are capitalist, socialist or communist. A
capitalist government usually allows people to have businesses
that make, buy and sell things freely. It may own or greatly
control only a few businesses or no businesses. A socialist
government usually owns and controls many businesses or the
most important businesses. A communist government usually
owns and controls almost all of a nation’s businesses, and to do
that it cannot allow as much freedom.
STRUCTURING: Governments differ in other ways. For
example, some governments have all power centered in a
national government. Others give more power to smaller parts
of a country called states or provinces.
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ll.arp.jpg
EXECUTIVES: Every nation has an executive, meaning a
main leader. Many nations have a kind of government where
the main leader, chief executive or Prime Minister is the head
of a group of national representatives called the Parliament.
The United Kingdom, Australia and Canada have this kind of
government. The United States has a congressional system of
government. The main leader or executive of the U.S. is the
President who is not part of the group of national
representatives or Congress. Some governments have an
executive elected by all the people and a second executive who
part of the Parliament.
EMPIRES: An empire is where one nation rules other nations
that it conquered or took from other nations. The king of an
empire is called an emperor. When many kings of a nation
come from one family for many years, we say that nation has a
dynasty. A commonwealth is where a group of nations share
some history and work together for their mutual benefit. For
example, there is a British Commonwealth of nations and the
Commonwealth of Independent States which includes Russia.
EARLY HISTORICAL NATIONS AND EMPIRES
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Emperor Shi Huang Di
CHINA: The first known empire of ancient China was called
Shang. Later the army general Shi Huang Di of Qin
conquered many nations. Shi Huang Di became the first
emperor of China, and built the Great Wall of China. Han
Gao Zu was a farmer. He became a general, conquered Qin or
China and became emperor. He began the Han Dynasty.
GREECE: Ancient Greece had two famous city-states named
Athens and Sparta. The two cities fought each other many
years until Sparta won. A famous Greek philosopher was
Plato. Socrates knew much about science. Athens had a
beautiful temple called the Parthenon. The Greek city-states
had sports contests called the Olympics. Today we can still see
the ruins of the Parthenon, and we also have Olympics.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT: When Greece was weak, the
king of Macedonia attacked and made the Greek city-states
part of his empire. His name was Alexander the Great. The
city of Alexandria was built in Egypt in his honor. After
Alexander died his empire split into different parts, but the
Greek civilization and language continued all around the
Mediterranean Sea.
EARLY ROME: Some Greeks had settled where Rome is now
in Italy. The land was ruled by a people called the Etruscans.
The new colony of Greeks eventually became the Roman
civilization. It fought many wars against Carthage which was
in North Africa and other places. Hannibal was a famous
military leader from Carthage.
THE ROMAN EMPIRE: Eventually Rome destroyed
Carthage. It became the most powerful empire in Europe and
sometimes traded with China. The Roman Empire was large.
It had large aqueducts and colosseums with gladiators. Its
emperors were called Caesars. Sometimes Rome had civil
wars.
CHRISTIANITY: A queen in Egypt, named Cleopatra, was
involved in one of the civil wars of the Roman Empire.
Christianity began in the Middle East during this time. It
began in the area many people call Palestine close to Egypt.
MIDDLE AGES: Eventually German tribes or nations called
barbarians ended the Roman civilization. A period of time
began which we call the Middle Ages. During this time there
were many castles in Europe. There were also knights who
were soldiers or warriors who wore metal armor. One
powerful king in Europe was named Charlemagne or Charles
the Great.
RENNAISSANCE: New nations such as Spain, France and
England developed. The European nations sent ships to
explore North and South America. Christopher Columbus
came to America in 1492. Chinese may have come earlier, and
we know Vikings from Scandinavian lands of northern Europe
had come before Columbus. But after Columbus the White
settlers from Europe stayed and defeated the Native
Americans.
THE AGE OF EXPLORATION: During this age or time
period, the Spanish explored a lot of the New World or North
America. Spain conquered Native Americans in the
Carribean, Mexico and South America. In Mexico the
Spaniard Hernan Cortez defeated the Aztec Empire. In Peru
the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro defeated the Inca Empire.
Spain took much gold and silver from its colonies in the New
World.
MODERN HISTORY
AMERICAN COLONIAL HISTORY: Great Britain and
France began colonies on the east coast of North America.
They fought in what is now Canada. The British won there
and in India. Eventually the thirteen original colonies wanted
to pay less tax money to England, and they wanted more
independence. They declared this in the Declaration of
Independence in 1776. War began between the colonies who
were led by George Washington, and the British Empire. The
colonies became an independent nation after the War.
NAPOLEON: Many parts of Latin America also revolted from
Spain and became independent nations. During the French
Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte became ruler. French armies
dominated Europe until Britain with its allies totally defeated
Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
U.S. CIVIL WAR: There was a Civil in the United States from
1861 to 1865. The states of the South formed the Confederate
States of America because they did not want their slaves freed
without being paid for them. Led by President Abraham
Lincoln the states of the North, called the Union, fought to
keep the U.S. united. The Union won and Lincoln freed all the
slaves.
CHINA: Britain defeated China during two Opium Wars in
1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860. China also had the bloody
Taiping Civil War from 1851 to 1862 and some other
rebellions. During the Boxer Rebellion of 1899 to 1901
Chinese attacked Europeans including Christian missionaries.
Britain, many other European nations, the U.S. and Japan
defeated them. Britain, France and many other European
nations also formed colonies in much of Africa.
In 1912 Sun Yat-Sen started the Republic Of China. He
wanted peace, prosperity and freedom. However, there was
much division within China.
WORLD WAR I: In 1914 World War I began in Europe
although there was fighting in other lands including Africa.
The United States sent soldiers to help England, France, Russia
and Italy against Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and
the Ottoman Empire headed by Turkey. Eventually the war
slowed in France, neither side able to defeat the others.
The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917. Russian
Communists or Bolsheviks led by Lenin formed a government
which surrendered to Germany. The Communists were also
sometimes called the Reds, and they fought a civil war against
pro-democracy Russians called the Whites until completely
winning in 1923.
After Germany sank some American ships, the U.S. sent
soldiers to fight Germany in France in 1917. The many new
soldiers helped end the war in 1918. However, from 1918 to
1920, U.S. soldiers were in Archangelsk and Vladivostok,
Russia, protecting military weapons sent to Russia when it had
been in World War I. This angered the Communist party of
Russia.
HITLER: After World War I in the 1920s and 1930s, Adolph
Hitler of the Nazi Party became the dictator of Germany. He
told Germans they were a superior race, directed the building
inexpensive Volkswagen cars, the Autobahn super-highway,
and did many things to improve Germany’s economy.
Germany formed an alliance called the Axis with Italy and
Japan. They invaded other countries. Hitler’s armies used
Blitzkrieg attacks. That means they attacked very quickly.
Hitler also killed many Jewish and other people in slave labor
and concentration camps. This was later called the Holocaust.
England and France declared war on Hitler after Hitler
attacked Poland. World War II had begun.
Japan invaded China in 1937. Although in a civil war between
communists and non-communists, all the Chinese began to
fight against the invaders.
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WORLD WAR II: The U.S. entered World War II after Japan
suddenly destroyed many American ships at Pearl Harbor in
1941 in Hawaii. The U.S.S.R. successfully resisted German
invasion then began advancing east into Germany. The U.S.,
Britain and their allies invaded Europe through France. Hitler
committed suicide Germany signed a peace treaty. The U.S.
dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Nagasaki and
Hiroshima in Japan, and Japan also had to surrender.
THE COLD WAR: Communist nations, especially the U.S.S.R.
and China, were powerful after World War II. People call this
time after World War II when the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were
enemies, “The Cold War.” Stalin was the dictator of the
U.S.S.R., the large communist empire dominated by Russia.
The U.S.S.R. also dominated nations of eastern Europe such as
Poland and Romania.
When Japan left China, the civil war between communists and
non-communists continued. Finally the communists led by
Mao Zedong won. Non-communists led by Chiang Kai-Shek
fled to the island of Taiwan. Mao and his government wanted
to regain Taiwan. The size and power of China also worried
many nations. However, China did not attack them.
ISRAEL AND SPUTNIK: In 1947 people in the Jewish religion
declared the independent nation of Israel where ancient Israel
had been in the Middle East. This angered many Arabs who
were of the Muslim religion and who had owned the land. Also
in 1947 the U.S.S.R. sent the first satellite, Sputnik, into outer
space, and the began competition there with the U.S.
KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS: From 1950 to 1953 the
U.S. with help from the United Nations group of nations
throughout the world fought a war against communist North
Korea and later also China which worried that if successful the
U.S. might also invade China. The war ended as a stalemate.
THE SPACE RACE AND CIVIL RIGHTS: In 1961 Yuri
Gagarin of the U.S.S.R. became the first man into outer space.
The next month the U.S. sent a man into space.
CUBAN MISSLE CRISIS: In 1962 the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.
almost had a nuclear war. The U.S. had put atomic missiles in
Turkey along the border with the U.S.S.R. The U.S.S.R. sent
missiles to communist Cuba which is near the U.S. state of
Florida. However, the danger passed when the U.S.S.R. agreed
to remove its nuclear weapons.
CIVIL RIGHTS: There was much discrimination against
African Americans in the U.S. During the 1960s Martin
Luther King, Jr., led peaceful protests against this. New
federal laws gave more Civil Rights to African Americans,
although King was assassinated in 1968.
LANDING ON THE MOON: In 1969 Neil Armstrong of the
U.S. became the first man to walk on the moon. There were
more landings on the moon by the U.S., but those ended after
1976.
VIETNAM WAR: During 1965 the U.S. began to fight
communists from North Vietnam who were trying to conquer
South Vietnam in Southeast Asia. However, in 1973, tired of
deaths from guerrilla warfare as seen on television and the
enormous financial cost, the U.S. removed its army from
Vietnam. In 1975 communist North Vietnam was able to
defeat South Vietnam, and many considered it also a defeat for
the U.S.
GORBACHEV: In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became ruler of
the U.S.S.R. He began economic and political reforms. The
many nations in the empire of the U.S.S.R. separated, and
communist nations in East Europe became totally free from
domination by armies of the U.S.S.R. This was mostly
peaceful, but there was some violence in Romania.
TIAN AN MEN: The Communist Party of China began more
economic reforms but kept most of its almost absolute power.
Numerous Chinese students demonstrated at Tian An Men
square in the capital Beijing for more freedom in 1989.
Fearful, sometimes sympathetic government officials talked to
the students and asked them to leave. When many did not
leave, the government sent soldiers. The students still did not
leave, so then at night some army soldiers killed many of the
students.
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GULF WAR: The Gulf War was 1990 to 1991 after Iraq’s
dictator Saddam Hussein invaded the small nation of Kuwait.
The U.S. and many nations of the U.N. sent soldiers to the
Middle East including Saudi Arabia. They fought and
defeated Iraq but did not occupy it.
BIN LADEN AND 9-11: Militant Muslims led by Osama Bin
Laden did not like the U.S. partly because it had soldiers in
Saudi Arabia. On September 11, 2001 his group called AlQaeda crashed jets against large buildings in New York City
and the U.S. military building called the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C. About 3,000 people died. Bin Laden was in
the mountains of Afghanistan so U.S. soldiers invaded
Afghanistan but were not able to capture Bin Laden.
IRAQ WAR: The U.S. thought Iraq had weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq, so the Iraq War began in 2003. The U.S.
and allies such as the United Kingdom swiftly captured
Bagdad and eventually captured dictator Saddam Hussein who
was later tried and executed. While the U.S. occupied Iraq, Al
Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents continued to fight.
CHINA: China’s economy and military became more
powerful. It had much business with Europe and the U.S. It
sent astronauts into outer space, announced plans to explore
the moon and Mars. About 25% of all people on the planet
Earth live in China. China seemed to want peace and
economic prosperity, but it also said if necessary it would begin
a war to capture Taiwan.
IRAN: Iran developed nuclear power. Its leaders sometimes
made threats against the U.S. and Israel. The U.S., Britain,
Germany, France and many other nations did not want the
government of Iran to make nuclear bombs.
DIVIDE THE WORDS: DIVIDEN LAS PALABRAS:
WORLD SOCIAL STUDIES, PART I
ESTUDIOS SOCIALES DEL MUNDO, PARTE I
geography, landform, fjord, mountain chain, border, arrowhead, spear, pottery,
artifact, hunter, gatherer, civilization, Neanderthal, Homo sapiens, Stone Age,
Bronze Age, Iron Age, Technology Age, Huang River, Tigris, Euphrates,
Mesopotamia, Middle East, archipelago
geographylandformfjordmountainchainborderarrowhead
spearpotteryartifacthuntergatherercivilizationneanderthal
homosapiensstoneagebronzeageironagetechnologyage
huangrivertigriseuphratesmesopotamiamiddleeastarchipelago
geographylandformfjordmountainchainborderarrowhead
spearpotteryartifacthuntergatherercivilizationneanderthal
homosapiensstoneagebronzeageironagetechnologyage
huangrivertigriseuphratesmesopotamiamiddleeastarchipelago
geographylandformfjordmountainchainborderarr
owheadspearpotteryartifacthuntergat
herercivilizationneanderthalhomosapie
nsstoneagebronzeageironagetechnology
agehuangrivertigriseuphratesmesopotam
iamiddleeastarchipelagohuntergatherercivilizatio
nneanderthalhomosapiensstoneagebronzeageironagetechnolog
yagehuangrivertigriseuphratesmesopotamiamiddleeastarchipel
agogeographylandformfjordmountainchainborderarrowhead
spearpotteryartifacthuntergatherercivilizationneanderthal homo
sapiensstoneagebronzeageironagetechnologyage huangriver
tigriseuphratesmesopotamiamiddleeastarchipelagohomo sapiens
stoneagebronzeageironagetechnologyage huangrivertigriseuphrate
smesopotamiamiddleeastarchipelagogeographylandform
fjordmountainchainborderarrowheadspearpotteryartifacthuntergathe
rercivilizationneanderthal homosapiensstoneag ebronzeageironag
etechnologyage
FILL IN THE LETTERS: LLENAN LAS LETRAS:
WORLD SOCIAL STUDIES, PART I
ESTUDIOS SOCIALES DEL MUNDO, PARTE I
geography, landform, fjord, mountain chain, border, arrowhead, spear, pottery,
artifact, hunter, gatherer, civilization, Neanderthal, Homo sapiens, Stone Age,
Bronze Age, Iron Age, Technology Age, Huang River, Tigris, Euphrates,
Mesopotamia, Middle East, archipelago
ge_gr_ph_ la_dfor_ f_ord _oun_aincha_n bo_de_ ar_o_ _ead
sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r _iviliza_ion
_eandert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge _ro_ _ge
_echnolog_ _ge _uang Rive_ _ig_is _up_rates _eso_otamia
_id_le Eas_ a_c_i_elago sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r
_iviliza_ion _ean_ert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge
_ro_ _ge _e_gr_ph_ la_dfor_ f_ord _oun_aincha_n bo_de_
ar_o_ _ead sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r _ivi_iza_ion
_eandert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge _ro_ _ge
_echnolog_ _ge _uang _ive_ _ig_is _up_rates _eso_otamia
sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r _iviliza_ion
_eandert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge _ro_ _ge
_echnolog_ _ge _uang Rive_ _ig_is _up_rates _eso_otamia
_id_le Eas_ a_c_i_elago sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r
_iviliza_ion _ean_ert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge
_ro_ _ge _e_gr_ph_ la_dfor_ f_ord _oun_aincha_n bo_de_
ar_o_ _ead sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r _ivi_iza_ion
_eandert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge _ro_ _g_
sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r _iviliza_ion
_eandert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge _ro_ _ge
_echnolog_ _ge _uang Rive_ _ig_is _up_rates _eso_otamia
_id_le Eas_ a_c_i_elago sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r
_iviliza_ion _ean_ert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge
_ro_ _ge _e_gr_ph_ la_dfor_ f_ord _oun_aincha_n bo_de_
ar_o_ _ead sp_a_ _otter_ _rti_act hun_er _ather_r _ivi_iza_ion
_eandert_al _om_ _ap_en_ _to_e _ge _ron_e _ge _ro_ _ge
Use this bingo card to make more via cut-and-paste.
BINGO:
WORLD SOCIAL STUDIES, PART I
ESTUDIOS SOCIALES DEL MUNDO, PARTE I
geography, landform, fjord, mountain chain, border, arrow head, spear, pottery,
artifact, hunter, gatherer, civilization, Neanderthal, Homo sapiens, Stone Age,
Bronze Age, Iron Age, Technology Age, Huang River, Tigris, Euphrates,
Mesopotamia, Middle East, archipelago
geography
Tigris
hunter
Neanderthal
spear
Iron Age
Stone Age
Middle East
fjord
Homo
sapiens
Bronze Age
landform
FREE
Mesopotamia
Tigris
border
civilization
Huang
River
archipelago
potter
arrowhead
Technology
Age
gatherer
artifact
Euphrates
WORDFIND:
WORLD SOCIAL STUDIES, PART I
ESTUDIOS SOCIALES DEL MUNDO, PARTE I
geography, landform, fjord, mountain chain, border, arrow head, spear, pottery,
artifact, hunter, gatherer, civilization, Neanderthal, Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron
Age, Tigris, Euphrates, Middle East, archipelago
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN WORDFIND
By Mason Emerson
Copyright 2007
Circle the English words…Encierren las palabras ingleses
Abraham, Lincoln, born in, Hodgenville, Kentucky, mother Nancy Hanks, father
Thomas, stepmother, Sarah, Illinois legislator, Republican, Black Hawk War, opposed
Mexican War, debated Douglas, freed the slaves, John Wilkes Booth
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AMERICANA
Copyright 2007
By Mason Emerson
CONTENTS
Foods
Sports
Symbols, Monuments, Landmarks
Geography And Natural Wonders
Holidays
Documents
Branches Of Government
Four Famous American Presidents
History
Songs
The Flag And Pledge
Native Americans
Other Groups
Religions
Some Other Famous Americans
FOODS
Americans eat all kinds of food, for example, eggrolls, tacos
and baklava. However, most people say that the national food
is the hot dog which is also known as the frankfurter or weenie.
German immigrants probably brought it to America. They
also brought hamburgers. Apple pies are said to be American
but previously came from British and Dutch settlers.
SPORTS
Americans enjoy all kinds of sports. For example Americans
enjoy ice-skating, skiing, surfing, ping-pong, weight-lifting,
jogging etc. However, baseball is the national sport. Football
and basket are also very popular.
SYMBOLS, MONUMENTS,
LANDMARKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Haliaeetus_leucocephalus-tree-USFWS.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Haliaeetus_leucocephalus-ad-flight-USFWS.jpg
The national bird of the United States is the American Bald
Eagle. American Bald Eagles have represented freedom and
the spirit of America’s people since 1782. Most are in Alaska.
They are protected by federal law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Libertybell_alone_small.jpg
The Liberty Bell is in Philadelphia. It was rung during some
famous times in American history. For example it rang when
people heard the Declaration of Independence, when the First
Continental Congress began and after the Battles of Lexington
and Concord. It was also a symbol of freedom when
abolitionists opposed slavery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:American_bison_k5680-1.jpg
The American bison or buffalo is an unofficial but important
symbol of the Great Plains region from Texas to North Dakota.
Amerindians depended upon it for food and other daily needs.
To many it is also a symbol of the Old West.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:North_Fa%C3%A7ade_White_House.JPG
The official home of the President of the United States is called
The White House. It is in Washington, D.C.
The Gateway Arch is in St. Louis, Missouri, near the
Mississippi River. It is 630 feet high. You can go to its top.
Eero Saarineh was the Finnish American architect who
designed it. He died in 1961, four years before it was
completed.
Mount Rushmore is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is a
mountain with sculptures carved in it of four Presidents of the
United States. They are George Washington, Thomas
Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Gutzon
Borglum, whose parents had come from Denmark, designed it.
It was finished in 1941.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Liberty_2005_3.jpg
The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island in New York
Harbor. Around it at the bottom is a wall in the shape of a
star. It was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi of France.
The French people gave it as a gift to the American people. It
reminds Americans that the French helped Americans win
independence from England.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Washington_C_D.C._Tidal_Basin_cherry_trees.
jpg
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/images/symbols/wmonument_pool.jpg
Views of the Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is in Washington, D.C. It honors
George Washington, the first President. It was designed to
resemble an ancient Egyptian obelisk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lincoln_Memorial_overhead.jpg
The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is in Washington, D.C. It honors
President Abraham Lincoln who kept the U.S. united and
freed the slaves. It is modeled after an ancient Greek temple.
http://murray.senate.gov/photos/display.cfm?id=190432
The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial is in Washington D.C.
honors those who died during the Vietnam War or are missing
in action from that war.
GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL WONDERS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Niag715.jpg
Niagara Falls
The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States.
It flows from Minnesota south to Louisiana where it enters the
Gulf of Mexico. In some places it is a beautiful green, in others
it is muddy and brown.
The Missouri River is the second longest river in the United
States. It flows from the state of Montana to the Mississippi
River at St. Louis, Missouri.
The Great Lakes are the largest group of fresh water lakes in
the world. The largest is Lake Superior.
The Appalachian Mountain Chain is a series of ancient
mountains along the eastern coast of the United States. The
Rocky Mountain Chain is a series of high mountains in the far
western part of the United States. There are many other scenic
mountains or high hills such as the Smokeys and the Ozarks.
On the north of the United States is the nation of Canada. To
the south is Mexico. On the west is the Pacific Ocean. On the
east is the Atlantic Ocean.
The Grand Canyon is in Arizona. It is a beautiful canyon that
is 277 miles long and in some parts a mile deep. It was formed
when the Colorado River cut through rock.
Niagara Falls is between the United States and Canada. On
the U.S. side is the state of New York. On the Canadian side is
the province of Ontario. The waterfalls are wide and powerful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Census_Regions_and_Divisions.PN
G
The five main regions of the United States are the Northeast,
Midwest, South, West and Pacific. The Northeast region is
also called New England. In it are Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It
led in the movement for American independence, in the
abolitionist movement against slavery, and early
industrialization.
The Northeast has many large cities such as New York City
and Boston, but it also has huge forests such as in Maine with
very few people. Many people have had excellent educations.
Resources include codfish, lobster, cranberries, granite and
maple syrup. It produces many machines, tools, boats
weapons, and chemicals. Hartford, Connecticut, is famous for
the insurance industry.
Many tourists come to the region to enjoy the many historical
sights, beautiful forests including those of Vermont in autumn,
coasts and small islands. The dialect of English spoken in the
region tends to be relatively fast and crisp.
The Midwest is in the northern, middle part of the U.S. In it
are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and
Wisconsin.
Large cities include Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas
City.
Its economy is a mixture of agriculture and industry.
Agricultural products include corn, wheat, hogs, cattle, lead,
and iron. Industrial products include cars, trucks, airplanes,
boats and military equipment.
Samuel Clemens or Mark Twain of Missouri wrote The
Adventures Of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures Of
Huckleberry Finn. Confederate guerrilla and later bank
robber Jesse James was also from Missouri. The northern
part of the Midwest had many German and Scandinavian
settlers.
The South consists of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware,
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. During the Civil War most
of the states favored the Confederacy.
The economy is a mixture of agriculture and industry. Large
cities include Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston and
Dallas. Climate varies from temperate to tropical. Louisiana
has many swamps. Some agricultural products are soybeans,
corn, rice, sugar cane, water melons, tobacco and – in Florida –
citrus fruits.
Although happily there are many bright spots, the region has
lacked in education and standard of living. The variety of
English spoken in the South is slower than in the northern part
of the U.S., and, for example, the plural form for the pronoun
“you” is pronounced as if “yawl,” a contraction of “you all.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cowboy.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Calamity_jane.jpeg
On the left is a typical cowboy during the time of the Old West; on the left is
Calamity Jane
The West is also called the American West or Western United
States. States in the West are California, Nevada, Utah,
Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana,
Washington and Oregon. Cities include Los Angeles, Seattle,
Salt Lake City, and Denver.
In the 1800s there were many famous cowboys and bandits in
the region. For example some were Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp,
Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, mountain
man Jim Bridger, and Jesse and Frank James. Two famous
female cowgirls were the sharpshooter Anne Oakley and
frontierswoman Calamity Jane. Famous Native Americans
included Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Chief Joseph, and Red Cloud.
Products include oranges, apples, sugar beets, potatoes and
other vegetables, potatoes, silver, gold, cattle, coal, oil and gas.
Nevada is well-known for atomic bomb testing and all kinds of
entertainment including casinos. Tourism is also strong
because of spectacular scenery including high mountains.
Many people had ancestors from Mexico and or Spain. There
is still much Hispanic culture.
The Pacific region includes the largest state, Alaska, and the
fiftieth state which is Hawaii. Alaska is famous for its many
minerals, fishing, and tourism industry. Hawaii is famous for
its pleasant climate and tourism industry. Many Hawaiian
residents have ancestors who were native Hawaiians, from the
Philippines, China, Japan and Indonesia.
HOLIDAYS
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Brazilian-christmas-tree.jpg
The Christmas tree began as the “Tree of Paradise” in medieval church plays.
Christmas is the biggest holiday in the United States. It is on
December 25. Most Christians and many people who are not
Christians participate. Schools and many businesses close.
People sing songs called carols, mail Christmas cards, and give
presents like toys and clothing. Red and green are common
colors near Christmas. Christmas trees, wreaths, holly,
mistletoe, Santa Claus who originated from gift-giver St.
Nicholas, his elves and reindeer are common. People say
“Merry Christmas.”
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday on the fourth Thursday in
November. Schools and most businesses close. Americans eat
turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, yams, corn,
cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. There are parades, and
many people watch football on television.
In 1621 Wampanoag Indians and colonists of the religious
group called the Pilgrims feasted for three days and their
meals included wild turkeys. The Pilgrims were thankful for
having survived in the new land after they came from England
in a ship called the Mayflower. Thanksgiving is largely a
celebration of thanks for good crops and peace and similar
days are in other lands such as Germany in Europe.
Halloween is on October 31. Children dress in costumes and
go trick-or-treating which is when they go to houses and ask
for treats or candies and fruits. Sometimes people ask them to
perform a trick such as act like a horse. When a person does
not give a treat, the children sometimes do a prank such as put
soap on the windows of his house. The holiday began in
Europe when parents had their children dress up as martyred
saints to instill loyalty to Christianity.
Easter is a Christian holiday. It celebrates that Jesus Christ
was resurrected and that because of Christ other dead people
also have the hope of a resurrection. It uses bunny rabbits
and colorful Easter eggs which are symbols of new life or the
resurrection hope.
Kwanzaa is from December 26 to January 1. Ron Marenga
began it in 1967 as a way to celebrate African American
heritage. The word is from the Swahili language and means
“First Fruits.”
Saint Patrick's Day is on March 17. It began as an Irish
holiday, but now Americans in general enjoy it. People wear
green clothing, wear three-leaf clovers for good luck, and
watch parades.
Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. It honors good
mothers, both living and dead. Julia Ward Howe promoted
the celebration after the American Civil War.
Father’s Day is on the third Sunday each June. It honors good
fathers, both living and dead. It began in 1908 in West
Virginia, but it was mostly promoted by Sonora Smart Dodd
from the state of Washington.
Labor Day is the first Monday in September. It honors people
who work for a living. There are big parades. Most businesses
close on Labor Day. Families enjoy picnics etc.
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May. It is a day to honor
soldiers who died during war but many Americans put flowers
and small flags on the graves of different loved ones in general.
Independence Day is on the fourth day of July. Many
Americans call it the Fourth of July. It celebrates when the
United States of America declared its independence from
England in 1776. People eat hotdogs, hamburgers, shoot
fireworks, have parades etc.
GOVERNMENT
DOCUMENTS
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Constitution_Pg1of4_AC.jpg
This shows page one of the original U.S. Constitution
The Constitution of the United States of America is the most
important document of the United States, and it was written in
1787. It tells the rights of the American people and it gives the
main laws.
The beginning part is called the Preamble. It tells why the
Constitution was written. It says the People, not a king or
dictator, rule the United States. There have been twenty-seven
amendments to the Constitution.
The first ten amendments are called The Bill Of Rights.
Americans have the right to freedom of religion, speech, press,
assembly and petition. Those who have not committed crimes
enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It says the government of the United States is divided into
three parts or branches. They are called the Legislature, the
Judiciary and the Executive branches.
The Proclamation of Emancipation was another important
document. It came from President Abraham Lincoln, and it
officially ended slavery.
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
The leader of the executive branch is the President. The
election of a President occurs every four years during the
month of November. A President cannot serve for more than
two terms of four years each, that is eight years total. He
begins serving the January after he has been elected. He is
helped by advisors called members of the Cabinet. For
example the cabinet has a head of the Department of Defense,
and a head of the Department of Education.
The American people elect Presidential delegates. The
delegates meet and elect the President. He must have been
born in the United States and be thirty-five years old when he
begins serving. He is a political leader and the leader of the
military.
The Vice President helps the President. Also, if a President is
killed, dies or becomes too sick, then the Vice President
becomes the President. The Speaker of the House becomes
President if the President and the Vice-President can no longer
serve.
The Judiciary is a group of nine judges above all other judges
in the United States. They sit in the Supreme Court of the
United States. There they examine laws and decide the most
important legal cases. For example they say if a law is in
agreement with Constitution or against it. They are not
elected. They are appointed by the President. Their main
leader is called the Chief Justice.
The Legislature proposes bills which sometimes become laws.
Sometimes a President kills a bill so that it does not become
law. He does this by refusing to sign a bill into law. His doing
this is called a veto. The vetoed bill then returns to the
Legislature. Next if two-thirds of the Legislature votes for the
bill to become law, it still becomes a law.
The Legislature or legislative branch is divided into two parts.
One is the U.S. House of Representatives. The other is the
Senate.
Members of the House of Representatives or Congress are
elected from every state. The number of Congressmen or
women depends on the size of the population of their states. In
2007 there were 435 in total. They have terms of only two
years, but they can run for election again and again.
There are two Senators for every state. There are fifty states;
therefore there are one hundred Senators. They are elected by
the people for a term of six years. They can run for election
again and again.
The United States government has a system called checks-andbalances. This means the three different branches of
government share power. One branch cannot become too
powerful because the other two branches exist to check and
balance its power. If a President tries to become a dictator, the
other branches can use their power to fight against his efforts
to do so.
The main government of the United States is called the Federal
Government. There are fifty states which are smaller
governments within the United States.
States can make their own laws. Usually their laws are similar,
but many states have some laws that are different from other
states. However, all states must obey laws from the Federal
government for all the states. Only the Federal government
can print money, raise an army, declare war and make
treaties.
For example, people in all states must pay some tax money to
the Federal government. In theory any state can secede or stop
being part of the United States, however this was prevented
during the Civil War.
The capital of the United States is Washington, District of
Colombia or Washington, D.C. for short. Each state has its
own capital. The main elected leader of each state is called its
Governor.
There are many different political parties in the United States.
However, the two largest and oldest have been the Democratic
and the Republican parties. However, most people are not
Democrats or Republicans. They are Independents, which
means they vote for either party or vote for some of each party.
The last day to file your taxes is April 15. You must be an
American citizen to serve on a jury, vote, run for a Federal
office or have a Federal job. You must be 18 to serve in the
army and vote. In most states you must be 18 or older to
marry. Also in most states you must be 16 or 18 to obtain a
license to drive a car.
FOUR AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:George_Washington_1795.jpg
George Washington as he appeared in 1795
George Washington was the General who led American
patriots to independence from England during the
Revolutionary War. He later became the first President. He is
called the Father of the United States of America.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
When President he bought the Louisiana Territory from
France. This gave the United States much new land west of the
Mississippi River. He sent Lewis, Clarke and other people
with them to explore the new territory.
President Abraham Lincoln saved the United States from
dividing into two separate nations, the Confederates States of
America and the United States of America. He also freed the
slaves before being assassinated.
Theodore Roosevelt was a hero during the Spanish American
War. He made laws to keep businesses from becoming too big
and powerful. He helped build the Panama Canal. He hunted
big animals in Africa and he promoted conservation in the
United States.
HISTORY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Map_of_territorial_growth_1775.jpg
The United States developed from thirteen colonies which were
mostly settled by people who came from British. The first
colony was Virginia. The last was Georgia. Most of the
thirteen colonies were in the north. Of course, even before the
Europeans came there were already many nations of Native
American or “Indians.” The colonists were sometimes at peace
with the Indians and some married each other, but at other
times the European colonists and Indians fought and killed
each other in numerous wars and skirmishes.
Over the centuries the United States has fought many large
and small wars against both other nations and sometimes nonnations such as pirates in North Africa and today against
militants in the international political Muslim movement called
Al Qaeda. This tells basic information about some of the main
wars.
The Revolutionary War was the first major war. The thirteen
original colonies of England revolted against England largely
because colonists felt they were being unfairly taxed without
proper representation. The American patriots were
successfully led by General George Washington, and they
received much help from many French soldiers and ships.
The War of 1812 was fought from 1812 to 1815. The United
States fought against England over trade at sea and territory.
American soldiers burnt what is now the capital of Canada,
and British soldiers came on ships from Canada and burnt
what is now the capital of the United States.
The Mexican War was 1846 to 1848. American soldiers
invaded and captured many cities in Mexico including the
capital Mexico City. The United States won control of what
are now many states in the Southwest region of the United
States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Battle_of_Gettysburg%2C_by_Currier_and_Ives.png
The American Civil War was 1861 to 1865. Southern states
called the South formed the Confederate State of America or
Confederacy.
The Confederacy was mostly a group of states with a lot of
slaves and agricultural products such as cotton, rice and sugar
cane. Many Confederate soldiers wore gray clothing as
uniforms. Their main general was Robert E. Lee. Their
President was Jefferson Davis.
Northern states wanting to keep the nation as one nation were
the North and during the war generally called the Union. The
Union was a group of states with much more industry and
many factories for producing weapons. Union soldiers wore
blue-colored uniforms. Their main general was Ulysses S.
Grant.
The Civil War was America’s bloodiest war! More
Americans were killed then than in any other wars including
World War II.
The South had many slaves and did not want to free them
without receiving money for them. The North had fewer slaves
and was angry at the existence of slavery. At the end of the
war there was still one nation, and President Abraham Lincoln
had freed the slaves.
The Spanish American War was fought in 1898. When it
ended the United States had taken Cuba, Puerto Rico, the
Philippines, Guam and the Caroline Islands from Spain.
In the late part of World War I, the United States sent soldiers
to help England, France, Russia and Italy against Germany,
the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire
headed by Turkey.
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Communists there
quit the war. After Germany sank some American ships, the
U.S. sent soldiers to fight Germany in France in 1917, and the
war ended the next year.
The United States entered World War II after Japan suddenly
attacked the U.S. navy at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December
21, 1941. The U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and
many other nations defeated Germany which was led by the
dictator Adolph Hitler, Italy and Japan. To end the war
sooner the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, Japan.
After World War II the United States helped rebuilt Germany
and Japan. The U.S. and democracies in western Europe had
tense relations with communist nations such as the Union of
the Soviet Socialist Republics called the U.S.S.R. and led by
Russia, and the U.S.S.R.’s ally communist China. This period
of time was called The Cold War.
The Korean War was 1950 to 1953. The U.S. and U.N. nations
helped South Korea fight against the communist soldiers of
North Korea and later China. The war ended without a
victory for either side although there was an armistice or
agreement in writing to stop fighting.
The Vietnam War was 1965 to 1975. The U.S. helped South
Vietnam against the communist soldiers of North Vietnam.
The U.S. stopped fighting in 1973. In 1975 North Korea was
able to defeat South Vietnam.
The Gulf War was 1990 to 1991. The U.S. and many nations of
the U.N. fought against Iraq in order to free Kuwait. After
freeing Kuwait the U.S. did not go far into Iraq.
The War On Terror began September 11, 2001. On that day
militant Muslims angry at U.S. soldiers being in Arabia and
the Middle East took over and crashed civilian jets into the
World Trade Center in New York City and the U.S. Pentagon
in Arlington, Virginia.
About 3,000 people died. A third jet probably would have
been crashed into the White House, but passengers fought the
terrorists who then crashed the plane into a field in
Pennsylvania.
In response Present George H. Bush sent American soldiers to
attack members of Al Qaeda and other militant Muslims in
Afghanistan. Later he also sent soldiers to attack Iraq which
he said meant to use weapons of mass destruction against the
U.S. military.
The Iraq War began in 2003. U.S. soldiers swiftly captured
Bagdad, eventually captured dictator Saddam Hussein who
was later tried and executed. However, Al Qaeda and local
insurgents continued fighting in Iraq.
In 2007 Americans were concerned that there might be a war
with Iran which was developing long range missiles, nuclear
power and possibly nuclear weapons. There was also concern
that at some point communist China might attack Taiwan,
thus causing a war also with the United States.
Today the United States has fifty states, the one Federal
District called the District of Columbia and the territories of
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands,
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands.
SONGS
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bombardment2.jpg
an artist’s rendering
The official song or anthem of the United States is often sung
before sporting events. It is named The Star Spangled Banner.
The poet Francis Scott Keys wrote it in 1814 after British ships
had bombarded Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. The
first part of the song is:
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
This song is also often sung to show appreciation of the
United States’ beauty and abundance.
O beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining
sea.
THE FLAG AND PLEDGE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg
The flag of the United States has thirteen red horizontal
stripes. The symbolize the original thirteen colonies. It also
has fifty stars to symbolize fifty states.
Americans, including school children, sometimes say the
Pledge of Allegiance. It is a solemn promise to show respect
and be loyal to the United States, does not elevate the U.S.
above God or serve as any form of worship.
It fact its words say that the U.S. is below God which can mean
either “under control of and therefore led by God” or else
under in the sense of not being “equal to” but rather beneath.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower had the phrase “under God”
added to the pledge which had developed from 1892 when
published in “The Youths’ Companion.” The words are:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
AMERINDIANS
Amerindians have sometimes also been called Native
Americans or Indians. There have been many
Amerindian nations and today also there are still many
groups or tribes of Amerindians.
About 550 tribes are on about 300 reservations meaning
areas that are federal lands for them. Some tribes have
no reservation; other tribes have more than one
reservation.
Amerindians have much sovereignty or right to govern
their reservations. For example a reservation may be
located in a state that does not permit casinos, but the
Amerindians who have that reservation can have a
casino.
Some reservations are huge. Nine are larger than the
states of Rhode Island and Delaware. The largest is the
Navajo Indian Reservation which is mostly in Arizona.
Here are the names of only some of the numerous
Amerindian groups: Navajo, Choctaw, Chickasaw,
Cherokee, Shawnee, Delaware, Osage, Hopi, Zuñi,
Ojibwa, Comanche, Creek and Sioux. Many reservations
cultivate tourism and they have museums, stores, trading
posts, and beautiful scenery or very historical attractions.
Many places are named in honor of Amerindians; for
example, states such as Alabama, Illinois, Indiana,
Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wyoming;
cities such as Cheyenne, Manhattan, Milwaukee,
Roanoke and Saratoga; also Lake Tahoe, Niagara Falls,
the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
OTHER GROUPS
In 2007 the United States has had many different racial
and ethnic groups to make America a better place. In
addition to Amerindians there have been Hispanics,
African Americans, Asians such as Vietnamese, Japanese,
Chinese, Hmong, Mongolians; Russians, Serbians,
Bosnians etc. Many Americans have ancestors from
England, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Mexico, El Salvador,
the Middle East etc.
In short, America consists of people who came from
around the world or whose ancestors did. Americans
believe that such diversity makes America stronger. In
America people can succeed regardless of race, ethnicity,
religion etc.
RELIGIONS
The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
This means people can believe in a God or gods or not
believe in a God or gods. They can have different views if
any about God. They can form and belong to different
religions. There are some reasonable limits though as
when the government does not permit a religious group to
break the law by killing people.
There are religious groups or churches as small as two
people. Two of the largest in the United States are the
Roman Catholic Church and, among Protestant groups,
the Baptists who are in various associations. In the U.S.
are also Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus etc.
SOME OTHER FAMOUS AMERICANS
Susan B. Anthony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Susan_B._Anthony_amer-pol-hist.jpg
Martin Luther King, Jr. helped peacefully win Civil
Rights for African Americans before being assassinated
in 1968.
Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American activist and
union organizer who helped win better conditions for
Hispanic workers. Four states have holidays in honor of
him. He died in 1993.
Sojourner Truth was born a slave in New York. She later
became an abolitionist and women’s rights activist. She
gave many speeches before dying in 1883.
Benjamin Franklin was a politician who helped win
French support to defeat the British during the American
Revolution. He also invented the lightning rod and
started free libraries.
Susan B. Anthony helped American women win suffrage
which means the right to vote. She also opposed too
much drinking and slavery. She died in 1906.
http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html
http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/Holidays/celebrate/fathers.ht
ml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dogs
GEOGRAPHY
Copyright 2007
By Mason Emerson
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A glacier is on the side of the
mountain.
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An island is surrounded
by water.
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A peninsula has water
on all except one of its
sides.
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A geyser is hot water coming up
from the ground from time to
time.
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A hill is land in the air
but not high enough
to be a mountain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Damavand_in_winter.jpg
Mountains are very
high in the air.
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An iceberg is a
mountain of ice in the
ocean.
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Our planet has large
areas of land called
continents.
The large areas of water
on Earth are its oceans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vina_del_mar_beach.jpg
Coast is where ocean
meets land. Coast
with sand is called a
beach.
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A lake is a large body of
water, but it is smaller than
a sea or ocean.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Arctic_Ocean.png
The North Pole is the
cold area of Earth.
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There is a drought
when lakes dry up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Esztergom-flood.JPG
Too much rain
causes a flood.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Snowstorm.jpg
Too much snow
causes a snowstorm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:World_map_with_equator.jpg
The equator is an
imaginary line around
the Earth from east
to west.
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A swamp is a
wet area.
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A prairie has a lot of
grass.
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Earth goes up, down
or to the side during
an earthquake.
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Water falls at a
waterfall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2004-tsunami.jpg
A tsunami is a giant
wave from the ocean.
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Latitude is east to
west around the
Earth; longitude is
north to south.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kompas_Sofia.JPG
A compass shows
directions such as
north, south, east
and west.
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A forest is an area
with many trees.