what do you know about..america

What do you know about..?

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The term America...

• Was coined in 16th century after Americo Vespucci.

• It was first used officially in the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

PROFILE ABOUT USA

• United States is a constitutional federal republic.

• It has 50 states.(48 contigious states, plus Alaska, Hawaii . It also has insular areas scattered around the Caribbean and the Pacific)

THE USA... A land of immigrants

• In 1620, about 100 English colonists, the so called “Mayflowers Pilmgrims, arrived in Plymouth, Mass. Looking for religious freedom.

• Immigration to USA was accelerated after the French revolution and during the 19th .Thoughout the 19th and 20th century, millions of Irish, Polish, Chinese, German and Italian immigrants arrived in USA.

Ellis IslandTODAY

In the past

Immigration policies...

• At the beginning of the 20th century, the National Origin Quota System was set. 70 % of immigrants were from UK, Ireland or Germany . This quota system was abolished in 1965, when Mexican and Latino american people entered.

America is made up of...• Different ETHNICITIES:1.WHITE (German-american ,Irish-american, and English etc...)largest racial group. 74 %2. AFRO AMERICAN(descendants from slaves)12.4%4. Hispanic or Lationo. 15 %3. ASIAN AMERICAN(Chinese and Filipino american,

Japanese-american.etc.) 5%4.NATIVE AMERICANS OR Alaskan ancestry, Hawaian,

Pacific islands ancestry 1%5.OTHER MINORITIES/Multiracial 8.3 %

MELTING POT

• The idea of melting pot was coined by an inmigrant called Israel Zangwill- he encouranged newcomers to assimilate the American culture). It’s been a proud term for a long time. Not any longer.

Sociologist talk about the salad bowl or tossed salad...

• MULTICULTURALISM ( here in Europe). Inmigrants retain their ORIGINAL culture

and tradition while integrating into a new society.

Some political scientists* go further...... They talk about

TOMATO SOUP• AMERICAN IDENTITY feels

THREATENED by LATINO INMIGRANTS...

“ the mixture of culture should add spices without compromising the essential character of tomato(american identity)

* Samuel Huntington from Harvard University

The biggest cities are...

• NEW YORK ( 9 million

• LOS ANGELES (4 million )

• CHICAGO ( 3.500.000)

• HOUSTON ( Around 2 million)

• PHILADELPHIA (1.500.000)

• PHOENIX ( 1.400.000)

• SAN ANTONIO 1,200.00)

So..... What is America...?

NEW YORK STATE

CAPITAL

NEW YORK CITY DISTRICTS

Manhattan

Bronx

Queens

BrooklynStaten island