THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – THE USA

Quick FactsCapital City: Washington, D.C.

National Independence: July 4, 1776

Motto: In God We Trust

Largest Cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia,San

Diego, Dallas.

Border Countries and Oceans: Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of

Mexico, Pacific Ocean

Population: about 308,000,000 .

Land Area: 3,615,123 sq. mi. (9,375,720 sq. km.)

Highest Point: Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft. (6194 m.) above sea level

Lowest Point: Death Valley, California, 282 ft (86 m.) below sea level

Largest State: Alaska

Smallest State: Rhode Island

National Bird: Bald Eagle

National Flower: Rose

National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner

More Quick Facts• Discovered by: Christopher Columbus in 1492• First colonies: 13 British colonies• Total of States Today: 50 states, 48 in mainland, one in Alaska

(northwest of Canada) and Hawaii (in the Pacific Ocean)• Currency: US dollar• It’s the third largest country by size after Russia and Canada.• Current President: Barack Obama (44th)• His official office and residence: The White House (Washington D.C)• Languages spoken: English (82%), Spanish (12%) and others• The first Europeans arrived in America in the late 15th century and

called it the “New World”; • It was already inhabited by the American Indians/Native Americans,

who came from Asia; • Its chiefly early influence was British culture, since it was a colony of

Great Britain from which it became independent on 4th July 1776;• The American Dream and the Pursuit of Happiness; Promised Land

and the Land of Opportunity (a nation of immigrants)

American Symbols and Icons• Sports: Baseball (national pastime), Basketball, American Football

• Food: inventors of fast food – junk food - to eat quickly and save time (time is money): hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, coke, apple pie – lots of obesity problems because of too much fat, sugar and calories

• Monuments and Landmarks: Statue of Liberty, The White House, The Capitol, The Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Disneyworld…

The American flag has _____ stripes, representing the first original colonies, and _____ white stars on a blue rectangle, representing the ____________. So it’s called the “Stars and Stripes”.

White= purity and innocence; peace nad honesty; Red= hardiness, strength and bravery; Blue= vigilance, perseverance, justice, truth and loyalty.

Star= symbol of heaven and might; Stripe= rays of sunlight, blessing

The American flag has _____ stripes, representing the first original colonies, and _____ white stars on a blue rectangle, representing the ____________. So it’s called the “Stars and Stripes”.

White= purity and innocence; peace nad honesty; Red= hardiness, strength and bravery; Blue= vigilance, perseverance, justice, truth and loyalty.

Star= symbol of heaven and might; Stripe= rays of sunlight, blessing

The capital city of the USA has no state. It is a district – D.C., District of Columbia. It was named after the first President of the US: George Washington.

Located in Southern California and often abbreviated as L.A. and nicknamed “The City of Angels”, it’s the second largest city in the US and the home base of Hollywood. It’s known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World”.