Cu 1. The US culture diversity?

The US is the most diverse country of the world. "cultural diversity means the representation, in one social system, of people with distinctly different group affiliations of cultural significance." Reason: It has been home of culture diversity since the first European and African arrived. It was inhabited by a variety of native American people who speak more than 300 different language. The European and American added their own varying cultures to this diversity
The 13 colonies founded along the Eastern Seaboard became US in the late 18th century. The

majority of the immigrants came from Great Britain. That is why the English language is our official language and England has had such great influence on our culture, especially in law and government During the following century, millions of immigrants arrived, maily from Europe Slaves were brought from Africa to work on argriculturalestates in the South, where they formed a large percentage of the population Influence:
Certain people see the United States as a " melting pot," which means that the characteristics of

different groups and individuals have blended together to form the country and culture we share. Others see the United States as a "salad bowl," which means that the different groups and individuals have retained many of their unique characteristics
Each cultural group has made significant contributions to the development and social customs of the

United States. For example, while English is our official language, many words of other countries and cultures have been added to our vocabulary. Yam

Cau 2: Three most historic important events and impact

1. American Revolution
_ Event: + Time: 17751783 + Name: the American War of Independence + It was the war between The Kingdom of Great Britain and 13 British colonies on the North American continent + April 19th 1775, the War broke out. British soldiers confronted colonial rebels in Lexington, Masachusetts + July 4th , 1776, the Continential Congress adipted a Declaration of independence

+ 1777, American soldiers defeated the British Army at Saratoga, New York + 1781, the last major battle took place at Yortown, Virginia + 1783, The war ended. England recognized American independence _ Impacts: one of the most famous wars in the American Political: + a new nation was born + create new laws & ideas: insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, and promoting the general welfare + become a world leader and set a precedent for centuries to come Economy: + create a great deal of business for small shop workers + strengthen the economy Society: + show the world that the strong and mighty army of England was in fact vulnerable + create an alliance with France and many other countries + The American revolution was not just a war. It was the war that gave country independence.

2. September 11th terrorist attacks

Event: On September 11, 2001 Terrorists hijacked 4 commercial jetliners 2 planes crashed into the World Trade Centre towers in New York city Another hit the Pentagon in Virginia The last crashed in rural Pennsylvania
Result and impacts:

More than 3000 people died Before that day a leading industrial power a powerful country After that day, America was suddenly at war. The government had to shut down all air traffic for 2 days; close all major stock exchange; raise millions of dollars for the families of victims.

 The American were intially shocked; demand to simplify their lives and dreamed of speading more time with family and friends
This is national horror drama.

3. American Civil War

Event:
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The American Civil War (18611865) is also known as the War Between the States. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America, also known as "the Confederacy." Led by Jefferson Davis, the Confederacy fought against the United States (the Union), which was supported by all the free states (where slavery had been abolished).

Impacts:
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The American Civil War was one of the earliest true industrial wars It remains the deadliest war in American history, resulting in the deaths of 620,000 soldiers and an undetermined number of civilian casualties. Victory for the North meant the end of the Confederacy, and of slavery in the United States, and strengthened the role of the federal government. The social, political, economic and racial issues of the war decisively shaped the reconstruction era that lasted to 1877.

Cu 3: US- a society of immigrants

The United States is a society of immigrants. Since its early days, the country has admitted more than 50 million newcomers, a larger number of immigrants than any country in history. Most people came, and still come today, for wealth, land, and freedom. a. First immigrants Time: between 1500s and 1700s Components: Spanish, French, British, German, Dutch and Swiss Reasons: In the 1500s, Spanish explorers were attracted by the story of the New Worlds gold and they came and settled in what is Florida now. French fur traders also wanted to seek for prospects of wealth and they came and set up trading from the St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi River. The British were the first to colonize on a large scale, came for profit and also for religious persecution. Successful English colony founded at Jamestown, Virginia. Throughout the 1600s and 1700s, permanent settlements were established along the East Coast. German settled in Pennsylvania, Swedes founded the colony of Delaware and the Dutch settled in New York. Many immigrants wanted to preserve their traditions, religion and languages but the fact that they were living among English white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) made them learn English and adopt English customs. b. Old immigration Time: between 1840 and 1880 Components: Chinese, Northern and Western Europeans, Irish and more Germans Reasons: During the period between 1840 and 1860, the US received the greatest flood of immigrants ever: 10 million people came to America, making its population larger than any single European country. By 1860, it was calculated that 13 of every 100 persons in the US were recent immigrants. In the mid-1800s, thousands of Chinese emigrated to California and most of them worked on railroad.

 Up until 1880, the majority of immigrants came from northern and western Europe to escape poor harvests, famines or political disorder. Between 1845 and 1860, hundreds of thousands of Irish people were sent to the US to escape starvation caused by the serious blight on the potato crop in Ireland. From 1852 to 1854, the peak years of German immigration, over 500,000 Germans came to live in the US. Between 1840 and 1880, northern and western Europeans were referred to as Old immigration. c. Southeastern European Time: began in the late 1800s Components: Latin, Slavic and Jewish peoples from southern and eastern Europe: Italians, Hungarians, Poles, Russians, Rumanians and Greeks Pros and cons: The languages, customs and appearance of these immigrants distinguished them from the earlier immigrants. Between 1900 and 1920, the number of immigrants sometimes rose to as many as a million a year. This influx of immigration affected American cities because they populated densely in largest cities such as New York and Chicago and formed Little Italy or Chinatown, where they preserved their customs and language. In 1890, in New York, 8 out of 10 of American residents were foreign-born while in 1893, in Chicago; the population was mainly Czech and Poles. d. Recent immigration Time: after the 1920s Components: Mexican, Latin American, Cuban and Asian (Cambodian, Vietnamese) Reasons: The number of immigrants has increased dramatically, between 600,000 and 700,000 people per year when refugees are included, posing assimilation problem for America. Many Cambodians and Vietnamese emigrated so as to flee from destruction of Vietnam War. Here, they and Cubans seem to be successful and become prosperous. Mexican-Americans, making up 1/5 of Californias total population, are not so easily assimilated; they still have strong sense of their own culture and often marry among themselves.

Cu 4 : American traditional beliefs and values, their realization in different fields, and their contribution to the success of the nation:
I/ Freedom - Center of all that Americans value is freedom. - They regard their society as the freest & best in the world, like to think of US as a welcoming heaven for those longing for freedom & opportunity. - Americans understanding of freedom: all people are equal & the role of government protect each persons basic inalienable right. - The US Constitutions Bill of Rights (1791): assures individual rights, including provisions for freedom of speech, press & religion. - The notion that America offers freedom for all is an ideal that unifies Americans & links present to past. - In reality: + some social groups & individuals are not as free as others. + some Americans havent enjoyed the same rights & opportunities as others. II/ Individualism - a central theme in American history. - Not only as self- reliance but also as economic self-sufficiency - Government regulation is often resisted in the spirit of individualism. - Right to work laws are defended on the grounds that they protect the independence of the individual worker. III/ Idealizing what is practical. - In American, What works is what courts. - They are proud of can do spirit - Like to think theyre natural- born do-it-yourselfers.

do- it- yourselfers books on everything (how to build and repair your own engine, how to be your own best friend) IV/ Volunteerism. - The do- it- yourself spirit is known as volunteerism in American community & political life. - Volunteerism = people helping people through private initiated, rather than government- sponsored, agencies. - Volunteers ( usually unpaid) organized themselves& others to solve a particular community problem/ meet an immediate social need (rather than waiting the Gov to do it) - Volunteerism is pervasive, arising wherever social services do not cover community needs. - When there are gaps in federal social programs, volunteers provide services (eg: adults education, psychological counseling & legal aid.) - 6/10 Americans members of a volunteer organization. - Volunteerism reflects Americans optimistic pride in their ability to work out our practical solutions themselves. V/ Psychology of Abundance. - Historically, Americans have regarded their country = a land of limitless wealth. - Fertile land was cheap& available to anyone who wanted to farm. - The abundance of untapped natural resources on the American frontier attracted not only farmers, but also game hunters, fur trappers, gold silver miners - While some As still believe in the inexhaustibility of the nations resources, others reluctantly recognize that the era of cheap & plentiful resources is over. VI/ Mobility. - Mobility not a sign of aimlessness but optimism. - As move from place to place with the sense of optimism, hoping to secure a better job or enjoy a warmer climate. - The American habit of mobility has been important in contributing a degree of homogeneity to a society of such extreme cultural diversity & spaciousness. VII/ Patriotism - National pride has become stronger than regional pride suburban neighborhood, bumper stickers announce Im proud to be American, the national anthem is played at every sporting events. - American patriotism is concentrated upon the particular historic event of the nations creation & upon the idea of freedom which inspired the nations beginnings.

V. American dream
1. Definition of American dream American dream is the dream of land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for every man with opportunities for each according to his abilities and achievements. The American dream teaches the Americans how to rise above from rags-to-riches and to believe that contentment can be reached through the virtues of thrift, hard work, loyalty, and faith in the free enterprise system. 2. Illustrations of this are waves of immigrants to the US The most obvious example of American dream can be seen in the immigration to the US. The immigrants from all corners of the world have come to the US to reach for their opportunities to nourish a better life. Another example of American dream is the California Gold Rush in the 1848s.

VI. American economic achievements

1. The US is one of the most affluent nations in the world. It has the largest economy in the world by nominal value and purchasing power. The Americans also have very high living standard. In 1985, American families average annual income was $27,700 and 60% of all families and individuals in the middle-income or high-income ranks.

In 2008, the US achieved the GDP of 14.4 trillion and GDP per capita was $47,422 It also has the highest income per hour worked

2. The US is the worlds leading producer Despite the competitiveness of other economies, the US remains the worlds leading producer of goods and services. Its industrial and technological production is high. The US is worlds leading producer of electrical energy, aluminum, copper, sulphur, and paper and one of the top producers of natural gas and automobiles. 3. Agriculture US farmers produce enough food for domestic consumption and still supply 15% of the worlds food needs. Technological advancement has accelerated changes in American agriculture. Farming is highly mechanized and commercialized. And the mechanization has made farming in the US too productive, gradually pushed farmers into crisis of the small farm and at the same time, formed new model of farming, which is larger-scale agribusiness firm. 4. Foreign trade Besides agricultural products, America exports some other goods, such as machinery, automotive products, aircraft and chemicals. It also imports petroleum products, foods and beverages, iron and steel products, making America a largest importer and exporter. Perhaps, one of the most remarkable economic achievements of the US is the economic model it forms. It is free enterprise system, in which private business operates freely with minimum interference and regulation from government. Here, American beliefs and values are reflected. Enterprises have freedom and equality of opportunity, which creates harsh competitions. However, competition is the driving force for enterprises to be successful. Ex: Microsoft.

VII: The US bicameral legislation

Gov consists of 3 branches: Legislative branch, Executive branch, Judicial branch separate function.

Legislative Branch make law the Congress: House+ Senate consists of representatives elected to Congress. Congress: the House of Representatives(The House) + the Senate + The House: 435 representatives(elected from all the States Each representative is elected to a 2-year term The number of representative of each state sent to the House depends on the No. of districts in each state. Each district chooses 1 representative. The No. of districts in each state is determined by population. + The Senate: The Senate is the smaller of the two bodies.

Each state (regardless of population) has 2 senators (6-year term) Every 2 years, of the Senate stands for election

VIII. The system of Checks and Balances and Separation of Powers

For hundreds of years, America has proved itself as the mightiest territory on this planet because of not only its largest economy but also a powerful political system. Although the US is a young nation, it has a written constitution. The government power is rested into 3 separate and equal branches and in order to make sure one of those branches does not gain too much power, the system Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances are formed. 1. Separation of Powers Besides the division of power between state and national governments, power is also limited by the separation among three branches- legislative, executive and judicial and each branch has a separate function. a. Legislative branch: making laws; made up of representatives elected to Congress; Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate The House of Representatives Lawmakers from all the state are elected to serve in the House of Representatives. The number of representatives each state sends to the House depends on number of district in each state, which is determined by population in that state 435 representatives in the House, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. The Senate The number of senators depends on the number of states; each state has two senators regardless of population 100 senators The term is 6 years; every two years, 1/3 of the Senate stands for election. b. Executive branch Administering the laws passed by Congress Presided by the president of the US, who is elected to a four-year term and can be re-elected to a 2nd term. The vice-president takes on 2 constitutional duties: presiding over the Senate and assuming presidency if the president dies, becomes disabled or is removed from the office. c. Judicial branch headed by Supreme Court, under which are many state and federal courts to determine whether laws of Congress or actions of the president violate the Constitution 2. Checks and Balances Each branch checks or limits the power of the other branches Ex: Although Congress make laws, the president can veto them and even if the president vetoes a law, Congress may check the president by overriding his veto with a two-thirds vote. The Supreme Court still can overturn laws passed by Congress and signed by the president The selection of federal and Supreme Court judges is made by the other two branches While the president appoints judges, the Senate can review his candidates and has power to reject his choices With this system of checks and balances, no branch of government has superior power and the Constitution can make sure that government power will not be usurped by a small group or a few leaders.

IX. Main features of the US education system

1. There is no national educational system in the US. In other words, there is no unified curriculum for the whole nation because it is decided by respective states. That is why diversity in US education can always be seen. a. Diversity in education There are in course offerings and standards for students, meaning that they have chance to choose their favorite subjects, or the selection of textbooks is decided by local officials or even exams are organized and marked variedly at schools. In public schools, decisions about school curriculum, teacher certification, and students achievement standards are made by boards of education at the state and/or district level. Students are taught various skills, depending on the schools they are studying in but there are some common skills students are supposed to learn. American schools tend to put more emphasis on developing critical thinking skills Students are helped to reach their maximum potential Social and interpersonal skills are also the focus that students should learn Extracurricular activities are also designed for students to get involved in, such as football, basketball, baseball because then students are taught winning spirit Student government is another activity made available to all students. b. Equality of educational opportunities to all citizens (is another main feature of US educational system) The number of students attending public schools is quite high (85%) and in public schools, students are educated equally regardless of their family background, gender and race. The percentage of go-to-school students has increased rapidly c. Government support for students to study: students can borrow money from their government to cover college expenses 2. Despite attempts made, undeniable fact of inequality in US education still exists. Black students in the Southern states used to be prohibited by law from attending schools with the white. The black had separate schools that were inferior to the white schools by almost any measure The amount of money spent on each white student is 3 times more than that on black one 3. In order for equality to be created among black and white students, more attempts have been made. Two effective methods are Bussing and Bakke Case In bussing, black children from the inner city were bussed to schools in predominantly white middle-class neighborhoods, and students living in the middle-class neighborhoods were bussed into the poorer black neighborhood schools. This action aimed to mix black and white students to create equality among them. In Bakke case, to create equal opportunity for admissions in schools, a certain number of places would be set aside, which then would be filled only by minority students.