1. Téma hodiny: English speaking countries – The USA 5.
Předmět: English language
Ročník: střední škola
Klíčová slova: USA, symbols, history, political system
Jméno autora: Mgr. Soňa Šípová
Škola: SŠGHS Litoměřice, Dlouhá 6
Smith-Dluhá, Gabrielle a kol. Angličtina-Otázky a odpovědi. Dubicko: INFOA

2. Symbols of the country
The national flag (called „Old Glory“ or „Stars and Stripes“) consists of 2 parts :
- smaller blue one with 50 stars symbolizing 50 states,
- longer one with 6 white and 7 red stripes symbolizing the original 13 colonies

3. National anthem The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight
O're the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
O're the land of the free and the home of the brave?

4. Political system
The USA is a federation consisting of 50 states
One federal district (the capital), other territories
The democratic system – rights and powers devided between the individual states and federal government
The president is elected for a four year term, may be elected twice
The Congress consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives – responsible for making laws
Two parties dominate American politics – the Democratic Party and the Republican Party

5. Capital city
Washington D. C. - the seat of the federal government
It is not a state, it is a federal district under the direct jurisdiction of the Congress (meets in the Capitol)
The president works and lives in the White House

6. History of the USA
In 1619 the first African slaves were brought to Virginia
Between the years 1775 – 1783 the War of Independance was fought
On July 4th 1776 the Declaration of Independance was signed
The first American president – George Washington 1788
In 19th century the US territory expanded, added Louisianna, Florida, Texas, California, New Mexico, nevada, Arizona
Growing of political and economic differences between the Northern and Southern states – Civil War ( )
Slavery was abolished
In the 20th century the US grew as a world power

7. History of the USA
The Icelandic Vikings were probably the first to arrive
Until the 15th century the only inhabitants were the Native Americans (the incorrect name Indians comes from Ch. Columbus, he thought that he arrived to the Indian Coast of Asia)
America is called after Amerigo Vespuci, Italian explorer who made many voyages to South America
In 1607 the first English colony was founded in Virginia at Jamestown
In 1620 the ship Mayflower brought 102 people, the Pilgrims Fathers, who founded a colony named Plymouth (Thanksgiving Day)
Many colonists settled in the country along the eastern coast: the British, Germans, Dutch, Irish, Spanish
13 colonies under English rule were established

8. The Mayflower transported Pilgrims to the New World in 1620