2. Geography
America is made up of 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, each has its own state capital. National capital is Washington DC.
4th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China.
So vast it spans 4 different time zones.
Midwest
& Plains
North East
West
South
Population
In 1917 more than 100 million people; unevenly distributed, ¾ live in cities.
Between 1900 and 1920 more than 14 million immigrants arrived.
Immigrants congregated in the larger cities like New York, Pittsburg & Chicago and stayed within their ethnic groups.

3. The American Way of Life
Generally Americans;
hold strong beliefs about the way human society should be organised - source Founding Fathers.
believe in a mix of liberty and duty (to work hard) & rugged Individualism: self-reliant and hard-working. The lone cowboy, the pioneer farmer etc (try-anything, go-anywhere attitude to life)...
think rugged individualism is not only the route to success but the right way to live.
want to do right – ‘clean government,’ ‘clean living.’
are self-confident but also self-critical. They want to live up to their ideals. But the ideals themselves are beyond question.
believe in this pointing to the success of America and the rags to riches life stories of some of its citizens as evidence. Just enough truth in those stories to make it believable.

4. How is America governed? Federal Government
Legislative Branch:
Congress
Makes the laws
Senate
(local representatives
sent to Washington)
House of
Representatives
(congressmen,
no. depends on size
of state)
Executive Branch:
President
+ secretaries
Administers America
(serves a 4 year term)
Elections held in
November.
New president
takes over
following January.
Judicial Branch:
Supreme
Court
9 judges
Ensure that all the
president is in line
with the Constitution.
Appointed by President
Elected by people
2 political parties - Republicans & Democrats

5. How is America governed?
Federal Government can:
Provide for the nation’s defence.
Collect taxes and borrow money.
Control trade.
Control foreign policy.
Provide for the nation’s ‘general welfare.’
State Government
To a certain extent each state is self-governing, it can:
Keep law and order.
Protect public health.
Provide education.
Control living and working conditions.
Help those in need .

6. “...the best government is the least government.” Thomas Jefferson
Underpinning ideas
Constitution: (1787) defines and limits the power of the Federal government.
Asserts individual rights.
“...the best government is the least government.” Thomas Jefferson