THE U.S.A.OUR GREAT AMERICAN

COUNTRY

GOVERNMENTThe government was created In 1789. It is based on the principle of federalism, in which power is shared between the federal government and state governments. Since the U.S. Civil War, the powers of the federal government have generally expanded.

GovernmentExecutive Branch

Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America.

As chief of the executive branch he must pass each law or he may veto them.

Altogether America has had 44 presidents. Our first president was George Washington. Our present president is Barack Obama.

GovernmentLegislative Branch

Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.

The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

GovernmentJudicial Branch

Members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

At times there have been as few as six, while the current number (nine, with one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) has only been in place since 1869.

Religion □ In the United States, freedom of religion is a constitutionally guaranteed right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. □ Freedom of religion is also closely associated with separation of church and state, a concept advocated by Thomas Jefferson.

Monument honoring the right to worship, Washington, D.C

Technology

The technological and industrial history of the United States describes the United States' as one of the largest nations in the world as well as the most technologically powerful nation in the world.

The availability of land and labor, the diversity of climate, the ample presence of canals, rivers, and coastal waterways, and the abundance of natural resources helping with the cheap extraction of energy, fast transport, and the availability of capital all contributed to America's rapid industrialization.

Technology The period after the Civil War

was marked by technological advances like the railroad, telegraph & telephone, and internal combustion engine.

This facilitated America's westward expansion and economic development by connecting the frontier with the industrial, financial, and political centers of the East.

Americans increasingly relied upon technological infrastructures like the railroad, electric, and telecommunications systems for economic and social activities.

Written Language

In 1755, Samuel Johnson published the first significant English dictionary, his Dictionary of the English Language.

The main difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary. Late Modern English has many more words, arising from the Industrial Revolution and new technology.

Social Structure

Many Americans believe in a simple three-class structure that includes the "rich", the "middle class", and the "poor".

Most definitions of class structure group people according to wealth, income, education, type of occupation, and membership in a specific subculture or social network.

Stable Food Supply

The economy of the United States is the world's largest national economy.

The economic history of the United States has its roots in European settlements in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

American cuisine is similar to that in other Western countries.

Wheat is the primary cereal grain.

Many Americans eat turkey, venison, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup, which were consumed by Native Americans and early European settlers.

Americans generally prefer coffee to tea.

Highly DevelopedWay of Life

The United States came into being around the Age of Enlightenment (circa 1680 to 1800).

Many philosophers envisioned a "republic of science," where ideas would be exchanged freely and useful knowledge would improve the lot of all citizens.

From its emergence as an independent nation, the United States has encouraged science and invention. It has done this by promoting a free flow of ideas.