Culture Smart! USA! / Headwords
key facts
- population (number) 290 million
- religion protestant 56%, roman catholic 27%, jewish 2%, muslim
2%, other 13%
- country code
- number of states 50 states
- time zones four time zones on the American continent, Alaska and
Hawaii cover 2 more
Ch. 1: land and people
- situation (location) bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
- Old Man River
o the Great Lakes (+ map) the five Great Lakes that create vast inland seas on
the border between the USA and Canada form the largest body of freshwater in the
world.
- Climate
o The Gulf Stream a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico
and flows northeast across the Atlantic: hot, wet conditions for Florida and the
other Gulf Coast states
- regions
o names of the three coasts (+ map) East Coast, West Coast, Gulf
o the Great Plains (+ map) an expanse of flat land west of the Mississippi and
east of the Rocky Mountains
- a nation of immigrants
o Out of many one
o population (composition) African Americans 13%
- government
o the constitution designed a system of checks and balances that would prtect
Americans against excessive central power
o the Bill of rights added to the Constitution, protects individual liberties from
the long arm of government.
o executive, legislative and judicial government
Executive: president and vice president, a cabinet composed of the heads of the
fifteen executive departments
Legislative: two houses: the 100-member senate and the 435-member House of
Representatives
Judicial: headed by the Supreme Court of nine judges, who are appointed for life by
the president.
state law the individual states still retain significant administrative and policy-
making autonomy. Each having its own constitution, a chief executive, a bicameral
state congress, and a judiciary.
o political parties Democrats: stronger role for government. They countenance
higher taxes to pay for social programs. The part of the people
Republicans: conservative and pro free enterprise. Favors
state rights and strengthening the armed forces
- history
o The Tea Party
o July 4, 1776 the leaders of 14 colonies signed a Declaration of
Independence providing for self-determination
, o George Washington 1st president
o Manifest Destiny (esp. consequences for the Native Americans)
Americans believed it was their manifest destiny to settle all parts of North
America. The fate of the Native Americans, who had long inhabited the lands, was
manifestly sealed. They were disposed of their land through a serious of spurious
land deals, government deceptions and bloody conflicts.
o Native Americans today government acknowledge the wrongs perpetrated in
the rush to settle America. Many have made unique contributions to American
society while continuing to honor their cultural heritage
o The Civil War slavery drove a deep wedge into the existing political and
economic divisions between the North and the South.
o The Industrial Age (the south/the north)
South: struggled with reconstruction, a devastated economy, and a new social
order
North: the industrial revolution transformed the USA into a major economic power
o The Great Depression October 24, 1929 the stock market collapsed. Many
lost their businesses and life savings
o The Second World War Pearl Harbor / Hiroshima
o The Cold War not a real war against communism. Competition
between soviets and Americans for the mantle of superpower. Kennedy / Cuba
o The Turbulent Sixties Vietnam War, it polarized the nation. Martin Luther
King became the leader and the lightning rod for the Civil Right Movement: he and
Kennedy were assassinated in 1968/1969
o The War on Terrorism 9/11 military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq
Chapter 2 and 3 + do‟s and don‟ts
Chapter 2 Values and attitudes
- work ethic the protestant work ethic provided a clear and compelling equation
to early settlers: hard work led to a moral life, spiritual fulfillment and God’s blessing in the
form of material rewards here on earth.
- giving back don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country. America’s generosity
- control freaks some cultures live in harmony with their environment. Americans like
to wrestle it to the ground and harness its power for their own personal use.
- time is money the obsession with control extends to time. Time should be wisely
managed and spent, never frittered away
- patriotism (incl. flag and anthem) the American flag is everywhere. The anthem is a
story about the flag that flew throughout the night during the British bombardment of
Baltimore’s Fort McHenry in 1812. It represents the strength of the American spirit
Chapter 3 Customs and traditions
Separation of church and state
‘God bless America’ one nation under God (pledge of allegiance). Even though the
government is not supposed to endorse any religion, new sessions of Congress begin with a
prayer and the President ends speeches with “God bless America”
Fundamentalism
types of religion 190 sects, protestants, catholics, islam, Buddhist, hindu, jews,…
role of the church in society in southern states, the local church may play a dominant role
in daily life
key facts
- population (number) 290 million
- religion protestant 56%, roman catholic 27%, jewish 2%, muslim
2%, other 13%
- country code
- number of states 50 states
- time zones four time zones on the American continent, Alaska and
Hawaii cover 2 more
Ch. 1: land and people
- situation (location) bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
- Old Man River
o the Great Lakes (+ map) the five Great Lakes that create vast inland seas on
the border between the USA and Canada form the largest body of freshwater in the
world.
- Climate
o The Gulf Stream a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico
and flows northeast across the Atlantic: hot, wet conditions for Florida and the
other Gulf Coast states
- regions
o names of the three coasts (+ map) East Coast, West Coast, Gulf
o the Great Plains (+ map) an expanse of flat land west of the Mississippi and
east of the Rocky Mountains
- a nation of immigrants
o Out of many one
o population (composition) African Americans 13%
- government
o the constitution designed a system of checks and balances that would prtect
Americans against excessive central power
o the Bill of rights added to the Constitution, protects individual liberties from
the long arm of government.
o executive, legislative and judicial government
Executive: president and vice president, a cabinet composed of the heads of the
fifteen executive departments
Legislative: two houses: the 100-member senate and the 435-member House of
Representatives
Judicial: headed by the Supreme Court of nine judges, who are appointed for life by
the president.
state law the individual states still retain significant administrative and policy-
making autonomy. Each having its own constitution, a chief executive, a bicameral
state congress, and a judiciary.
o political parties Democrats: stronger role for government. They countenance
higher taxes to pay for social programs. The part of the people
Republicans: conservative and pro free enterprise. Favors
state rights and strengthening the armed forces
- history
o The Tea Party
o July 4, 1776 the leaders of 14 colonies signed a Declaration of
Independence providing for self-determination
, o George Washington 1st president
o Manifest Destiny (esp. consequences for the Native Americans)
Americans believed it was their manifest destiny to settle all parts of North
America. The fate of the Native Americans, who had long inhabited the lands, was
manifestly sealed. They were disposed of their land through a serious of spurious
land deals, government deceptions and bloody conflicts.
o Native Americans today government acknowledge the wrongs perpetrated in
the rush to settle America. Many have made unique contributions to American
society while continuing to honor their cultural heritage
o The Civil War slavery drove a deep wedge into the existing political and
economic divisions between the North and the South.
o The Industrial Age (the south/the north)
South: struggled with reconstruction, a devastated economy, and a new social
order
North: the industrial revolution transformed the USA into a major economic power
o The Great Depression October 24, 1929 the stock market collapsed. Many
lost their businesses and life savings
o The Second World War Pearl Harbor / Hiroshima
o The Cold War not a real war against communism. Competition
between soviets and Americans for the mantle of superpower. Kennedy / Cuba
o The Turbulent Sixties Vietnam War, it polarized the nation. Martin Luther
King became the leader and the lightning rod for the Civil Right Movement: he and
Kennedy were assassinated in 1968/1969
o The War on Terrorism 9/11 military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq
Chapter 2 and 3 + do‟s and don‟ts
Chapter 2 Values and attitudes
- work ethic the protestant work ethic provided a clear and compelling equation
to early settlers: hard work led to a moral life, spiritual fulfillment and God’s blessing in the
form of material rewards here on earth.
- giving back don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country. America’s generosity
- control freaks some cultures live in harmony with their environment. Americans like
to wrestle it to the ground and harness its power for their own personal use.
- time is money the obsession with control extends to time. Time should be wisely
managed and spent, never frittered away
- patriotism (incl. flag and anthem) the American flag is everywhere. The anthem is a
story about the flag that flew throughout the night during the British bombardment of
Baltimore’s Fort McHenry in 1812. It represents the strength of the American spirit
Chapter 3 Customs and traditions
Separation of church and state
‘God bless America’ one nation under God (pledge of allegiance). Even though the
government is not supposed to endorse any religion, new sessions of Congress begin with a
prayer and the President ends speeches with “God bless America”
Fundamentalism
types of religion 190 sects, protestants, catholics, islam, Buddhist, hindu, jews,…
role of the church in society in southern states, the local church may play a dominant role
in daily life
