The Size and Diversity of the USA
The USA is a vast country. From coast to coast is over 3000 miles and in covering that
distance from say, New York to San Francisco, the traveller would encounter four time
zones.
It is diverse in its landscape, climate, its economy and its people.
The USA is also "the hyphenated society" in which people think of themselves as African-
American, Irish-Americans, Polish Americans, Japanese-Americans, Native-Americans also
Hispanics.
American society has been describe as a 'melting pot' a great cauldron filled with people
from diverse lands, cultures, languages and religions.
Other commentators have said a more accurate description of modern America would be to
say it is a 'patch work quilt'.
The diversity gives rise to the Americans need for symbols of unity + patriotism, most
notably in their attachment of the American flag.
Each day begins in the most American schools with children standing to face the flag at the
front of the classroom and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. There is even a day each year
designated as 'Flag Day'.
Pledge of Allegiance: 'I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to
the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
These characteristics of size + diversity have important political implications.
Size brings with it the need for decentralisation for the federal system of government
established by the country's Founding Fathers in 1787.
Diversity comes in the form of laws which differ between states about such matters such as
elections, crime and punishment.
Different regions of the country have discernibly different ideological characteristics.
The 'Conservative South' - the 'Bible Belt' stretches from Texas to Virginia.
The 'Liberal' Northeast includes such states as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The West Coast, too is liberal-leaning, especially in the Californian cities of Los Angeles and
San Francisco.
This has implications for political parties. California Democrats are very different from Texas
Democrats. South Carolina Republicans are equally different from Massachusetts
Republicans.
The USA is a vast country. From coast to coast is over 3000 miles and in covering that
distance from say, New York to San Francisco, the traveller would encounter four time
zones.
It is diverse in its landscape, climate, its economy and its people.
The USA is also "the hyphenated society" in which people think of themselves as African-
American, Irish-Americans, Polish Americans, Japanese-Americans, Native-Americans also
Hispanics.
American society has been describe as a 'melting pot' a great cauldron filled with people
from diverse lands, cultures, languages and religions.
Other commentators have said a more accurate description of modern America would be to
say it is a 'patch work quilt'.
The diversity gives rise to the Americans need for symbols of unity + patriotism, most
notably in their attachment of the American flag.
Each day begins in the most American schools with children standing to face the flag at the
front of the classroom and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. There is even a day each year
designated as 'Flag Day'.
Pledge of Allegiance: 'I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to
the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
These characteristics of size + diversity have important political implications.
Size brings with it the need for decentralisation for the federal system of government
established by the country's Founding Fathers in 1787.
Diversity comes in the form of laws which differ between states about such matters such as
elections, crime and punishment.
Different regions of the country have discernibly different ideological characteristics.
The 'Conservative South' - the 'Bible Belt' stretches from Texas to Virginia.
The 'Liberal' Northeast includes such states as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The West Coast, too is liberal-leaning, especially in the Californian cities of Los Angeles and
San Francisco.
This has implications for political parties. California Democrats are very different from Texas
Democrats. South Carolina Republicans are equally different from Massachusetts
Republicans.
