The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world. It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated.
AMERICAN SYMBOLS
The American flag is often called “The Stars and Stripes”, it is also called "Old Glory". It represents the growth of the nation. It has 13 horizontal stripes, 7 red and 6 white which stand for the original 13 states. In the top left hand corner there are 50 white stars on a blue background: one star for each state.
The eagle became the national emblem of the country in 1782. It has an olive branch (a symbol of peace) and arrows (a symbol of strength). You can see the eagle on the back of a dollar bill.
The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of American democracy. It stands on Liberty Island in New York. It one of the first things people see when they arrive in New York by sea. This National Monument was a present from France to the USA. France gave the statue to America in 1884 as a symbol of friendship. Liberty carries the torch of freedom – in her right hand. In her left hand she is holding a tablet with the inscription "July 4, 1776" – American Independence Day.
The United States of America is one of the greatest countries in the world. It’s the third largest country by both land area and population. And we want to show you the American history through the famous persons of this country.
- The history of the United States traditionally starts with the Declaration of Independence in the year 1776, and it’s connected with the name of Benjamin Franklin. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.
- His coeval George Washington was the first President of the United States of America and dominant military and political leader of the United States. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War and presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787
- We must mention Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln became the
central historical figure in the consciousness of the American people. It
prevented disintegration of the United States and cancelled slavery for
normal development of the country. It possesses the formulation of a main
objective of democracy: “the people's constitution, the people's government
is made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people”.
*** - Here we could mention the main periods of American history. Gilded age -the era of rapid economic and population growth in the United States during the post–Civil War and post-Reconstruction eras of the late 19th century, the period of development of the West and displacement of aboriginals – Indians. It is Mark Twain's period. He was an American author and humorist. He is most noted for his novels “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, and its sequel, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” the latter often called" the Great American Novel.
- The age of the World war was connected with such politicians like
Theodore Roosevelt – the 26th President of the United States of America,
Dwight Eisenhower who was the 34th President of the United
States and a general in the United States Army.
*** - But not only politicians created the history of the United States. Louis Armstrong was an American jazz trumpeter and singer. Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music. Also he was one of the first truly popular African-American.
- Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer and model who became an fashion icon, the symbol of beauty , starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s
- Andy Warhol was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, record producer, author, and a member of highly diverse social circles that included Bohemian street people, Hollywood celebrities.
- And of course – Elvis Presley. He was one of the most popular
American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by
the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll"
or simply "the King".
*** - In last the 50 years the most significant person in Hollywood was George Lucas. An American film producer, screenwriter, director, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones. Lucas is one of the American film industry's most financially successful directors/producers.
- The era of pop music starts with Michael Jackson – a real legend, an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The King of Pop, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all the time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. He has the strongest influence on all pop culture.
- And the cult person of our time is Steve Jobs. Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was a co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc., he became a symbol of his company and industry. Jobs was widely described as a visionary, pioneer and genius in the field of business, innovation and product design, and a man who had profoundly changed the face of the modern world, revolutionized at least six different industries.
Modern America is a thriving nation. Thanks to its heritage and outstanding persons which have brought the contribution to history of the development of the country, it remains to be one of the strongest countries in the world.