Mr. Burton

5.2 Culture and History of America

Grab out a writing utensil and notebook.

United States as first Democratic Government

1500s: Europeans settlers established colonies, or territories inhabited and controlled by people from a foreign land.

• Mid-1700s: The British Empire included more than a dozen colonies along the Atlantic coast.

Boston and New York became major seaports.

Plantations, or large farms that grow mainly one crop, harvested tobacco, rice, or cotton using enslaved Africans.

U.S. Democratic Govt. cont..• July 1776: The colonial representatives

adopted the Declaration of Independence, which did not give rights to everyone, but was a great step toward equality and justice.

• 1781: General George Washington's army defeated the British in the Revolutionary War, which had started in Massachusetts and spread west and south.

• Britain recognized the independence of the U.S. and granted the U.S. all its land east of the Mississippi River.

Expansion and Growth These first settlers who traveled west for land and plentiful

resources were called pioneers. Groups of families undertook the harsh trip along the 2,000-

mile Oregon Trail. Late 1840s: Discovery of gold brought tens of thousands of

people to California. 1850: More than 23 million people Late 1880s: Major steel, oil, and textile production Most industrial cities in Northeast and Midwest. The development of waterways and railroads helped

industry and expansion into interior. Late 1800s/early 1900s: Immigration from Europe creates a

culturally diverse nation.

Wars The United States fought in several wars during the 1900s. Many Americans died in World Wars I and II. The United States and the Soviet Union became rivals in the Cold

War. 1950s: War in Korea 1960s and 1970s: War in Vietnam

Early 1990s: The collapse of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War.

1991: The United States fought Iraq in the Persian Gulf War. 2003: United States invaded Iraq and is helping Iraqis rebuild their

country today. Today the United States is one of the most powerful members of

the United Nations.

Government A limited, democratic government with an

elected president and Congress The Constitution defines the powers of the

federal government. The federal government handles issues

affecting the whole country. States, counties, and cities have their own

governments that provide state and local services, such as trash collection, road building, electricity, and public transportation.

Rights and Responsibilities U.S. citizens have the right to vote from

age 18. Citizens are encouraged to participate in

their government. Participation is essential to democratic

government

The people and culture of the United States are very diverse.

Hispanic Americans

• Many came from Mexico, Cuba, and other Latin American countries.

• Most live in the southwestern states that border Mexico.

Native Americans

• For thousands of years, Native Americans were the only people in the Americas.

• Today most live in the west, particularly in Arizona and New Mexico.

African Americans

• African Americans live in every region, but southern states and many large cities have a higher percentage.

European Descendents

• About 7 out of every 10 people

Asian Americans

• Live mostly in California

Language After English, Spanish is the most widely

spoken language.

About 17 million Americans speak Spanish.

Over 50 million are bilingual, or speak two languages.

Religion Most people are Christians. Some are

Jewish or Muslim. A small percentage is Hindu or Buddhist.

Many religious holidays: Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Ramadan and the feast called ‘Id al-Fitr

African Americans also celebrate Kwanzaa, a holiday that is based on a traditional African festival.

Food and Music Diverse ethnic foods like Mexican tacos,

Italian pasta, or Japanese sushi are now part of the American diet.

Music from around the world have also influenced American culture.

American musical styles include blues, jazz, rock, and hip hop.

Pop culture

American culture, such as movies, television programs, and sports, are popular abroad.

E.g., Star Wars seen by millions, baseball in Japan, Starbucks in almost every major city, and an MTV channel in Asia. (Gangem Style currently)