The USA is the fourth largest country in the world(after Russia, Canada and China).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. America was discovered by Columbus in 1492, but he thought it was the coast of India. A few years later, another traveller named Amerigo Vespucci proved, that it was not India, but unknown continent. In 1506 this continent was named America in honour of Amerigo. The original inhabitants were the Indians.

Indigenous peoples descended from forebears who migrated from Asia have inhabited what is now the mainland United States for many thousands of years. This Native American population was greatly reduced by disease and warfare after European contact. The United States was founded by thirteen British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard. On July 4, 1776, they issued the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed their right to self-determination and their establishment of a cooperative union. The rebellious states defeated the British Empire in the American Revolution, the first successful colonial war of independence. The current United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787; its ratification the following year made the states part of a single republic with a strong central government. The Bill of Rights, comprising ten constitutional amendments guaranteeing many fundamental civil rights and freedoms, was ratified in 1791.

Отредактировано Анютка (2012-03-12 11:08:01)

I really want to learn more about the United States, the citizens of that country. The culture is very unique. I know some information about the culture and the people of this country, but I would like to visit and learn more about it. The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district.The country of USA boasts of many such places of tourist attraction all over the world.

In Las Vegas: the Grand Canyon, the Red Rock Canyon, the Clark County Museum,  the Neon Museum

The United States has many great places with spectacular sights (Colorado, Grand Canyon, San Diego, Miami and others)

Nature of the United States is very diverse and unique. There are natural centres, nature study, numerous parks, natural complexes, national parks, wildlife research, environmental education and other centres. The Government and the people care about their natural heritage and for the welfare of the country!

Christianity in the USA
The majority believing in the USA - Christians. Among them Protestants - approximately 51 % of the population of the USA (about 158 million people) prevail. The Christian church second for number in the USA - Catholics, approximately 25 % of the population of the USA or about 75 million people. On the third place - members of Church of Jesus Christ of Sacred last days (Mormons), approximately 1,7 % of the population of the USA or near 5,5 million people.

For Christians of the USA existence of a large number of faiths is characteristic.

The largest faiths of Christian church in the USA:
Catholic church - over 75 million people
The southern Baptist convention - over 16 million people
The incorporated Methodist church - about 8 million people
Jesus Christ's church of Sacred last days (Mormons) - over 5,5 million people
Church of God in the Christ - about 5,5 million people

Is in the USA and orthodox Christians who are united by autocephalous Orthodox Church in America which Head carries a title "The archbishop Washington, the Metropolitan of all America and Canada".

Islam in the USA
The third religion on prevalence in the USA - Islam.

Many of the slaves delivered to America from Africa were Muslims. At the end of XIX - the beginning of the XX-th centuries in the USA many people from Arab regions of the Ottoman Empire the majority from which also practised Islam immigrated. In 1915 in the State of Maine the mosque first in the USA has been constructed.

Very big surge in interest to Islam in the USA occurred in the thirties the XX-th century when Wallace Fard Mahomed created in Detroit, the State of Michigan, racist Muslim organization of black Americans "Islam nation". "Islam nation" learned that "The Allah is God, the white person - a devil, and black people - cream of a planet Earth". No wonder that growth of popularity of the new Islamic organization among black Americans caused serious concern in the USA. Later "Islam nation" departed from so radical positions, having become practically to one of currents of traditional Islam.

One of the most known members "Islam nations" were the outstanding fighter for the rights of the Afro-Americans in the USA Malcolm Littl known as "Malcolm X-th" and well-known boxer Cassius Clay, replaced after acceptance of Islam a name on Mohammed Ali.

Considerable growth of number of Muslims in the USA occurred and at the end of the XX-th century at the expense of increase in immigration in the USA from traditionally Islamic regions: Pakistan, the Arab countries of the South of Asia, etc.

A college football quarterback looking to pass the ball. Baseball has been regarded as the national sport since the late 19th century, while American football is now by several measures the most popular spectator sport. Basketball and ice hockey are the country's next two leading professional team sports. College football and basketball attract large audiences. Boxing and horse racing were once the most watched individual sports, but they have been eclipsed by golf and auto racing, particularly NASCAR. Soccer is played widely at the youth and amateur levels. Tennis and many outdoor sports are popular as well. While most major U.S. sports have evolved out of European practices, volleyball, skateboarding, snowboarding, and cheerleading are American inventions. Basketball was invented in Massachusetts by Canadian-born James Naismith. Lacrosse and surfing arose from Native American and Native Hawaiian activities that predate Western contact. Eight Olympic Games have taken place in the United States. The United States has won 2,301 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, more than any other country,and  in the Winter Olympic Games, the second most.

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 national anthem of the United States is "The Star Spangled Banner".
The words written during the Anglo-American war of 18X2-1814and set to the music of an old song. Every state has its own flag, its own emblem and its own anthem too.
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 is 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.

America — a part of the world uniting two continents, the North America and the South America, and also nearby islands (including Greenland). This part of the world also name a New World. America is named, on one of versions, by name of Amerigo Vespucci.

United States the country "without worries".

Olya,thanks for information.I did not know about it before.It's interesting!