1)A general outline of the country. National symbols.

Geographical position

The country originated from the birth its birth certificate – the Declaration of Independence – in July 4^th, 1776.

The official name is the United States of America or the USA for short. It is the federal republic with the president at the head.

The country has an area of approximately 9.4 million sq.kms. The country stretches for 4.662 kms from East to West and one has to travel 5.857 kms from North to South. The USA is the 4^th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China.

The country is so big that there are 4 time zones. The clocks go back 1 hour for each zone if you cross the country from east to west.

The USA is the union of 50 states and one federal district known as the district of Columbia. The district was created as a site for the federal capital – Washington, so the name of the capital always goes with the abbreviation DC not to be confused with the state of Washington on the Pacific Coast. The district of Columbia is situated between the states of Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac [pəˈtəumæk] river.

Washington DC does not belong to any state, actually this city is unlike any other city in the country and in the world, because it was created specially to be the seat of the National Government. They say that the only industry of the city is government.

The USA is situated on the North America continent. In the north it borders with Canada and in the south it borders with Mexico. In the east the USA is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and in the west – by the Pacific Ocean.

Alaska was discovered in 1728 by the Russian explorer Vitus Bering and it can be known as Russian America, but in 1867 the US state secretary William Seward [ˈsju:əd] bought Alaska for 7.2 mln $ from the Russian Tsar Alexander. Americans nicknamed Alaska Seward’s Ice Box because they considered the place to be a frozen west land that was of no value for the country. But in 1896, gold was discovered at Klondike that was the reason for mass migration to this territory. Still even today Alaska is the least populated state in the country, though potentially it is one of the richest states especially in oil and natural gas. There are many defense installations, military bases and also the Distant Early Warning System (DEW system - a US radar detection system to warn of missile attack). The capital of Alaska is Juneau. Alaska received statehood in 1959.

The state of Hawaii is the chain of numerous islands (over hundred of them). Only 7 islands are inhabited. Geographically Hawaii appears to be almost in the center of the Pacific Ocean. Honolulu [ˌhɔn(ə)ˈlu:lu:] is the main city. One of the most world famous cities is Pearl Harbour. December 7^th, 1941witnessed a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and this event draw the USA into the 2^nd World War. While Alaska is an Ice Box, Hawaii is named a paradise island for its peaceful beaches, tropical trees, cosy lagoons [ləˈgu:n] and thrilling windsurfing. All this make the state attractive for tourists. Tourism is the main industry for Hawaii. Hawaii receive the statehood in 1959. Hawaii has one more name Aloha [ɑ:ˈləuhə].

Comparing the size of all states we cannot but mention that Rhode Island is the smallest in area and Alaska is the biggest one.

“Each state is the diamond in the nation’s crown ”.

Besides 50 states America possesses some territories and dependencies:

• The Pacific Trust Territory;

• The Panama [ˌpænəˈmɑ:] Canal [kəˈnæl] Zone;

• Eastern Samoa [səˈməuə];

• The Virgin Islands;

• Puerto Rico [ˌpwə:təˈri:kəu];

• Guam [gwɑ:m];

Symbols

The national flag is few months older that the Declaration of Independence. The flag was designed by special committee headed by George Washington himself. The colors chosen are symbolic:

• red stands for courage;

• white – for liberty;

• blue – for loyalty;

The flag was raised in its 1^st unified form in January 2^nd, 1776 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There are may legends as to who sewed [səud] the 1^st flag. But most Americans are inclined to believe that it was Betsy Ross. One can see Betsy Ross sewing American flag on American stamps today. Her small house in Philadelphia is preserved as a national monument. Today the flag has 13 horizontal stripes (7 red and 6 white) alternating with each other. There are 50 white stars on the black background in the upper left-hand corner of the flag. The 13 stripes correspond to the number of the 1^st 13 states:

• Delaware [ˈdeləwɛə];

• Pennsylvania [ˌpen(t)silˈveiniə];

• New Jersey;

• Georgia;

• Connecticut [kəˈnetikət];

• Massachusetts [i];

• Maryland;

• Virginia;

• South Carolina [ˌkærəˈlainə];

• New York;

• Rhode Island;

• North Carolina;

• New ˈHampshire;

The US flag has some nicjnames:

• The Old Glory;

• The Stars and Stripes;

• The Star-Spangled-Banner;

The Flag Day is on June 14, as a patriotic holiday. On this day in 1777 the flag was adopted by US Congress.

Frances Bellamy, a magazine writer, composed “The Pledge of Allegiance [əˈli:ʤ(ə)n(t)s]”: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Unites States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with the liberty and justice for all. He composed the allegiance on the occasion of 400s anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The pledge was embraced by the whole nation and almost immediately become a part of school-day ritual. Congress officially recognized the pledge in 1942.

The national flag should never be allowed to touch the ground, if it does one way or another it should be destroyed but in dignified way, preferably by burning.

As a symbol of national sovereignty [ˈsɔvr(ə)nti] the US flag is entitled to and should command the respect of any citizen.

US congress has an act of the federal flag code, which sets forth the protocol to be observed only when the displaying flag.

The national emblem

It is called the Great Seal or the Coat of Arms. The emblem is as old as the Declaration of Independence. On July 4^th, 1776 the continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of outstand men: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson. Different designs were proposed until one was approved on June 20^th, 1782 by Congress.

The Great Seal shows the American Bold Eagle. There is a ribbon in bird’s mouth with motto in Latin E pluribus unum. The wings are wide spread. It is holding a bundle of arrows in its left claw (the power and administer). In its right claw the eagle is holding an olive twig (peace and happiness). The phrase E pluribus unum expresses the essential idea of American federalism, it corresponds to the Russian Едины во многообразии.

Another phrase which functions as a national motto is In God We Trust. One can see it on the reverse side of the Great Seal and American banknotes.

The previous motto on American coins was Mind your own business. It sounded in its rimary meaning Do your own business.

The Great Seal is imprinted in all official documents issued by the Government. It is known all over the world that it is the symbol of welcome over the entrance. The bald eagle is considered to be the national bird of the country. It received its name because of the feathers on the head are white.

The American Eagle has got a lot of nicknames:

• A bird of freedom;

• A bird of Washington;

• An American Eagle;

• A Grey Eagle;

• A Brown Eagle;

• A Whitehead Eagle;

• A nun’s Eagle;

The national anthem

The poem the Stars-Spangled-Banner composed in 1814 was used as a national anthem before it was officially adopted in 1931 by US Congress. The poem was created by Francis Scott Key. He saw the British attack on Forte Mc Henry on September 13^th, 1814 during the war of the USA with the Great Britain.

The melody for the anthem was taken from 1^st English song composed by John Stafford Smith. The poem was set to music by an Indian composer John Stafford Smith.

The name of Francis Scott Key became so popular because of the anthem, so parents began to name babies by his name.