7. Some facts from the history of the usa

Nowadays people are beginning to use the term "Native American" rather than "Indians" for the original peoples of America. They probably crossed over from Asia while there was still a land bridge between the two continents.

The first "white" Americans left England in 1606 to settle in | Virginia. They suffered terribly. After five years only 50 colonists were left out of 500. As for the colonists who landed in New England from Mayflower in 1620, more than half died of diseases during the first winter. Immigrants continued to come to America, mostly from Britain and Ireland, and by the middle of the 18th century there were thirteen colonies. They formed a federation, which they called the United States of America. During the next eighty years British, Irish and German immigrants continued to cross the Atlantic to settle in America.

The first American pioneers travelled out into the unexplored plains and on across the Rocky Mountains to the burning, waterless deserts of Nevada. To get to San Francisco they crossed the most fearful mountain range of all, the Sierra Nevada. The discovery of gold near San Francisco started a rush to the West, but the rich, fertile earth was the real "gold" of California. Mountain streams brought water to crops and to plantations of fruit trees.

After the Civil War (1861-65), which freed the slaves in the South and prevented the Southern States from leaving the Union, the USA really began to grow. In 1860 the population of the USA was about 30,000,000 largely of British origin, but including 3,500,000 African slaves. Today it has swollen to 250,000,000, less than 45 percent of which are of British origin.

Speak about:

1. The first colonists in America.

2. The formation of the USA.

Although the USA is the most powerful of the English-speaking countries, the English that is taught in most parts of the world is British English. Besides, British English is the "mother language" upon which all English, written or spoken, is based, including American English. In fact, most Americans like the way the English speak, and there are new England families whose accent is closer to standard British English than is the accent of the educated Scott

Many Americans, including some who have no British blood in them, regard Britain as the Mother Country. Americans read English literature without any difficulty at all, and British readers of early 20th century American literature have no problems either. But for the last fifty years the Americans have been inventing a whole bunch of new words and phrases, many of which have already reached Britain and the whole English-speaking world.

Make comments on:

1. "He has no British blood in him".

2. Britain is the Mother Country of the USA.

8. Holidays celebrated in the united states

New words to be remembered:

to celebrate святкувати

to honour вшановувати

to commemorate увічнювати

clothing одяг

gift подарунок

People in the United States, like citizens of most countries, look forward to a number of holidays each year. These days usually celebrate a patriotic, political or religious event of the past. Among the patriotic holidays in the United States are Labour Day, Veteran's Day, Colum­bus Day and Thanksgiving. Political holidays include Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday and Independence Day.

Many Americans think of two religious holidays — Easter and Christmas — as the most important celebrations of the year. One holiday in a category of its own is New Year's Day.

Labour Day, celebrated on the first Monday of September, pays tribute to the agricultural and industrial workers who have contributed to America's growth over the past 300 years. Veterans' Day honours the men who have served in the United States armed forces. On the second Monday of October, Americans pause to recall the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, who set out in the fifteenth century in search of the New World. The Thanksgiving holiday recalls America's earlier history. Thanksgiving dinners, centred around roast turkey, are served on the third Thursday of November in memory of the colonists who first came from England in the seventeenth century to settle in Massachusetts.

Another type of American holiday, the political celebration, com­memorates significant figures or events in United States history. Two highly esteemed presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, are honoured by a single holiday: the birthdays of Washington, the first president of the United States, and of Lincoln, America's Civil War president, are celebrated on Presidents' Day, the third Monday of February. Perhaps the most colourful celebration each year takes place on Independence Day, popularly called the Fourth of July. Many families plan picnics and attend public fkeworks displays on this political holiday recalling the signing of the Declaration of Inde­pendence on July 4, 1776.

Unlike America's political holidays, two popular religious holidays are marked by intense preparations and lengthy celebration. Most schools and colleges are closed for a week's vacation in spring at Easter. The holiday takes place each year sometime between March 22 and April 25. During Easter many homes are decorated with white lilies. In many cities, families dressed in their new spring clothing walk down the main street in an "Easter Parade". For children, Easter brings the excitement of the mythical Easter rabbit, who hides coloured eggs for them to find. Each year at Easter children gather for festivities on the White House lawn in Washington D.C.

A religious holiday in which the leaving of gifts plays an even more important part is Christmas. Celebrating the birthday of Christ, Christmas occurs on December 25. Most schools are closed for the last two weeks of December. Because the three Magi were said to have brought gifts to Christ at his birth, American families leave gaily wrapped packages under a decorated ever-green tree on the night before Christmas to be opened the next morning.

Like people everywhere, Americans welcome the idea of making a fresh start in life. For this reason the first day of every new year is celebrated as a holiday.

Answer the following questions:

What patriotic holidays are there in the USA? What holidays do many Americans think of as the most impor­tant celebrations of the year?

Name the political celebrations, commemorating significant fi­gures or events in the United States history. What religious holidays are the most popular among Americans?