Introductory Text 5. "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"
Ex. 1. Read the text using a dictionary and formulate the main idea of it.
The Boston Tea-Party
By the middle of the 18th century the
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political situation in the North American colonies had become critical. Britain's policy was aimed at consolidating and intensifying exploitation of her colonies. This provoked resistance which was followed by punishment and repression. The increased intensity of these repressions eventually led to the revolution. Merchants, manufacturers, planters, farmers, urban workers, fur traders - all found British administrative acts a burden.
British policies affected every area of American life. As a result the colonists were unanimous in their opposition to British policy. In 1767 the Townshend Acts imposed taxes on most consumer goods. These taxes were particularly unfair to Massachusetts citizens and therefore in Boston street crowds attacked the tax collectors. In retaliation the Boston Massacre took place in March 1770 during which British troops opened fire and killed five Bostonians.
The most active opposition group in the colonies were the "Sons of Liberty. The most famous Sons of Liberty were Sam Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry who kept the idea of revolution against England alive in the minds of Americans.
In April 1773 the notorious Tea Act was passed by the British Parliament. It permitted the East Indian Company to sell tea in the colonies practically without any duty and at a very low price. This was against the interests of all American merchants who were now unable to compete with the Company.
The struggle against the Tea Act became
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a struggle against British monopolization of all American trade. When the American colonies realized this, opposition was unanimous. In Boston public indignation was particularly great. The Bostonians with Sam Adams at the head were determined to prevent the East Indian Company's tea ships from landing their cargo. So on a December night in 1773 a group of colonists dressed as Indians boarded the ships and dumped the hated tea into the harbor. A huge crowd gathered to cheer them on, and when the news of the Boston "Tea Party, as it was called, reached London, the British burned with indignation. They responded in reaction's usual manner - more force, more repressions.
The response of the colonies was to unite in support of the people of Boston. The opposition against Britain found support of the overwhelming majority of American people. In 1774 the First Continental Congress was convened in Philadelphia. Delegates from all the colonies except Georgia met there. The Congress called on Americans to take up arms to defend their rights. It is a well-known fact that when Patrick Henry, one of the Sons of Liberty, spoke at the - Virginia Assembly in Richmond the audience was stirred by his flaming words: "I know not what course others may take but as for me, give me liberty or give me death".
Then the first shots were fired in 1775 when armed Americans met the British troops at Concord, twenty miles west of Boston. The American Revolution had begun.
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In 1783 independence from Britain was gained by 13 North American colonies. Britain recognized American independence and agreed to withdraw all troops from the American soil. Thus the United States of America were formed. In 1789 George Washington was elected the first president of the USA.
New states joined the Union and the country grew westwards.
The southern states, when slavery was abolished in the North, left the Union and formed the Confederacy. Civil War between the North and South broke out. In 1865 the Union won and slavery was abolished all over the USA.
Ex. 2. Give Russian equivalents for:
consolidate (intensify) exploitation in colonies; provoke resistance (protests); repressions; be unanimous in opposition to Britain's policy; pass the Townshend Acts; impose taxes on...; notorious Tea Act; dump the tea into the sea; convene the First Continental Congress; fire the first shots;
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obey the British law; "give me liberty or give me death"; withdraw troops from...; recognize the rights of man
Ex. 3. Answer the following questions.
1) What was Britain's policy in the early 1770s and why did it evoke resistance and protests?
2) When were the Townshend Acts passed and how were they received in Massachusetts?
3) What was the "Boston Massacre"?
4) Who belonged to the "Sons of Liberty" and what was their mission?
5) What was the historical background of the Boston "Tea Party"?
6) How can you interpret the famous words pronounced by Patrick Henry at the Virginia Assembly?
7) How did the Revolution actually start?
8) When were the USA formed?
9) What important event took place in 1789?
10) How can you characterize the American Revolution?
11) What was the result of the Civil War?
Ex. 4. Speech practice
1. Britain's policy was aimed at exploitation of her colonies, a) State the factors that eventually led to the revolution.
2. The colonists were unanimous in their belief that British policy was hostile to their interests, a) List the acts passed by the British Parliament which evoked protests in the colonies; b) tell about the "Sons of Liberty" and the role this organization played; c) find Boston on the map; d) say why the event that took place in December 1773 in Boston was called the Boston "Tea Party"?
3. The colonists were united in their struggle against Britain, a) Show Philadelphia on the map; b) say why the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia was so important; c) explain the meaning of the famous words with which Patrick Henry concluded his speech in 1775; d) name the place and the year in which the armed struggle between Americans and the British troops began. Try to find this place on the map.
Ex. 5. Evaluate briefly the significance of the American Revolution for the thirteen colonies that became independent.
Ex. 6. Write a composition "The American Revolution ".
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LESSON TWO. The Geography and Climate of the USA
Ex. 1. Memorize the following words and word combinations:
Ex. 2. Practice the pronunciation of the following geographical names: the Rocky Mountains, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, California, Alaska, Minnesota, the Mississippi, the Nile, the Amazon, the Sierra Nevada, the Missouri, the Rio Grande, the Columbia, canal, Chicago, Lake Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario
Ex.3. Read the text using a dictionary, if necessary.
The United States of America lies in the central part of the North . American Continent.
The territory of the United States stretches from the Atlantic seaboard, across the central plains, over the Rocky Mountains to the densely populated west coast, and then to the island state of Hawaii.
The USA is divided into three areas - Eastern area - a highland, Central area - a plain and Western area which is mountainous and includes the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, mountains with snow-capped peaks and clear mountain lakes. Most of this region is thinly populated because of the wild high mountains.
America is a land of physical contrasts, including the weather. The climatic conditions are modified by the great mountains and the winds. The USA is at the same time one of the hottest and one of the coldest countries, one of the wettest and one of the driest.
The southern parts of Florida, Texas, California and the state of Hawaii have a subtropical climate and warm temperatures all the year round. The northern states and Alaska have extremely cold winters and their climate is
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Arctic. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.
The United States is also a land of rivers and lakes. The northern state of Minnesota is known as land of 10,000 lakes. The broad Mississippi River is the world's third river after the Nile and the Amazon. America's other large rivers are the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. A canal south of Chicago joins one of the tributaries of the Mississippi to the five Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario).
American farmers plant spring wheat on the cold western plains. They raise corn, wheat and fine beef cattle in the mid-west. Florida and California are famous for their vegetables and fruit production, and the north-western states are known for apples, pears, berries and vegetables.
A wealth of minerals provides a solid base for American highly developed industry, the main branches of which are electronic, electrical, metallurgical, textile, chemicarand others.
Ex. 4. Find suitable definitions of the following words: a highland; a plain; a mountain; a waterfall; arctic
1) a high hill 2) a mountainous region, 3)fall or perpendicular descent of water of rivers 4) a tract of level country 5) extremely cold
Ex. 5. Give the Russian for:
snow-capped; clear mountain lakes; sea-boarder; thinly populated; wild high mountains; extremely; the island state; physical contrasts; tributary; canal; wheat; fine beef cattle; pears
Ex. 6. Answer questions on the text.
1) Where is the USA situated?
2) Why is America a land of physical contrasts?
3) What does the American climate depend on?
4) What rivers and lakes are there on the territory of the United States?
5) What river is the world's third one?
6) Do you know which of the five Great Lakes is the largest?
7) What provides a solid base for American industry?
8) What do American farmers grow in different parts of the country?
Ex. 7. Translate into English.
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Ex. 8. Speak on the geography and climate of the USA. LESSON THREE. US Political System
Ex. 1. Memorize the following words and word combination:
Ex. 2. Make a report on the Governmental Organization of the United States. Use the chart and some additional information from the texts given below. Answer the following questions:
1) What kind of state is the USA?
2) What are the main branches of the US federal government?
3) What is the US legislative branch vested in?
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4) What is the function of the US executive branch of the government?
5) What is the US judicial branch responsible for?
6) What is the term of office of the US President?
7) What are the duties of the President?
8) How many presidents were there in the United States?
9) What are-the departments-of the Executive Office of the President?
The United States of America, a federation of 50 states, was set up by the Constitution in 1787. Under the Constitution, the federal government is divided into three branches.
The legislative power is vested in the Congress. It is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 senators and 435 members in the House of Representatives. Both Houses must approve the bill for it to become a law. But before each bill is sorted by a committee. There are 16 standing committees in the Senate and 20 in the House of Representatives.
The executive branch is headed by the President, who proposes bills to Congress, enforces federal laws, administers national government, makes treaties, serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and appoints higher officers. The President can veto a bill unless Congress, by a two-thirds vote, shall overrule him. The President is the head of the Cabinet which today has eleven 'members.
The judicial branch is made up of Federal District Courts, eleven Federal Courts and the Supreme Court. Federal Courts decide cases involving federal law conflicts between states or between citizens of different states. The Supreme Court may rule the law to be unconstitutional.
The Senators are elected by popular vote for a term of six years two from each state, the representatives are elected for a two-year term.
The President is chosen in nation-wide elections every four years together with the Vice-President.
The national banner of the United States of America, commonly known as "The Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory'', is a flag bearing 50 starts and 13 stripes. Each star represents a present-day state and each stripe stands for one of the original colonies. The national anthem is the "Star Spangled Banner" and the national emblems are the eagle and the buffalo.
Governmental Organization of the United States
Legislative
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Executive
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Judicial
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Congress
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The President
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Supreme Court
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LESSON FOUR. Industry and Agriculture
Ex. 1. Memorize the following words and word combinations:
Ex. 2. Practice the pronunciation of the following geographical names: The Cordillera Mountains; Kansas; Birmingham; Pittsburgh; Detroit; San Francisco; the Atlantic coast; the Pacific coast
Ex. 3. Read and translate the text using a dictionary, if necessary. Try to retell it.
The USA is a highly developed industrial country, and its agriculture is also highly mechanized.
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Senate.
House of Representatives. General Accounting Office. Government. Printing Office. Library of Congress.
Vice-President.
Executive Office.
Cabinet.
Circuit Courts of Appeal. District Courts. Court of Claims. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. United States Customs. Courts.
By tradition the Cabinet (the President's Cabinet) is composed of the President and the heads (Secretaries) of the Government departments. It consists of: 1) Secretary of State, 2) Secretary of the Treasury, 3) Secretary of Defense, 4) Attorney-General (Department of Justice), 5) Postmaster-General, 6) Secretary of the Interior, 7) Secretary of Agriculture, 8) Secretary of Commerce, 9) Secretary of Labour, 10) Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, 11) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 12) Secretary of Transportation. All the mentioned departments compose the Executive Office of the President.
Each of the above Cabinet officers hold office during the whole term; the Postmaster-General alone must be feappointed and confirmed at the beginning of a President's second term, the others merely continuing in office. The President may invite others to meet with the cabinet^ for example, the Vice-President or the Ambassador to the United Nations.
Besides there are the Independent Offices and establishments which belong neither to the departments nor to the Executive Office of the President. They are the Atomic Energy Commission, Small Business Administration, Civil Aeronautics Board, Panama Channel Company, United States Postal Service, Farm Credit Administration and others. They do not have the department rank though several have attained or even surpassed the size or importance of some departments. They undertake investigations and make reports at the request of the President or Congress. Their influence and authority is great in making decisions and affecting the policy of the US Government.
Commentary:
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There are coal-mines in the Cordillera Mountains, in the Kansas City region, and in the east near Birmingham and Pittsburgh. Iron is mined near the Great Lakes and in the Pittsburgh, Birmingham and Philadelphia areas. The USA has rich oil-fields in California, Texas and other regions. It holds one of the first places for production of coal, iron and oil, and it also produces silver and gold.
The heavy industries are in the region of the Great Lakes, around Birmingham, Detroit and Chicago. The motor-car industry is highly developed especially in and near Detroit, and all sorts of machines are produced in the areas of heavy industry.
Ship-building is developed along the Atlantic coast and in San Francisco on the Pacific coast. The textile industry is developed in the north-east and the south.
The USA has a highly developed railway system. It also has the best system of roads. The Great Lakes and the rivers, especially the Mississippi, are widely used for transportation.
Agriculture is very widely Spread, above all in the prairie regions, where wheat and other grain crops are grown. Cotton is grown in the Mississippi valley, tobacco in Maryland and Virginia. California is famous for its fruit plantations, and the west for its cattle-farming. Poultry-farming is widespread in the country-side near all big cities.
LESSON FIVE. Washington, D. C.
Text 1. ... The City .. .And the Nation's Capital.
Read and translate the text using a dictionary.
Until the late 18th century, America was under the rule of the British Crown. When the colonists declared their independence from Great Britain, the Revolutionary War began. After a long and hard struggle, the British finally granted America its freedom to be an independent nation.
George Washington was named the nation's first president. Under a new government, with a strong leader in place, the next step was to decide on a site for a national capital. One proposal was to make Philadelphia, which was the temporary capital, the permanent one, while Congressmen from other states promoted cities in their home states. Finally Congress decided to make the capital a "federal city", completely separate from all states. In addition to being the head of the nation, the "federal city" would have its own government and agencies and would run as a small city. The site was
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determined to be an area along the Potomac River, and the new federal city was named the District of Columbia, in honour of Christopher Columbus.
The next step was to design the city and its buildings in a plan that would best serve the nation and would be "magnificent enough to grace a great nation". The federal city was laid out as a square, ten miles on each side, with the corners of the square pointing north, south, east and west, and the top of the Capitol Building dome being the exact center of the square. The streets were designed in the checkerboard order, and wide avenues ran at diagonals like the spokes of a wheel, with circles at the points where the wide avenues crossed intersections of the streets. Such a design of streets, avenues and circles was thought to be one for protection for the city.
On September 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the north wing of the Capitol Building. That was why shortly after the death of President George Washington, Congress elected to rename the capital Washington, B.C. in honour of their first president.
Today the Federal Government is Washington's largest employer, with tourism the second largest. The city has grown tremendously since its beginning, but the original plan is still evident.
Commentary:
Text 2. Washington: the Sightseeing Tour
Ex. 1. Read and translate the text using a dictionary and paying attention to commentaries following each paragraph.
Ex. 2. fell the class about one or two major sights of the city that impressed you most. Use some additional information of your own, if necessary.
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Capitol Building
The Capitol Building (the Congress House) is one of the most important buildings in today's federal government as well as one of the most impressive buildings in Washington. The members of Congress meet in the Capitol to decide what laws are needed to protect the nation. The Senate meets in the north wing of the capitol and the House of Representatives meets in the south wing. A flag flies over each wing of the Capitol when that part of Congress is in session.
The Capitol is easy to recognize because of its large dome, or Rotunda, at the top of which is the Famed Statue of Armed Freedom. The statue represents a woman with the shield of the US in her left hand, with her right hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed sword representing "America Ever Ready to Defend Her Freedom".
In January, every four years, a platform is built over the center steps of the Capitol and the President-elect takes the oath of office and makes his inaugural address.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congresses the largest and most important library in the world. The congressional bill that provided for the capital to be moved to Washington in 1800 also called for the establishment of a congressional library. A case of maps and 740 books were purchased and installed in the Capitol. These volumes were burned, when the British set fire to the Capitol August 24, 1814.
Within a month after the fire, Thomas Jefferson offered to sell his personal library to the nation. Acquired during a period of fifty years, it was considered the finest library in the USA. The library remained in the rebuilt Capitol until 1897.
Law requires that two copies of every copyright book, pamphlet or song be placed in the Library. Also carefully preserved here are a draft of the Declaration of Independence, bearing the hand written changes made by Thomas Jefferson; Abraham Lincoln's first drafts of his Gettysburg Address; the papers of twenty-three presidents, from George Washington to Calvin Coolidge; and the manuscripts of musical compositions by Ludwig Von Beethoven, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The heart of the library is the main reading room. 45,000 reference books are housed here. The resources of the library are now available to all
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scholars and students. However, it is not a lending library; it is a research and reference library.
Commentary:
The White House
The cornerstone of the White House was laid October 13, 1792, making it the oldest government building in Washington. Washington himself, in the company of his staff, walked through the rooms just a few days before his death in 1799. John Adams was the first actually to occupy the house in 1800. The White House was burned by the British in 1814 but many valuable things such as a number of art pieces, Cabinet papers, silver and china, and a great portrait of George Washington which hangs in the White House today were saved. After the fire the building was repaired and ready for use again in 1818. With the restoration, the stone was painted white to obliterate the marks of the fire.
Many presidents have made changes in the. White House - President Franklin D. Roosevelt added a swimming pool; Teddy Roosevelt had the tennis courts; John Q. Adams had a billiard table; Gerald Ford added a new swimming pool.
Known officially as the Executive Mansion, the White House not only serves as a residence for the President but also serves as the official office for the Executive Branch of the government. The job of the Executive Branch is to execute or carry out the law of the nation. And the President is the head of this branch of the government and works from his Oval Office to help make the decisions that govern and protect the nation.
The White House has 132 rooms and 20 bathrooms. The President and his family live in the upper floors, but the public can visit the White House and see several of the famous rooms such as the State Dining Room, the Blue Room and the Red Room.
Commentary:
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Smithsonian Institution and National Zoological Park
When you visit any of the Smithsonian's fourteen museums or the National Zoo, you are entering the world's largest museum complex. The Smithsonian Institution holds some 134 million artifacts and specimens "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men". The Institution, an important center for research, is dedicated to public education.
The Smithsonian Ayas established in 1846 with a gift of $500,000 given bynames Smithson, an English scientist.
Though the Smithsonian has millions of artifacts and specimens, only 3 percent are displayed at any one time. Therefore, the exhibits are constantly changed to display as many items as possible.
Almost from the beginning, the Smithsonian Institution was constantly receiving gifts of live animals. In 1889, because of the great accumulation of animals, Congress established the National Zoological Park.
Today, still considered part of the Smithsonian, this park contains more than 3,000 animals, representing about 500 species. The National Zoo is world-famous for the display, breeding, and the study of wild animals. There is also a collection of invertebrate life, including insects, sea stars, worms, sponges and many other animals without backbones.
Commentary:
Washington Monument
In the city with monuments and memorials, the Washington Monument is the most visible. It is not only the tallest structure in Washington, D.C., but is the tallest stone monument in the world.
Work was officially begun on July 4, 1848 and progressed until 1854. Public dissatisfaction with the monument, lack of funds and the Civil War halted the construction until 1880. Work was completed in December 1884 and the monument was opened to the public in 1888.
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Use of its 898 steps is now prohibited and visitors must use the elevator to reach the top and return. The panoramic view is equally impressive in the daylight and at night.
Commentary:
Lincoln Memorial
In a direct line with the Washington Monument and Capitol is the Lincoln Memorial, dedicated to a man who believed all men should be free.
In a city with many varied architectural styles, this memorial is designed similar to the Greek Parthenon. Construction lasted for about 8 years. It has 36 columns surrounding the walls, representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. The statue of Lincoln faces east, towards the Capitol. On the north wall is the Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, and on the south wall is the Gettysburg Address. Commentary:
Greek Partherion.
Gettysburg ['getizbe:g] - town in southern Pennsylvania, site of a battle won by the Union troops over General Lee's Confederate Forces in 1863. On November 19, 1863, Lincoln was present at the dedication of National Cemetery on the battlefield and delivered his famous Gettysburg Address in which he made public his great plans of reconstructing the country on a new, more democratic basis: "The great task remains before us - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth".
Jefferson Memorial
The last great monument to be erected on the Mall is a tribute to a man who was an accomplished architect as well as a powerful statesman. Located at the east end of the Tidal Basin is the large domed memorial dedicated to America's third president - Thomas Jefferson. The circular, colonnaded structure is an adaptation of his favoured Pantheon in Rome.
The nineteen foot bronze statue faces north toward the White House where Thomas Jefferson served as Secretary of State under George Washington, Vice-President under Adams, and became President in 1801; Engraved on the interior walls are four inscriptions describing the chief 'principles of Jefferson's beliefs. The most famous of these is the Declaration of Independence, of which he was the author. Also included are
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words expressing Thomas Jefferson's beliefs in freedom of the mind, freedom of the body, necessity of education and necessity for change in laws.
Commentary:
Arlington National Cemetery
Here is the final resting place of thousands of American soldiers, sailors and airmen as well as their families. Over 4,000 graves are marked without names. These graves without names are from the Civil War when the armies did not have the use of dogtags for their soldiers' identification.
The Civil War and the Revolutionary War are linked together in Arlington Cemetery. The Custis-Lee Mansion, sometimes called the ''Arlington House", the home of Civil War general Robert E. Lee, was built by a grandson of George and Martha Custis Washington, whose daughter married General R. E. Lee. During the Civil. War it was used both as the Union headquarters and as a temporary hospital. When soldiers died at the house they were buried on the surrounding ground.
After the surrender of the Confederacy, the Union forces stayed in the mansion and on the land, thus the house and the 200 acres surrounding it became a national military cemetery.
After the death of General Lee, his son tried to get the land and the mansion returned to the family, and the Supreme Court made final decision in their favour, but by this time, there had been thousands of soldiers buried on the grounds. Because of this, the family of General Lee sold the property to the Federal Government for use as the National Cemetery.
Many famous people are buried in Arlington Cemetery - George Washington Parke Custis and Mary Custis (builders of Arlington House), Admiral Robert E. Peary (explorer of the North Pole region), General John
J. Pershing (General of the Armies in World War I), Charles L'Enfant
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(designer of Washington), and many others. There are two past American presidents buried in Arlington Cemetery, William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy.
Probably the most visited area of Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb is a tribute to the memory of all the soldiers who have died in service to their country, but were never able to be identified.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was originally constructed for the remains of an unidentified World War I soldier killed in Europe. His body was returned to America and buried with the highest military honours. Later the remains of unidentified soldiers from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam conflict were brought to the Tomb for burial.
On the front of the Tomb are three figures that represent Peace, Victory and Valor. Inscribed on the back of the Tomb are the words of tribute, "Here rests in honoured glory an American soldier known but to God". Commentary:
The Supreme Court
Designed by Architect Cass Gilbert and built under the direction of David Lynn, the Supreme Court building was completed in 1935. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and as the Judicial Branch of the government, its main purpose is to interpret the laws and Constitution of the USA. Its decisions are final.
The judges (justices) are appointed by the President and will serve for life or until they decide to retire.
A visitor to this historic building can see the courtroom where Supreme Court cases are heard.
Commentary:
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