Question 45: Economy of the usa

Plan:

The economy of the United States is the largest national economy in the world.

Its gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated as $13.8 trillion in 2007

History

Colonial economies

Farming economy

Integrated, industrialized economy

Decline

Great Depression

Vietnam conflict

1960

Stagflation of the 1970s

2008 mortgage crisis and a declining dollar value.

The main causes:

a large unified market,

a supportive political-legal system,

vast areas of highly productive farmlands,

vast natural resources (especially timber, coal and oil),

and an entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to investing in material and human capital.

The economy has maintained high wages, attracting immigrants by the millions from all over the world.

Features

1. Rich in mineral resources and fertile farm soil,

2. Moderate climate.

3. Extensive coastlines

4. Rivers provide shipping access.

5. Available workforce

6. Corporation

7. Governmental regulation

Today in the era of globalization American investors and corporations have influence all over the world.

Federal Reserve

$ - fiat currency

The Medicare program

The Medicaid program

Industry

26%

Service sector

Agriculture

72%

1,5%

Question 46: Education of the usa

Plan:

Aims:

Get knowledge,

Introduce nation’s basic ideals and values,

Teach to get along with the society,

Lay ground for the achievement of success.

6-3-3 plan, includes

elementary school in grades 1 through 6,

junior high school in grades 7 through 9

senior high school in grades 10 through 12.

School life

Curriculum

Extra activities

1.Preschool education

2.Elementary school

3.Secondary High school

Report cards and transcript

SAT (PSAT)

ACT

Achievement tests

4.Higher Education

-Acceptance

-Types of Higher Education Schools

-Ivy League

-Assessment

-Graduation

-Degrees

Question 47: us Culture and Literature

Plan:

-Cultural autonomies cultural synthesis.

-The cultural luggage was limited by the folklore.

-English puritans:

strict moral,

asceticism (sternness),

moderation.

-The authentically American culture began to form in the 19 cent.

-Before the literature was of imitative character

-The culture was based on the principals of Romanticism

-Frontier – I: to start life from the very beginning.

-Theme: Civilization vs Humanity.

There is no history – therefore – at the core is a man (personality).

Peculiarities:

There was no cultural basis

There was no authentic folklore The folklore was of artificial character

Crucial points: The War of Independence, The Civil War, Slavery.

Unique phenomena: Frontier, American dream, American flight.

Romantism

Disapproval of the results of the bourgeois revolution

Contradiction between the rich and the poor.

Disapproval of slavery and suppression native tribes

Message: There is a struggle between the good and the evil.

There are 2 worlds (real, ideal) – ESCAPE .

Character - natural man,

W.Irving (1783-1859),

Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849).

Realism

Message: Time is money.

Culture becomes more pragmatic as the technical culture develops far more rapidly.

Themes

a lonely man in a soulless society.

A true patriot.

A man and a war.

Money is a root of all evils.

Lost generation.

E. Hemingway,

T.Dreiser,

O'Henry