US GOVERNMENT

The first type of government in America was based primarily on state government. Prior to the signing of the Constitution, America had been made up of thirteen colonies, which had been ruled by England. 

Following the Revolutionary War, these colonies, although they had formed a league of friendship under the Articles of Confederation, basically governed themselves. They feared a strong central government like the one they lived with under England's rule.

 However, it was soon discovered that this weak form of state government could not survive and so the Constitution was drafted.

The Constitution :

• defines and limits the power of the national government,
• defines the relationship between the national government and individual state governments, and
• guarantees the rights of the citizens of the United States.

This time, it was decided that a government system based on federalism would be established. In other words, power is shared between the national and state (local) governments. 
The opposite of this system of government is a centralized government, such as in France and Great Britain, where the national government maintains all power. 

Sharing power between the national government and state governments allows  to enjoy the benefits of diversity and unity. For example, the national government may set a uniform currency system. 
Could you imagine having 50 different types of coins, each with a different value? You would need to take along a calculator to go shopping in another state. By setting up a national policy, the system is fair to everyone and the states do not have to bear the heavy burden of regulating their currency. 

On the other hand, issues such as the death penalty have been left up to the individual states. The decision whether or not to have a death penalty, depends on that state's history, needs, and philosophies.

National versus State Government

After the American colonies won their independence from England, the thirteen colonies became thirteen states. The new states formed a league so they could work together. Their system of government was described in a document called the Articles of Confederation. In this system, the state governments had most of the power. The national government was very weak. This was very different from the government under the King.

The Founding Fathers (James Madison, G Washington , ........) saw that this system left the nation too weak. They decided to develop a new system of government. They wrote a new document, the Constitution, to replace the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution made a stronger national government. It divided power between the national government and the state governments. This system is called federalism.

What is Federalism?

Since the signing of the Constitution, the division of power in the United States has been based on sharing power between the national government and individual state governments. This is known as federalism.

Let's take a look at how power is distributed in the United States:

National Government	State Government
Coin money. Declare war. Conduct foreign relations. Oversee foreign and interstate trade.	Ratify amendments. Manage public health and safety. Oversee trade within the state. Education

In addition, the national government and state governments share the following powers:

Make and enforce laws. Tax. Borrow money.

In order to carry out these duties, the national government and individual state goverments are divided into areas. Each area is given a duty to perform.

                                                                       THE  3 BRANCHES

Executive Branch

The executive branch of Government makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed. The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of government. This branch is very large so the President gets help from the Vice President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies.

• President: Leader of the country and commands the military.
• Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes President if the President can no longer do the job.
• Departments: Department heads advise the President on issues and help carry out policies.
• Independent Agencies: Help carry out policy or provide special services.

                                                        Legislative Branch

The U.S. Congress

The U.S. Congress is made up of two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. 

Its primary duty is to write, debate, and pass bills, which are then passed on to the President for approval.

Other Powers of Congress

• Makes laws controlling trade between states and between the
  United States and other countries.
• Makes laws about taxes and borrowing money.
• Approves the making of money.
• Can declare war on other countries.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. 

Article III of the Constitution established this Court and all other Federal courts were created by Congress. Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they break the rules of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. 

The Supreme Court hears cases that have made their way through the court system, but of the more than 7,500 cases that are sent to the Supreme Court each year, only about 80 to 100 cases are actually accepted. Once the Supreme Court makes a decision, it can only be changed by another Supreme Court decision or by amending (changing) the Constitution. This is a very important power that can affect the lives of a lot of people. Also, since the main power of the Supreme Court is to decide cases that challenge the Constitution, the Court must decide if the case they receive really challenges the Constitution.

The Supreme Court is made up of nine Justices. One of these is the Chief Justice. They are appointed by the President and must be approved by the Senate. Justices have their jobs for life, unless they resign, retire, or are impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate (the removal process as described by the Constitution).

GOOD NEWS !!!

Un grand merci à Mme Marie-Pierre Lagorce, présidente du Comité local d'entraide, qui est venue remettre ce matin un chèque de 500 euros pour aider au financement du voyage à Londres !

De gauche à droite  Mme Beaufils, principale adjointe, M.Tembouret, principal et Mme Lagorce

TRIP TO LONDON

Samedi 30 novembre :les élèves de 3ème de la section européenne ont vendu des gâteaux sur le port de Sanary :la somme récoltée servira à réduire le coût du voyage à Londres qui se déroulera du 15 au 18 avril 2014.


Congratulations to all of you for your involvement ! The sale of cakes was a real success!!

A couple of Americans from Washington DC buying some cakes

What a crowd ! What a success!

Ajouter une légende

THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.


US President Barack Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey,
"named Apple, in a ceremony with daughters Sasha and Malia, together with National Turkey Federation Chairman Yubert Envia, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC." - 25 November 2010
(telegraph.co.uk)

History of Thanksgiving

­Modern Thanksgiving has its direct origins in American history. In 1609, a group of Puritans fleeing religious persecution in England moved to Holland. They ­lived in Holland for a number of years until a group of English investors -- the Merchant Adventurers -- financed a trip for more than 100 passengers to the New World.
­On Sept. 6, 1620, they set sail on a ship called the Mayflower, leaving from England and arriving in the New World after 65 days. They settled in a town called Plymouth in what is now Massachusetts. The Pilgrims' first winter was so harsh that fewer than 50 of the group survived the season.
On March 16, 1621, an Abnaki Indian named Samoset entered the Plymouth settlement. He welcomed the Pilgrims in English, and the next day returned with another American Indian named Squanto, who spoke English well. With Squanto's help, the Pilgrims were able to survive in the New World. He taught them how to get sap out of the maple trees, how to avoid plants that were poisonous and how to plant corn and other crops.
­The harvest was very successful, due in large part to help from the American Indians. The Pilgrims had enough food for the winter and had learned how to survive in the New World. Plymouth Colony's Governor, William Bradford, decided to throw a celebratory feast and invited the colony's American Indian neighbors to take part. The American Indians brought food as well, and the celebration lasted for three days.
Historians believe that this celebration took place sometime in the fall. And although there are very few clues to reconstruct the feast, some scholars believe that food items, like venison and fish, were the main sources of protein, rather than turkey. It's also thought that the food preparation would have been greatly influenced by American Indian traditions since the Puritans had been instructed by American Indians on how to cultivate and cook items 

Many view the first Thanksgiving as an example of the possibility of great respect and cooperation between two different cultures. But others see it as a symbol of the colonists' eventual persecution of the American Indians. Sadly, the friendly spirit of the first Thanksgiving and the 50-year period of peace that followed is one exception in a long history of bloodshed between Native American tribes and European settlers.
In 1970, some American Indians began observing a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day to remember the violence and discrimination suffered by their ancestors. The Day of Mourning is observed by gathering at the top of "Coles Hill," which overlooks Plymouth Rock.
In the next section, we'll look at how Thanksgiving spread throughout the colonies, eventually becoming an official U.S. holiday.
 
Thanksgiving Traditions

Apart from food, the biggest Thanksgiving traditions are football and parades. In an­cient harvest festivals, people usually celebrated with games and sports, so you could argue the football tradition has very deep roots.
 The traditional American Thanksgiving football game was usually between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, but as football has become more popular, there are now more games on Thanksgiving day.
­The tradition of Thanksgiving parades goes back to the early 20th century, when people began to associate Thanksgiving with the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. In order to attract customers, stores like Macy's sponsored elaborate parades like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

NATIVE AMERICANS

How well do you know about Native Americans? Do this quiz
http://www.ducksters.com/history/native_americans_questions.php

 Special thanks to Clara and Pauline for their oral presentation on Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse

                                                         Clara and Pauline 's DIY :a totem pole


Special thanks to Fanny for her oral presentation on Native American and Geronimo

Pocahontas !!!! !

 


                           Indian reservations and major Indian battles in the 19th century:

                                                                              Indian culture map

    

   Famous Indian chefs

Crazy Horse

                                                           

Sitting Bull

                                                  Crazy Horse Memorial:

Portrait of Pocahontas

Pocahontas Born: 1596 (exact date uncertain) Died: March (exact date uncertain) 1617 Have you seen the animated film "Pocahontas"? It tells the story of the daughter of Powhatan, the most powerful Indian chief of coastal Virginia in the early 1600s. Even today, her story fascinates people. Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, an important chief of the Algonquian Indians (the Powhatans) who lived in the Virginia region. Her real name was "Matoaka." "Pocahontas" was a nickname meaning "playful" or "mischievous one." Pocahontas was only about 10 years old when her world changed forever. English settlers arrived from far across the ocean and created a settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. These new English settlers looked and acted very differently from Powhatan's tribe. Some of Pocahontas's people were afraid or even hateful of the newcomers. But the chief's daughter had a curious mind and a friendly manner. She wanted to know more about these newcomers. Pocahontas is most famous for reportedly saving the life of English Captain John Smith. Throughout her short life (she died at the age of 22), however, she was important in other ways as well. Pocahontas tried to promote peace between the Powhatans and the English colonists. She even converted to Christianity and married John Rolfe, a Jamestown colonist, a union which helped bring the two groups together. Her untimely death in England hurt the chance for continued peace in Virginia between the Algonquians and the colonists.

The Trail of Tears (Piste des Larmes)

It is the name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United Statesfollowing the Indian Removal Act of 1830. 

The removal included many members of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, among others in the United States, from their homelands to Indian Territory in eastern sections of the present-day state of Oklahoma. The phrase originated from a description of the removal of the ChoctawNation in 1831.

Many Native Americans suffered from exposure, disease and starvation on the route to their destinations. Many died, including 2,000-6,000 of 16,542 relocated Cherokee.

 European Americans and African American freedmen and slaves also participated in the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee Creek and Seminole forced relocations.

To revise for your test : http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/quizzes/natives/native_americans.htm

http://www.discip.crdp.ac-caen.fr/anglais/documents/america2/indians.htm

AMERICAN HISTORY: colonial times

Colonial America (1492-1763)

European nations came to the Americas to increase their wealth and broaden their influence over world affairs.
 The Spanish were among the first Europeans to explore the New World and the first to settle in what is now the United States.

By 1650, however, England had established a dominant presence on the Atlantic coast. 

The first colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Many of the people who settled in the New World came to escape religious persecution. The Pilgrims, founders of Plymouth, Massachusetts, arrived in 1620. In both Virginia and Massachusetts, the colonists flourished with some assistance from Native Americans. New World grains such as corn kept the colonists from starving while, in Virginia, tobacco provided a valuable cash crop. 

By the early 1700s enslaved Africans made up a growing percentage of the colonial population. 

By 1770, more than 2 million people lived and worked in Great Britain's 13 North American colonies.

NEW YORK CITY

Special thanks to Emma and Mathilde for their great oral presentation on New York City
Congratulations girls !!

Emma's DIY : the Chrysler Building

Mathilde's DIY : The Empire State Building

The 5 boroughs of NY City

Séquence 2 :THE HISTORY OF THE USA

Séquence 2 :THE HISTORY OF THE USA

                              1 - The discovery of America

What do you know about the discovery of America ? Do the following quiz :

http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/US-History---1---Exploration--Early-Settlement-156697.html


                            2 - Christopher Columbus 

 

How well do you know Christopher Columbus ? Do this quiz :

://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/famouspeople/standard/columbus/learn/page02.shtml#focus

Do you know enough to make your teacher walk the plank ? Play this game !!!

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/games/walk/walk_columbus.html

Play another game !!
http://www.kibagames.com/Game/Discovery_of_America


POEMS AND SONGS      
When Columbus was a little boy,
He lived beside the sea.
He watched the ships sail in and out
And wished that he could be ______
A sailor, a sailor, to sail across the sea,
A sailor, a sailor, to skip before the breeze. 

*********************************** 

FOR COLUMBUS DAY

Long ago most people thought
The world was flat.....we know it's not.
Columbus said, "The world is round!"
That's how America was found. 

*********************************** 

COLUMBUS
(sung to tune of "Eensy-Weensey Spider")Columbus was a sailor who thought the world was round.
He asked for ships but many turned him down.
He went to ask the King and Queen of Spain,
And he told them of the gold and spices they would gain!

He had to wait six years for the king and queen to say,
"We'll give you ships so you can sail away."
It was the year of 1492
When Columbus sailed from Spain with his tough and able crew.

They sailed upon the ships out of sight of any land.
Things didn't go exactly as they'd planned.
They begged Columbus to turn and head for home.
But Columbus urged them onward across the sea and foam.

On October the 12th of 1492
A sailor sighted land and yelled to the crew!Columbus went ashore and claimed the land for Spain,He was thankful that his voyage had not been made in vain.

USA : geography and general facts

The United States of America is located on the continent of North America. There are 50 states in the U.S. Forty-eight of the states form the contiguous United States. The U.S. borders on Canada to the north, and Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. On the east coast, the U.S. is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west coast it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

To the northwest of Canada is the state of Alaska. The state of Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of California.

In addition to the 50 states, the U.S. has several territories and possessions, located in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

 Play games to learn the names of the states & the capitals, etc... on sheppardsoftware.com


NATIONAL SYMBOLS

The Flag:

4 different names : - The Stars and Stripes;
               -  Red, White and Blue;
               -  Old Glory;
   - The Star Spangled Banner

The U.S. flag has undergone many changes since the first official flag of 1777. On June 14, 1777 , the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, which said that the flag would be made up of thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field. Stars have been added to the flag as new states join the union. Currently, the flag contains 50 stars. Ever wonder why the flag is red, white, and blue? While the flag's colours did not have a specific meaning at the time, the colours were significant for the Great Seal of 1782. White: Signifies purity and innocence Red: Signifies valor and bravery Blue: Signifies Vigilance, perseverance, and justice Why stars and stripes? Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.
Facts About the U.S. Flag How many stars and stripes are on the flag? There are 50 stars representing the 50 states and there are 13 stripes representing the 13 original states. Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
Proper Display of Flag: * Display of the American flag is usually from sunrise to sunset. * The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main building of every public place and during school days in or near every schoolhouse. * Flags are flown at half-staff to show grief for lives lost. When the flag is flown at half-staff, it should be pulled to the top for a moment, and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should then be raised to the top before it is lowered for the day. * When two or more flags are flown from the same pole, the American flag must be on top. * When displayed with another flag against a wall, the U.S. flag should be on its own right (left to a person facing the wall).

Anthem :

The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America.
Listen to it !: 

 

  The pledge of Allegiance :

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of loyalty to the federal flag and the republic of the United States of America:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Schoolkids all across the United States recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school, usually in the morning. But they don't have to

LIBERTY BELL

Cast in London, England in 1752, the Liberty Bell rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and has become the symbol of freedom in the United States. The bell weighs about 2000 pounds and is made mostly of copper (70%) and tin (25%).                                                The Great Seal On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were given the task of creating a seal for the United States of America. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention believed an emblem and national coat of arms would be evidence of an independent nation and a free people with high aspirations and grand hopes for the future. The Great Seal was finalized and approved six years later on June 20, 1782. The seal reflects the beliefs and values that the Founding Fathers wanted to pass on to their descendents. Obverse side of the Great Seal The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum (meaning out of many, one), refers to this union. The olive branch and 13 arrows grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers.    THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Reverse side of the Great Seal The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis (meaning He, [God] has favored our undertakings), allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (meaning a new order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era in 1776.   THE PRESIDENTS OF THE USA: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/the-presidents Branches of Government Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is neither a state nor territory, but has a government that resembles both. Capital City: Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States of America Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for all) Origin of District's Name: Named after George Washington and Christopher Columbus Location: Between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River  GET READY FOR YOUR TEST!! Do this quiz : http://fr.quizity.com/play/quiz/6886/Grand_Quiz_sur_les_Etats-Unis_%C3%A9tats-unis_am%C3%A9rique_pays_anecdote

The U.S. flag has undergone many changes since the first official flag of 1777. On June 14, 1777 , the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act, which said that the flag would be made up of thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field. Stars have been added to the flag as new states join the union. Currently, the flag contains 50 stars.

Ever wonder why the flag is red, white, and blue? While the flag's colours did not have a specific meaning at the time, the colours were significant for the Great Seal of 1782.

White: Signifies purity and innocence
Red: Signifies valor and bravery
Blue: Signifies Vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Why stars and stripes? Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.

Facts About the U.S. Flag

How many stars and stripes are on the flag?

There are 50 stars representing the 50 states and there are 13 stripes representing the 13 original states.

Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;

Proper Display of Flag:

* Display of the American flag is usually from sunrise to sunset.

* The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main building of every public place and during school days in or near every schoolhouse.

* Flags are flown at half-staff to show grief for lives lost. When the flag is flown at half-staff, it should be pulled to the top for a moment, and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should then be raised to the top before it is lowered for the day.

* When two or more flags are flown from the same pole, the American flag must be on top.

* When displayed with another flag against a wall, the U.S. flag should be on its own right (left to a person facing the wall).

	Cast in London, England in 1752, the Liberty Bell rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and has become the symbol of freedom in the United States. The bell weighs about 2000 pounds and is made mostly of copper (70%) and tin (25%).

	The Great Seal On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were given the task of creating a seal for the United States of America. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention believed an emblem and national coat of arms would be evidence of an independent nation and a free people with high aspirations and grand hopes for the future. The Great Seal was finalized and approved six years later on June 20, 1782. The seal reflects the beliefs and values that the Founding Fathers wanted to pass on to their descendents. Obverse side of the Great Seal The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum (meaning out of many, one), refers to this union. The olive branch and 13 arrows grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers.    THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Reverse side of the Great Seal The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis (meaning He, [God] has favored our undertakings), allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (meaning a new order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era in 1776.
	THE PRESIDENTS OF THE USA: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/the-presidents Branches of Government Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is neither a state nor territory, but has a government that resembles both. Capital City: Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States of America Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for all) Origin of District's Name: Named after George Washington and Christopher Columbus Location: Between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River  GET READY FOR YOUR TEST!! Do this quiz : http://fr.quizity.com/play/quiz/6886/Grand_Quiz_sur_les_Etats-Unis_%C3%A9tats-unis_am%C3%A9rique_pays_anecdote

Cast in London, England in 1752, the Liberty Bell rang when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and has become the symbol of freedom in the United States. The bell weighs about 2000 pounds and is made mostly of copper (70%) and tin (25%).

The Great Seal

On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were given the task of creating a seal for the United States of America. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention believed an emblem and national coat of arms would be evidence of an independent nation and a free people with high aspirations and grand hopes for the future. The Great Seal was finalized and approved six years later on June 20, 1782. The seal reflects the beliefs and values that the Founding Fathers wanted to pass on to their descendents. Obverse side of the Great Seal The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum (meaning out of many, one), refers to this union. The olive branch and 13 arrows grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers.    THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Reverse side of the Great Seal The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis (meaning He, [God] has favored our undertakings), allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (meaning a new order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era in 1776.

                                               The Great Seal

On July 4, 1776, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were given the task of creating a seal for the United States of America. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention believed an emblem and national coat of arms would be evidence of an independent nation and a free people with high aspirations and grand hopes for the future.
The Great Seal was finalized and approved six years later on June 20, 1782. The seal reflects the beliefs and values that the Founding Fathers wanted to pass on to their descendents.

Obverse side of the Great Seal The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum (meaning out of many, one), refers to this union. The olive branch and 13 arrows grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers.    THE STATUE OF LIBERTY		Reverse side of the Great Seal The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis (meaning He, [God] has favored our undertakings), allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (meaning a new order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era in 1776.

 

Obverse side of the Great Seal
The American bald eagle is prominently featured supporting a shield composed of 13 red and white stripes (pales) representing the Thirteen Original States with a blue bar (chief) uniting the shield and representing Congress. The motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum (meaning out of many, one), refers to this union. The olive branch and 13 arrows grasped by the eagle allude to peace and war, powers solely vested in the Congress, and the constellation of stars symbolizes the new Nation taking its place among the sovereign powers.
  
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

 

 

Reverse side of the Great Seal
The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The eye over it and the motto, Annuit Coeptis (meaning He, [God] has favored our undertakings), allude to the many interventions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The Roman numerals below are the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under it, Novus Ordo Seclorum (meaning a new order of the ages), signify the beginning of the new American era in 1776.

THE PRESIDENTS OF THE USA:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/the-presidents

Branches of Government

Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is neither a state nor territory, but has a government that resembles both.

Capital City:	Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States of America
Motto:	Justitia Omnibus (Justice for all)
Origin of District's Name:	Named after George Washington and Christopher Columbus
Location:	Between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River

 GET READY FOR YOUR TEST!!

Do this quiz : http://fr.quizity.com/play/quiz/6886/Grand_Quiz_sur_les_Etats-Unis_%C3%A9tats-unis_am%C3%A9rique_pays_anecdote

 

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is neither a state nor territory, but has a government that resembles both.

Capital City:

Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States of America

Motto:

Justitia Omnibus (Justice for all)

Origin of District's Name:

Named after George Washington and Christopher Columbus

Location:

Between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River