THE USA : geography and general information

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 flagand 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 Jeffersonwere 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 Jeffersonwere 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 Jeffersonwere 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 Jeffersonwere 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

Civil rights

To revise for your test:

http://www.factmonster.com/quizzes/martinlutherkingkids/1.html

http://www.go4quiz.com/1462/rosa-parks-quiz/

GOLD RUSH

THE GOLD RUSH

To revise your lessons , do the following quiz:

http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/California-Gold-Rush-90314.html

http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/Gold-Rush-265802.html

GAME  :

 http://www.anglaisfacile.com/free/news/printvocgoldrushf.php

      

                                                         TRAILS TO THE WEST ( map)

 http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/trailswest.pdf

	C alifornia – Gold Fever In the early 1840s, California was a distant outpost that few Americans had seen. John Sutter was a Swiss emigrant who had come to California in 1839 with the idea of building a vast empire. At the end of 1847, Sutter sent a group of men, including James Marshall, to build a new sawmill near the river. The sawmill was nearly complete when, on January 24th 1848, Marshall spotted something shining in the river. John Sutter The metal was tested and confirmed as gold. However, Sutter wanted the area to be his empire and did not want to attract others to the area so it was decided to keep the discovery secret. But it was not long before news of the discovery leaked out. The gold rush that followed was to make California the richest state. James Marshall Travelling to California Via South America Six months of seasickness, rotten food, rancid water and boredom. Via Panama The quickest option but travellers risked malaria and cholera. Overland – The California Trail. A 2000 mile walk in sweltering heat with little food or water. Get rich quick The road to poverty Road to sickness Sam Brannan was a San Francisco merchant who spread news of the discovery throughout San Francisco. He also bought every pickaxe, shovel and pan in the region. A metal pan that had cost 20 cents was sold for 15 dollars. In nine weeks Brannan made 36,000 dollars. Many overland travellers were not prepared for the harshness of the journey. Supplies ran out very quickly and replacements were expensive. Sugar rose to $1.50 per pint, coffee $1.00 per pint, alcohol $4.00. Many were forced to pay $1, $5 or even $100 for a glass of water. Those without money died. The routes west became crowded with wagons. Dust was kicked up by those in front, making it difficult to see and breathe. Wagons camped together overnight and dug toilet pits, often close to rivers resulting in polluted water supplies, diarrhoea, illness and death.