Stefanescu - Curs Sem I .PP

CIVILIZATION AND MENTALITIES:
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1. A Nation of Immigrants
British Colonies 1663-1775
immigrants came to America for
wealth, land, and freedom;
1
st
wave (1500s):
Spanish explorers (Florida);
French fur traders (St. Lawrence
RiverGreat LakesMississippi
River);
the British (Jamestown, Virginia);
English Puritans (northeastern
coast).
2
nd
wave (1600s-1700s):
mostly British;
German farmers (Pennsylvania);
Swedes (Delaware);
Dutch (New York);
Africans, French, Spanish, Swiss.

the WASP culturewhite Anglo-
Saxon Protestantwas
predominant;
Europeans seized Native American
lands through war, threats, and
treaties;
3
rd
wave (1840-1860):
10 million immigrants;
the Chinese (California);
the Irish;
the Germans (500,000);
the old immigrationnorthern
and western Europeans (1840-
1880).
4
th
wave (late 1800s):
immigrants from southern and
eastern Europe (Latin, Slavic and
Jewish);
Italians, Hungarians, Poles,
Russians, Romanians and
Greeks;
5
th
wave (1900-1920):
peak years of immigration: 1
million/year;
immigrants crowded into large
cities (Chicago, New York)
forming ethnic neighborhoods:
Little Italys or Chinatowns;
Little Italy, Lower Manhattan, New York
the nativist sentiment:
racial superiority of the Nordic peoples over the Slavic and Latin
ones;
religious prejudice against Catholics and Jews;
the assimilation process:
the first generation: societys discrimination and their own
reluctance to give up their language and culture;
the second generation: spoke mostly English and they practiced
fewer ethnic traditions;
the third generation: no longer able to speak the language of
their grandparents, desiring to regain the ethnic identity before it
was lost;
the fourth and fifth generation: intermarriage and no desire to
reestablish the ethnic identity.

6
th
wave (after the 1920s):
immigrants and refugees;
Mexico, Latin America;
Asia (Cambodia and Vietnam).
identity crisis:
the WASP national and
religious identity has
disappeared;
US: melting pot vs. vegetable
soup.
Cambodian immigrant working in
Pennsylvania
2. The American Character
American identity is not defined by race, belief, or lifestyle but rather
by ideals and values rooted in history;
FREEDOM:
Americans regard their society as the freest and the best in the
world;
the Founding Fathers established that all people are equal and that
the role of government is to protect each persons basic inalienable
rights;
the Bill of Rights (1791): freedom of speech, press, and religion;
American historygroups and individuals struggling to attain the
freedom the Founding Fathers promised:
black slavery;
religious, racial, sex, or age discrimination.
The Founding Fathers
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F
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Benjamin Franklin
George Washington John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
John Jay
James Madison Alexander Hamilton
DEMOCRACY:
American democracy is based on majority rule,
but it also protects minority rights;
a form of government but also a way of life.
INDIVIDUALISM:
free individual identity (Thomas Jefferson);
individual self-reliance (Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller);
the individuals ability to control his or her fate
(William Jones, John Dewey);
the rugged individualism of frontier heroes like
Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett;
individualism persists in corporate culture.
Daniel Boone
Davy Crockett
PRACTICALITY:
idealizing what is practical comes from the
frontier experience;
what works is what counts;
inventiveness was necessary for survival;
Americans are natural-born do-it-yourselfers;
VOLUNTEERISM:
the do-it-yourself spirit;
volunteers are highly motivated workers who
organize themselves and others to solve a
particular community problem or meet an
immediate social need;
six out of ten Americans are members of a
volunteer organization;
volunteerism reflects Americans optimistic
pride in their ability to work out practical
solutions themselves.
How-to Books
PSYCHOLOGY OF ABUNDANCE:
Americans take for granted an abundance of
resources;
Take four of the best kingdoms in Christendom and
put them all together, they may in no way compare
with this country either for commodities or goodness
of soil (Sir Thomas Dale, 1611);
but attitudes towards wastefulness are changing;
Americas Mountain West is suffering from a severe
water shortage;
these limits contradict the psychology of abundance.
MOBILITY:
Americans like to move elsewhere and make a fresh
start;
this is not a sign of aimlessness but optimism;
they may live in four or five cities during their lifetime;
Americans hate to feel that buying a house might
immobilize them forever;
mobility contributes to the homogeneity of the society.
Moving House
THE PIONEERING SPIRIT:
Americans love to try something new: newer
might be better;
they move about fourteen times in their lifetime;
the pioneering spirit is evident in:
midlife career changes;
the readiness to go back to school at all ages;
the frequency of changing the marriage pattern;
the love of science and technology.
PATRIOTISM:
national pride has become generally stronger
than regional pride;
patriotic symbols: flags, bumper stickers, the
national anthem, national holidays (Thanksgiving
and Independence Day);
American patriotism concentrates on the historic
event of the nations creation and on the idea of
freedom rather than on the love of the land.
PROGRESS:
the ideal of progress was seen in the
taming of the frontier and industrial
expansion;
it is personally measured as family
progress over generations.
THE AMERICAN DREAM:
the dream of a land in which life should
be better, richer, and fuller for every
man with opportunities for each
according to his abilities and
achievement (J. T. Adams);
rags-to-riches stories by Horatio Alger:
any individual, no matter how poor, can
achieve success through honesty and
hard work;
the American dream was not open to
all.
IN A HURRY:
Americans have an obsession with promptness and efficiency;
the pressure to make every moment count sometimes makes it
difficult for Americans to relax and do nothing.
ARE AMERICANS MATERIALISTIC?
generosity and materialism run side by side.
STRAIGHT TALK:
children argue with their parents, students argue with their parents,
students disagree with their teachers, citizens express opposition to
the government;
QUESTIONING OF VALUES
in the 1960s and 1970s the Protestant values seemed to be
collapsing;
the 1980s saw a return to the conservative family values and a
renewal of national pride;
there has been increasing difference of opinion about Americans
values and national goals.
3. Unity in Diversity
the United States is the fourth largest country in the world, after
Russia, Canada, and China;
its 50 states cover about 3,600,000 square miles (9,324,000 square
kilometers);
two of the 50 states, Alaska and Hawaii, are situated outside the
boundaries;
the US controls 12 territories, such as Guam (South Pacific), the
Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico (Caribbean Sea);
an immigrant coming from anywhere in the world can probably find a
place in the USA that is similar to his or her native land.
total US population (2000): 281.4
millionfourth in the world (after
China, India, and Russia);
211.5 million (75% of the
population) are white;
34.7 million (12%) are black;
10.2 million (3.6%) are Asian;
35.3 million (12.5%) are Hispanic
(the largest ethnic minority in the
country).
New Englanders are stern and
self-reliant;
Southerners are gracious and
leisurely;
Westerners are casual and
friendly;
Southern Californians are
especially eager to try new fads;
Midwesterners are considered
more conservative than
Californians and less worldly than
New Yorkers.
The four main regionsthe Northeast, the South, the West, and the
Midwestmaintain a degree of cultural identity
The Northeast
New England The Mid-Atlantic States
The Northeast
more urban, more industrial, and more
culturally sophisticated;
New Englanders are thrifty, reserved,
and dedicated to hard work;
most of the countrys writers, artists,
and scholars come from this region;
best colleges and universities in the
country: e.g. Harvard (business), MIT
(economics and practical sciences);
the economic and cultural dominance
of New England has gradually
receded since the Second World War.
Harvard University
The South
Note: Texas and Florida are southern states, but are distinct regions in their own
right. Historically, Maryland is a southern state, but is intermittingly classified as a
Mid-Atlantic state.
The South
most pronounced regional
identity;
originally settled by English
Protestants who came for
profitable farming opportunities;
on large plantations slave labour
was used;
the Civil War experience helps
explain why Southerners have
developed a reverence for the
past and a resistance to change;
Southerners are more
conservative, more religious, and
more violent than the rest of the
country.
Plantation Slaves
The South
Southerners try to be more
mindful of social rank and have
strong ties to hometown and
family;
southern speech tends to be
much slower and more musical;
southern forms of music: the
negro spiritual, blues, jazz,
bluegrass mountain music,
country music;
outstanding literary region:
William Faulkner, Robert Penn
Warren, Thomas Wolfe, and
Carson McCullers.
William Faulkner
The West
As defined by the Census Bureau, the western United States includes 13 states:
Alaska (1), Arizona (2), California (3), Colorado (4), Hawaii (5), Idaho (6), Montana (7),
Nevada (8), New Mexico (9), Oregon (10), Utah (11), Washington (12), Wyoming (13).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
The West
characterized by wide regional
diversity:
arid wilderness in the Mountain
West;
rich farmland in California;
the Pacific coast is densely
populated and highly industrial.
Californias progressive
economy is a trendsetter for the
rest of the nation;
Western states are troubled by
the water scarcity and the
government-owned land;
the region is rich in uranium,
coal, crude oil, oil shale etc.
The Midwest
The Midwest
the Midwest is typically
American;
fertile farmland and abundant
resources;
class divisions are felt less
strongly here than in other
regions;
Midwesterners direct their
concerns to their own domestic
affairs, avoiding matters of
wider interest;
the plains states make up
Americas Farmbelt;
the Midwest is a region of small
towns and huge tracts of
farmland;
Chicago is the nations third
largest city.
Midwest Nebraska
Americanization
the distinctiveness of these
regions is disappearing:
cultural interchange through
interstate highways and
communication lines;
television has conveyed
mainstream American culture to
everyone;
mobility has also played an
important part in leveling off
regional differences;
new migration trends: from the
Northeast and Midwest to the
South and West (Frostbelt
Sunbelt);
regional differences are
significantly less striking today
than they were 40 years ago.
Sunbelt Retreat: Phoenix, Arizona
4. The Economic Climate

the US is a free enterprise system:
private business operates for profit
with minimum government
interference;
Adam Smiths laissez faire conception
influenced the development of
capitalism:
the more people manufacture and
trade, the greater the competition;
competition benefits society by
allowing the consumer to seek the best
product at the lowest price;
market forces (the invisible hand)
control the efficient allocation of goods
while each participant in the market is
seeking his or her own self-interest.

Adam Smith
Scottish Philosopher (1723-1790)

but government regulation now exists in many areas of business
ranging from product safety to labor conditions;
Republicans complain of too much government regulation;
Democrats are generally more willing to accept the governments
role in business and the economy;
Americans generally support free private enterprise;
American living standard:
average annual income (2003)$52,680;
about 60% of all families and individuals were in the middle-income or
high-income ranks;
about 12.5% of the population (8.2% White, 24.3% Black, 11.8% Asian
and 22.5% Hispanic) lived below the official poverty level, ($18,850 for a
family of four in 2003).

the United States is the worlds leading
producer of electrical energy, aluminum,
copper, sulphur, and paper, and one of
the top producers of natural gas and
automobiles;
US farmers produce enough food for
domestic consumption and still supply
15% of the world food needs;
the United States is the worlds largest
importer and exporter;
it exports agricultural products,
machinery, automotive products, aircraft,
and chemicals;
it imports petroleum products, foods and
beverages, machinery, and iron and steel
products.
Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant

declining growth rates are a major
concern;
stiff foreign competition challenges US
manufacturers to step-up productivity
levels, modernize their factories, and
provide better worker training;
structural changes: a shift from the
production of goods to the delivery of
services;
the manufacture of high-technology
computer, aerospace, and biochemical
products and services are also on the rise;
one serious problem that hampers
economic growth domestically and affects
the United States ability to sell products
overseas is the enormous federal budget
deficit.
Boeing Assembly Plant Everett, Wash.

farming has become too productive to be
profitable: low crop prices have resulted
from overproduction;
a variety of governmental and private
programs (crop insurance, loan
guarantees, and price supports) have
been set up to assist farmers;
the trend in modern agriculture is
towards large-scale enterprise;
while giant corporations dominate US
economy, entrepreneurs also have a
significant impact on the American
economy;
Americans are known for being highly
success-oriented and dedicated to hard
work (yuppie young upwardly-mobile
professional).
labor unions in America do not have
the power or political direction of their
counterparts in Europe;
the largest American labor union is
the joint AFL-CIO (the American
Federation of Labor and Congress of
Industrial Organizations);
American labor unions today are
faced with a decreasing membership;
reasons:
the decline in manufacturing industries
(less blue-collar workers);
the movement of many industries to
the South (stricter right-to-work laws).
social protection: unemployment
compensation, Social Security
benefits.
A Social Security number is a nine-
digit number that is unique to each
person. It is given to citizens of the
United States and permanent
residents of the US by the Social
Security Administration. It is
necessary to have this number to file
taxes, apply for work, to get any type
of assistance from the government,
to get a mortgage or to get credit.
Children must have a Social Security
number by the age of one. There is
no fee for a Social Security number.
The number is issued on a Social
Security card.
5. American City Life
New York
what is barely hinted at in other
American cities is condensed and
enlarged in New York (Saul
Bellow);
a focus of culture and power;
a city of poverty and deterioration;
New Yorks ethnic groups
generally do not intermix;
the largest city in the United
States (population 8,104,079).
Los Angeles
the largest city in California and
the second-largest urban area in
the nation;
population 3,845,541;
it attracted people and industry
from all parts of the nation;
major hub of shipping,
manufacturing, industry, and
finance, and is world-renowned in
the entertainment and
communications fields;
Hollywood is a suburb of Los
Angeles.
Chicago
the largest city in Illinois;
population: 2,862,244;
a major Great Lakes port and the
commercial, financial, industrial,
and cultural center of the Midwest;
the manufacturing industries
dominate the wholesale and retail
trade, and trade in agricultural
commodities is important to the
economy;
attractions: the Art Institute of
Chicago, the Field Museum of
Natural History, the Jane Addams-
Hull House Museum, Navy Pier.
Washington
the capital of the United States;
population: 553,523;
the federal government and tourism
are the mainstays of the citys
economy;
many unions, business, professional,
and nonprofit organizations are
headquartered here;
attractions: the National Gallery of Art,
the Smithsonian Institution, the John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, and the Folger Shakespeare
Library.
San Francisco
the fourth-largest city in California;
the electronics and biotechnology
industries are well represented;
tourism is one of San Franciscos
largest industries and the largest
employer of city residents;
San Francisco is also the banking
and financial center of the West.
Boston
the largest city in Massachusetts;
a major industrial, financial, and
educational hub and has one of
the finest ports in the world;
the citys banking and financial
services, insurance, and real
estate sectors drive its economy;
other businesses are in high
technology, biotechnology,
software, and electronics.
Philadelphia
the largest city in Pennsylvania;
population: 1,470,151;
manufacturing specialties: chemicals
(including pharmaceuticals), medical
devices, transportation equipment,
printing and publishing;
the services sector: health services,
insurance carriers, legal services, and
architecture and engineering services;
the city abounds in landmarks of early
American history, including
Independence Hall, where the
Declaration of Independence was
signed, and the Liberty Bell.

cities grew rapidly:
in the 1780s only 10% of the
Americans lived in cities;
by 1920, 50%;
by 1980, 80%.
at the beginning of the 1800s
sanitation, housing, and public
education were inadequate;
by 1920 most cities had public health
facilities, housing quality laws, and
more adequate public schools;
urbanization is an inescapable fact of
modern life.
one recent trend: suburbanization;
in the suburbs both the spaciousness
of rural life and the bustling activity of
urban life are available;
as suburban rings spread further and
further out, metropolitan areas, in the
past ten or twenty years, have become
enormous;
many metropolitan areas have become
so large that they have begun to merge
into other metropolitan areas, forming a
megalopolis;
one megalopolis extends along the
Atlantic coast from Boston through
New York to Washington, DC.
better public transportation
(electric trolley lines and trains)
made suburbanization possible;
the middle class moved away from
the working class and the wealthier
moved even further into the
countryside;
what followed was a rough
stratification along class lines;
the emergence of suburbs was
aided by the popularization of the
private car.
housing: two-thirds of the Americans live in
homes or apartments that they own;
apartment buildings:
walk-ups (2-6 apartments);
high-rise elevator buildings (more than 100
units);
condominiums (condos) or co-operative
apartments (co-ops);
the typical suburban home: at least two
bathrooms, a den, and a separate bedroom
for every child;
more than 10 million Americans live in
mobile homes;
in 1988 700,000 people were homeless.
with suburbanization, city centers were
regarded as the least desirable areas in
which to live;
they were then populated by the
uneducated and unskilled;
one solution, in the 1960s, was the
systematic clearance of slums and the
construction of modern high-rise social
housing units in their place;
another is the private-sector restoration of
dilapidated housing, known as
gentrification;
private sector groups (architects, bankers,
retailers) have been active in redeveloping
downtown areas;
downtown programs: main-street malls,
skywalks, and dial-a-bus systems.
Atlanta Peachtree Center
small towns have been experiencing
heavy population growth;
Americans would rather live in small
towns or rural areas if they could;
small town life is far from idyllic:
high unemployment rates;
tight budgets;
housing shortages;
downtown decay;
poverty;
the countryside is becoming more
urbanized.
6. The Legal System
Americans treat the law as part of their
everyday lives;
local, state, and federal courts handle
about 12 million cases a year;
there is one lawyer for every 440
Americans;
the constitutional rights and freedoms
are guaranteed in the first ten
amendments (Bill of Rights) of the
Constitution;
the judicial branch of government
operates independently alongside the
executive and legislative branches;
within the judicial branch, authority is
divided between state and federal
(national) courts;
at the head of the judicial branch is the
Supreme Court, the final interpreter of
the Constitution.
6. The Legal System
*arraignment, call to account, accusation
*
6. The Legal System
Federal Courts
*certiorari, the process by which a party to a case requests that the case be reviewed by the Supreme Court
*
6. The Legal System
the US has very high crime rates;
in urban ghettos, homicide is the leading
cause of death among black males
between the ages of 25 and 45;
only 20% of the people involved in illegal
activity are apprehended;
the rights of criminal suspects include:
the protection from unreasonable search
and seizure;
the suspects right to decline to testify
against himself/herself;
the right to counsel;
protection from excessive bail and from
cruel and unusual punishment.
the exclusionary rule, which excludes from
the trial any evidence gained by unlawful
search and seizure;
the Miranda rule: suspects must be read
their legal rights before being questioned
by police.
6. The Legal System
out of the 50 states only 14 have
abolished the death penalty;
it is seen as the only appropriate
punishment for sadistic murderers;
the social problems which aggravate
violence (poverty, unemployment,
and unstable families) are likely to
persist;
the nations prisons are
overcrowded, many of them are old
and rundown;
many Americans fear that gun
control laws will prevent law-abiding
citizens from being able to protect
their homes.
6. The Legal System
The Legal Profession
Lawyers
the number of lawyers has exploded
(1,000,000 today);
they can be:
private practitioners;
in-house counsels;
government lawyers.
private practitioners may practice alone,
in small to middle-sized firms, or in large
firms;
at the high end a large firm senior partner
may charge as much as $500 per hour
while at the low end, a lawyer charges at
least $100 per hour.
6. The Legal System
The Legal Profession
Judges

federal judges serve for life, although
they can be removed by congressional
impeachment;
the federal judiciary is less accountable
to the people than are the other two
branches of government;
some people have criticized the fact that
federal judges can issue far-reaching
rulings without fear of being voted out of
office;
state judges come to the bench in a
variety of ways:
some judges are appointed by state
governors and, after a period of time,
stand for elections;
others are elected from the beginning.
7. Minority versus Majority

in the 19
th
and 20
th
centuries, discrimination
because of color, culture, or age
undermined American freedom;
African-American struggle for equal rights
was long and hard;
the Declaration of Independence and three
Constitutional amendments (13
th
, 14
th
, 15
th
)
provided for equal rights for the blacks;
but Southern whites found ways to
circumvent the intention of the
amendments;
racial segregation was made legal;
the 1950s and 1960s saw a campaign of
civil rights movements, especially run by Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All men are created equal
(Declaration of Independence).
Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as a punishment
for crime whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States, or any place
subject to their jurisdiction (13
th

Amendment).
All persons born or naturalized in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge
the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any State deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws (14
th
Amendment).
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not
be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State
on account of race, color, or previous condition of
servitude (15
th
Amendment).
Civil rights legislation:
1957first civil rights legislation;
1963amendment prohibiting the use
of a poll tax in federal elections;
1964against administering voting
laws in a discriminatory manner;
1965Voting Rights Act (abolished
literacy tests).
affirmative action laws: to match the
racial and sexual composition of the
working place with the composition of
society;
wide disparities remain between whites
and blacks: poverty rate,
unemployment rate, family breakdown,
violence and murder.
Hispanicsthe fastest growing ethnic
minority;
origin: Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico;
suffered from job discrimination and
poverty;
in the 1960s they rallied for better
wages and working conditions,
improved public services and bilingual
education;
changes have occurred, but much
remains to be done.
Native Americans have suffered
because federal policy towards them
wavered: assimilation vs. autonomy.
the number of the elderly has grown twice
as fast as the rest of the population;
1967the Age Discrimination Act:
prohibits discrimination against people
between 40-65 years of age.
the disabled are seeking equal education
and employment;
1973the Rehabilitation Act: encourages
employers to hire and schools to admit
disabled people.
homosexuals seek laws banning
discrimination against them;
many states have passed such laws.
Changes for women:

more women are entering the labor force;
more women have been attaining higher
education levels;
women are having fewer children;
more young women are single;
women are marrying at a later age;
women no longer favor traditional
marriages;
Women now compete with men for
professional training, employment,
leadership positions, and political power.

sex discrimination extended well into
the 20
th
century based on the concept of
romantic paternalism;
in 1920 women gained the right to vote;
the modern feminist movement
(1960s):
1963Betty Friedan, The Feminine
Mystique;
1966the National Organization for
Women (NOW)access to jobs, political
power, equal pay;
Equal Pay Act (1963);
Equal Rights Act (1964).

Betty Friedan
professional women have entered many
male-dominated occupations: officers,
accountants, doctors, lawyers, business
managers, politicians;
compensatory back pay to female
employees;
non-sexist language: chairperson
replaces chairman and mail carrier
replaces mailman;
womens history has emerged as a new
field of study;
discrimination and inequalities still persist;
anti-feminists oppose the Equal Rights
Amendment (ERA): Phyllis Schlafly and
Midge Decter;
professional women have to divide their
energies between duties at home and
those at work.
Phyllis Schlafly
Midge Decter
8. The System of Government
Representative Democracy
the people direct policies by
voting;
the constitution defines:
the powers of national and
state governments;
the functions and framework
of each branch of government;
the rights of individual citizens.
Limited Government
the federal organization of
government;
the separation of powers
among different branches of
government;
a system of checks and
balances to restrict the powers
of each branch.
Federalism: Division of Powers
Powers of the National Government
To regulate foreign trade and
commerce between states;
To borrow and coin money;
To conduct foreign relations with other
nations;
To establish post offices and roads;
To raise and support armed forces;
To declare war and make peace;
To govern territories and admit new
states;
To pass naturalization laws and
regulate immigration;
To make all laws necessary and
proper to carry out its powers.
Powers Denied to the National
Government
To tax exports;
To suspend writ of habeas corpus (a
court order issued in order to bring a
party before a court or judge);
To change state boundaries without
consent of states involved;
To abridge the Bill of Rights.
Powers Reserved to State Governments
To regulate trade within the state;
To establish local governments;
To conduct elections;
To determine voter qualifications;
To establish and support public
schools;
To incorporate business firms;
To license professional workers;
To ratify amendments;
To keep all the reserved powers not
granted to the national government nor
prohibited to the states.
Powers Denied to State Governments
To coin money;
To enter into treaties;
To tax agencies of the federal
government;
To tax imports or exports.
Federalism: Division of Powers
Powers Common to Both
National and State
Governments (Concurrent
Powers)
To collect taxes;
To borrow money;
To establish and maintain
courts;
To make and enforce laws;
To provide for the health and
welfare of the people.

Powers Denied to Both National
and State Governments
To pass ex post facto laws
(laws operating retroactively);
To pass bills of attainder
(pronouncing a person guilty
without a trial);
To deny due process of law;
To grant titles of nobility

Separation
of Powers

Legislative Branch
Congress:

House of
Representatives;
Senate;

Executive Branch

President;
Vice-President;
Cabinet.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court;
Federal Courts;
State Courts.


US Capitol Building (Congress) House of Representatives Senate
White House
US Supreme Court

6. The President
signs the Bill
into Law
5. A conference
committee works
out a compromise

4. The Bill is sent to
the other chamber
(the process is
repeated)
3. Debate in the
respective
chamber

2.Committee stage
(foreign affairs,
defense, banking,
agriculture)
1. The Bill is
introduced in
one of the chambers

From Bill to Law
Checks and Balances
EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATIVE JUDICIAL
each branch checks or limits the power of the other branches;
with the system of checks and balances, no branch of
government has superior power.

political participation: groups and
individuals exert pressure to
influence government policy;
interest groups want to influence
public policy through the mass
media, letters to politicians,
telephone calls, public meetings and
advertisements;
a lobbyist may be a lawyer or
former legislator who specializes in
the interest he represents and has
an insiders view of the lawmaking
process.
Dave Wenhold, president of the American
League of Lobbyists
The Federal System

The power to govern is divided between the national (federal)
government, located in Washington DC and the state governments
AT STATE
LEVEL
The executive branch
GOVERNOR
The legislative branch
STATE LEGISLATURE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The judicial branch
TRIAL COURT
APPELATE COURT
SUPREME COURT

The American party system has three features: two parties
alternating in power, lack of ideology, lack of unity and
discipline.
Major parties
Minor parties
Elections

General Elections
single-member district system;
winner take all;
only one candidatethe one
with the most votesis elected
to a given office from any one
district.
on the first Tuesday in
November voters cast their
votes;
when citizens cast votes, they
are actually selecting their
states electors (the Electoral
College);
to be elected, candidates for
president and vice-president
must receive a majority of the
votes in the Electoral College;
the newly elected president
and vice-president are
inaugurated in January during
a solemn, nationally televised,
ceremony.
Presidential Elections
the major parties organize
conventions with delegates from
all states;
some delegates may vote for a
favorite son;
the vice-presidential candidate is
the running mate;
if the pair of candidates appeal to
different blocs of voters they
achieve a balanced ticket;

the two major parties tend to be similar: they have the same overall
political and economic goals;
they propose different means of achieving similar goals:
Democrats generally believe in providing social and economic
programs for those who need them;
Republicans favor big business and private enterprise and want
to limit the role of government;
most Democrats are moderates or liberals, while most
Republicans are moderates or conservatives;
Democrats have also favored a stronger federal government,
while Republicans have emphasized states rights.
American party politics has been largely devoid of ideology;
Americans tend to prefer somewhat vague party programs to the
rigors of political ideology;
American parties show a lack of unity and discipline;
parties are organized as loose confederations of state parties,
which, in turn, are decentralized down to the local level;
the absence of an organized party structure and established
hierarchy of leaders contributes to party disunity;
many Americans are politically uninvolved.
Reasons for low voter turnout
Unlike most of the nations, the United States requires early voter
registration.
Election campaigns tend to be much longer in the United States
than in many other nations. After following campaigns that
sometimes begin a year or more before the election, many
Americans lose interest and do not vote.
American elections are always held on Tuesdays, a normal working
day, whereas elections in many other nations are held on weekends.
The American two-party system may contribute to low voter turnout
because voters choice is limited.
The other democratic nations have parliamentary systems, in which
the outcome of the election determines both the executive and
legislative branches of government. Voters in these countries may
feel that their vote carries more weight.

9. America as a World Power
GLOBAL
SUPER-
POWER
political, military,
and economic
influence
political and military
ties to democratic
governments
formidable military
and nuclear forces
2 mil. military
personnel (1/4
serve overseas)
military bases in
strategic areas of
the world
the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
(NATO)
THE POLITICAL
AND MILITARY
STRENGTH IS
GENERATED BY
A POWERFUL
ECONOMY
the US economy surpasses all other
economies in overall production
US investment boosts the economies
of other nations
the status of the dollar as chief inter-
national currency increases US power
US export of technology produces
worldwide economic growth
the American economy is bound to
have a global economic influence
The US has often used its economic power to achieve its political aims
FOREIGN POLICY PRINCIPLES
(1) moral aim:
protecting and
promoting
democratic
systems and
democratic
values
(2) practical
principle:

protecting
Americas
political and
economic
interests
(3) direction:
maintaining
the balance of
international
power
before each of the two World Wars American
foreign policy evolved from isolationism to
interventionism;
after WWII two spheres of influence emerged:
American (Western Europe and Japan) and
Soviet (Eastern Europe and China);
the cold war period meant mounting tensions
between the United States and the Soviet
Union;
during the cold war, US adopted a policy of
containment (stopping the spread of
communism);
the Marshall Plan: a four-year program of
economic reconstruction in Western Europe
($12 billion);
a similar plan for Japan.
Twentieth-Century Foreign Policy
The Iron Curtain
the US used military force to
support pro-western governments
(Korea, Guatemala, Lebanon,
Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Grenada);
the 1962 Cuban missile crisis;
the direct intervention in the
Vietnam war (neither popular nor
successful);
the policy of dtente in the 1970s;
arms control talks: SALT I (1972),
SALT II (1979).
hostility is renewed in 1979 when Soviet
troops invade Afghanistan and when martial
law is declared in Poland (1981);
US military intervention in Central America
to stop the spread of communism (El
Salvador, Grenada, Nicaragua);
reasons for US involvement in the Middle
East:
protect the worlds oil supply;
maintain a friendly relationship with Israel;
limit the influence of the Soviet Union in the
area.
the US balances its national security
interests with the need for world stability and
peace.
Second Gulf War
10. The System of Education
school attendance is compulsory for all
children;
public education from kindergarten
through grade 12 is tax-supported and
no tuition is required;
the goal is educating an ever-greater
proportion of the population;
32% of Americans 25 years or older
have at least some college education
(highest in the world);
Public Schools

they are supported by taxes and do
not charge tuition;
they are neighborhood schools open to
all students that live in the district;
they are co-educational (that is, for
both boys and girls);
they are required to follow some state
guidelines, curriculum and teacher
qualifications; each school district is
run by an elected Board of Education
and the school administrators that the
board hires;
public schools are nonsectarian
(secular), that is, free from the
influence of religion.
the course content and teaching
method is largely influenced by John
Dewey;
education must be meaningful and
children learn best by doing;
high schools have a dual commitment:
to offer a general college
preparatory program for those
interested;
to provide opportunities for
vocational training for those who
want to go to work.
private schools are parochial (mostly
Roman-Catholic) or secular.
typical school day: 8 a.m.-3
p.m.;
vacation periods: two-weeks in
winter, one-week in spring
(Easter), two months in
summer;
only in high school students
move from one classroom to
another and study each subject
with a different teacher;
high-school students are
involved in extracurricular
activities, such as athletics,
dramatics, or music.
School Cafeteria
Higher education schools can be:

community colleges:
only offer two years of study;
do not award degrees;
do not involve students in
research.
four-year colleges:
award undergraduate degrees;
do not train students for
research;
universities:
award any degree;
have a strong commitment to
research.
Harvard University
Degrees:

after four years of study: bachelors
degree (Bachelor of Arts [BA] or
Bachelor of Science [BSc] or [BS]);
College grades: A, B, C, D, and F
(falling grade);
graduate degrees:
masters degree (MA): one or two
years of study beyond the bachelors
degree;
a PhD degree (doctor of philosophy):
at least three years beyond the
masters degree;
graduate professional degrees in
medicine, dentistry, and law, among
other fields.

Life on campus:
student unions;
fraternities (social and, in some cases,
residential clubs for men);
sororities (similar clubs for women);
the former students are often called
alumni (sing. alumnus) and their former
university is referred to as their alma
mater.

Financial aid:
scholarships (grants);
loans to students and/or their parents;
student employment (meaning working
and studying at the same time).

Sigma Chi Fraternity House
Illinois Wesleyan University

Standardized tests:
GED (Test of General Educational
Development): adult students who
have not finished high school;
ACT (American College Test);
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test);
TOEFL test (Test of English as a
Foreign Language): foreign
students;
adult education or continuing
education, is operated by many
high schools and community
colleges.
Educational opportunities:

students takes courses depending
on their abilities and future goals
and on the schools course
offerings;
in higher education, the variety of
degree programs is remarkable;
the standards students must meet
to attain a high school diploma are
rigorous in some schools and lax
in others;
the education system in the United
States and that it benefits from
decentralized funding and
administration;
there is no national curriculum,
most schools teach similar core
subjects and also elective
courses.
Core Curriculum
Elementary school:
Penmanship, Science,
Mathematics, Music, Art,
Physical Education,
Language Arts (Reading,
Writing, and Grammar),
Social Studies (Geography,
History, and Citizenship);
High school:
English, Mathematics,
Science, Social Studies,
Physical Education
Equal opportunity:

the fact that public schools receive the bulk of their funds from local
property taxes creates;
although progress has been slow, integration has succeeded in
narrowing the education gap between blacks and whites;
measures to protect minorities from discrimination were extended to
disabled children;
in order to improve the quality of instruction some actions have
been taken:
- stronger academic curricula, with a back-to-basics emphasis on
reading, writing, math, and science;
- stricter standards for students, including a heavier homework load
and higher grading standards;
- higher salaries to attract and keep talented, well-qualified teachers.
11. The Religious Context
America is unusually religious:
church buildings outnumber
gas stations;
Sunday morning traffic is
congested;
bookstores have an entire
section of religious;
Bibles are the nations best-
selling books;
religious messages on
billboards, T-shirts, and
bumper sticker;
Young Americans are far more
religious than their counterparts in
most other countries.
Religion and Politics

the motto on the seal of the United
States;
the pledge of allegiance to the flag;
American currency bears the
inscription In God We Trust;
US presidents take their oath of
office on the Bible;
every session of Congress opens
with a prayer.
there are three major faiths:
Protestantism, Catholicism, and
Judaism plus 1,500 major and
minor sectarian churches;
the First Amendment to the
Constitution prohibits an
established national religion;
Protestantism has occupied a
dominant position in American
society;
the first settlers of
Massachusetts were members of
a radical Protestant group called
Puritans;
the Protestant work ethic has
long been associated with
capitalism and American
attitudes.
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
(The First Amendment)
People prove their worth to themselves
and to God by working hard, being honest
and thrifty, and avoiding luxury, excessive
personal pleasure, and waste. The
accumulation of wealth is not considered
evil unless it leads to a life of idleness and
sin.
(Protestant work ethic)
Protestantism: 186 denominations
Methodists
Baptists
Reformed Episcopals
Lutherans
Presby-
terians
Congrega-
tionalists
MAIN-
STREAM
PROTES-
TANTISM
Southern
Baptists
Pente-
costals
Men-
nonites
RADICAL
PROTES-
TANTISM
The Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Catholics
they are the second largest
religious group;
but they are the largest unified
religious body;
Catholics have built
elementary, secondary
schools, colleges and
universities;
John F. Kennedy was the first
Catholic president of the US.
Jews
Jews constituted 1.4% of the
population in 2001;
there are three major
denominations in Judaism:
Orthodox, Conservative, and
Reform;
although Jews are few in
number, their contribution to
the cultural and intellectual
America is great.
The religious landscape changes:

the declining influence of the mainline Protestant churches;
radical Protestant groups have been steadily attracting members
(the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Church of the Nazarene,
Assemblies of God, and Southern Baptists);
the percentage of Catholics attending weekly mass declined
sharply;
Americas Protestants, Catholics, and Jews have become less
divided;
Jews are willing to discard those practices that made Judaism seem
exotic;
a significant trend in American religious life is increasing pluralism.
Americans show little
tolerance towards some
sects and cults (The
Moonies, the Hare Krishnas,
and the followers of
Bhagwan Rajneesh);
the rise of the evangelical (or fundamentalist) movement:
- a true Christian must have a born-again experience;
- the Bible is the authoritative word of God;
- a personal relationship with Jesus is at the center of every Christians
life;
evangelicals attacked secular humanism and crusaded for moral
issues, focusing attention on the family and schools.
Involvement in politics:

fundamentalist minister Jerry
Falwells Moral Majority (1970s):
opposed homosexuality,
pornography, abortion, and the
teaching of evolution in schools;
TV evangelist Pat Robertson, was a
candidate for the 1988 presidential
election;
preachers of the electronic church
resemble commercial television
show hosts more than ministers;
Religion has a greater emotional
hold on older generations, on poor
people and uneducated ones, and
in the southern part of America,
sometimes called the Bible Belt.
12. American Lifestyles
Marriage
when choosing a mate, the
decision is usually based on love;
upon engagement the man offers
his fiance a diamond engagement
ring;
the brides parents give their
daughter a trousseau of new
clothing and linens;
relatives and friends organize a
shower (a party just for women);
the groom and his friends
celebrate at a bachelor or stag
party.
Wedding Customs
the brides veil;
something old, something
new, something borrowed, and
something blue;
the groom usually wears a
tuxedo;
the groom should not see the
wedding gown or the bride
before the ceremony;
the double ring ceremony;
the young couple promise to
love each other until death do
us part;
the guests throw ricea
fertility symbolrose petals
and confetti;
the couples car is decorated
with tin cans, paper streamers,
and old shoes, plus a Just
Married sign;
the wedding cake;
the bride throws her bouquet of
flowers to the group of single
women at the party;
after the wedding the
newlyweds take a vacation
called honeymoon.
Wedding Customs
Contemporary Marriage
the traditional representation of the family in which the man is the
breadwinner and the woman the homemaker is fading away;
the United States has one of the highest divorce rates in the world;
usually the man pays his former wife a monthly sum of money called
alimony;
in most cases the children live with the mother and the father pays
child support and has visitation rights;
alternative lifestyles are represented by the unmarried couples living
together and homosexual relationships.
Family Life
American families give their children
their most important experiences
and values;
there are about 105 million
household of which 68 million are
families;
24% of American children live with
only one parent;
there are 1.46 children per
household, while the American
household has on average 2.6
people;
12% of the population are over 65
and senior citizens fall into two
groups:
the young old (ages 65 to 75);
the old-old (over 75).
about 55% of the married women go
to work.
Phrases for family quarrels:

the battle of the sexes,
when husband and wife fight
for dominance;
sibling rivalry, that is
competition and jealousy
between brothers and sisters;
generation gap, when
parents and children do not
understand each others
attitudes;
in-law problems, when
older parents try to control the
lives of their married children.
Eating Habits
Breakfast
Bacon and eggs
Pancakes and maple syrup
Waffles and maple syrup Sugaring time
Eating Habits
Lunch
Peanut butter and jelly Hamburger
Hot dog
Diner Cafeteria
Eating Habits
Ice cream sundae
Milkshake Ice cream soda
Apple pie la mode Brunch Clambake
Eating Habits
Regional Food Specialties
Seafood chowder
Boston cream pie
Grits Fritters
American Etiquette
Introductions and Titles

it is polite to say the womans name first;
but if the man is elderly or famous, then his name or title should be
mentioned first;
when two people of the same sex are introduced, the older person is
named first;
titles that precede the last name are: Mr., Miss, Mrs., and Ms., for a
woman whose marital status we do not know or is not relevant;
to address a man whose name you do not know use Sir, it is rude to
call him Mister;
to address a woman you do not know use Madam or Maam;
Doctor (Dr.) is used not only for medical doctors but also for a
dentist and for a person with an academic doctorate degree;
very few titles are used without the family name: Doctor, Professor,
Father, Rabbi (it is not correct to address a teacher as Teacher).
American Etiquette
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a friends house for dinner:

arrive approximately on time, not earlier;
bring a small gift: flowers, candy, wine, an item made in your
country;
if you are served a food that you do not like or cannot eat, eat what
you can;
if questioned, admit that you do not eat meat but add that you have
enjoyed the other foods and have had more than enough to eat;
do not make the cook feel obliged to prepare something else for
you;
compliment the cook on the food that you have enjoyed;
do not leave immediately after dinner, but do not overstay your
welcome either;
the next day call or write a thank you note to say how much you
enjoyed the evening.
Dining Etiquette
If you invite someone to dinner in a restaurant:

phone to make a reservation, giving your name, number of people,
and time of arrival;
reach for the bill when it arrives and pay it;
if your companion insists on paying his or her share, do not get into
an argument about it, respect his or her feelings;
the tip is not added to the bill: if the service was adequate, leave a
tip equal to about 15% of the bill; in expensive restaurants leave a
bit more;
do not tuck your napkin into the collar or vest, place it across the lap;
the silverware placement is different from the European style, but
you cannot go wrong if you use the piece of silverware furthest from
the plate first and work your way towards the plate as the meal
progresses;
before cutting food some Americans switch their knife and fork to the
opposite hands, but it is not necessary to do this.
Dining Etiquette
Manners between men and women:
men are protective about women, helping them on and off their
coats, lighting their cigarettes, opening doors for them, allowing
them to exit from elevators first;
but if a man does not help his date into and out of her chair in a
restaurant no one will think he is rude;
a man and a woman may go out together on a Dutch treat, that is,
each pays for his or her own way.
Classroom etiquette is less formal than in other countries:
students are encouraged to ask questions during class and stop at
the professors office for extra help or phone if they need an
assignment;
Americans are tolerant of non-native speakers who have trouble
understanding English.
13. Artistic Life
attendance and participation in the arts increased;
attendance at theatrical performances rose from 53% to 67%;
the number of people attending dance performances rose from 23%
percent to 34%;
attendance at live performances of classical or symphonic music
went up from 25% to 34%;
attendance at live performances of operas or musicals rose from
25% to 30%;
the number of people involved in painting, drawing, or the graphic
arts rose from 22% to 29%;
participation in local theater groups, in ballet and modern dance
increased significantly.
13. Artistic Life
the governments role in supporting the arts has increased;
the National Endowment for the Arts, a government agency,
contributes to the advancement of the arts;
the evolution of American art has produced a diversity of art styles;
in visual arts abstract expressionism appeared after the Second
World War;
it focused on the utilization of space, dimension, and surface texture,
and the interrelationship of colors.
13. Artistic Life
Jackson Pollock
Willem de Kooning
Mark Rothko
Andy Warhol
13. Artistic Life
Music
Scott Joplin
Ragtime
Duke Ellington
Jazz
Louis Armstrong
Jazz
Dizzie Gillespie
Jazz
Charlie Parker
Jazz
George Gershwin
Composer
Leonard Bernstein
Composer
Johnny Cash
Country and Western
Elvis Presley
Rock
Bob Dylan
Rock
Bruce Springsteen
Rock
Stevie Wonder
Rock
13. Artistic Life
Modern Dance
Isadora Duncan Martha Graham
Hollywood Highlights
14. A Sporting Nation
Americans are a sports-loving nation:
a baseball fan can recite each players batting average;
he competes with other fans to give the answers to the most
obscure and trivial questions about the sport;
thousands of fans demonstrate team support in pre-Superbowl pep
rallies;
people pursue the latest fitness fads (fitness has become a science).
The immense popularity of sports in
America:

the large number of pages and
headlines the average daily
newspaper;
evening news telecasts always contain
sports;
television has made sports available to
all;
it alters the nature of the games;
the major networks average about 500
hours each of sports programming a
year;
the emergence of several cable
channels that specialize in sports.
Opportunities:

jogging, aerobic exercise and training with weight-lifting machines (a
muscular, healthy body as the American beauty ideal);
recreational parks: tennis and basketball courts, football or soccer fields;
indoor gymnasiums: informal team sports;
the country club (the health and fitness center): swimming, volleyball, golf,
racquetball, handball, tennis, and basketball;
schools and colleges have institutionalized team sports.
Country Club
the most popular sports in America, football, baseball, and basketball,
originated in the US;
other popular sports: ice hockey, boxing, golf, car racing, horse racing, and
tennis;
paradox: professional football, ice hockey, boxing etc. are aggressive and
bloody while spectators are notably less violent than those in other
countries.
Early Baseball
Big Bill Tilden Suzanne Lenglen Rodman Wanamaker
Mildred Babe Didrikson
Jesse Owens
Team Sports:

professional football is the most
successful sport on TV;
baseball had less success, being too
slow, dignified and out of touch with
modern life;
initially basketball was a big city and
black sport;
sports are big business: TV networks
buy the right to broadcast the games,
advertisers pay the networks a lot of
money to show commercials;
National Football League (NFL) teams
get 65% of their revenues from
television;
there is an oversaturation of sports
programming on networks and cable
channels.
Football
to move from amateur to professional status
a player needs sponsors and publicity;
many top players earn more money a year
in product-endorsement fees than in prize
money;
college sports lost its amateurism years
ago: football and basketball are the most
lucrative;
athletes do not enroll in college to learn, but
to play sports and perhaps use
intercollegiate sports as a springboard for a
professional career;
playing to win is emphasized more than
playing for fun;
millions of Americans continue to engage in
player-oriented sports: handball, squash,
racquetball, platform tennis, gymnastics,
cycling, or roller-skating.
handball: a small ball is batted against
a wall or walls with the hand, while
wearing a special glove;
squash: game played in a four-walled
court with a small, long-handled racket
and a small rubber ball (in full squash
racquets), or one played in a similar
court, but with a larger racket and a
larger, livelier ball (in full squash
tennis);
racquetball is a game played with a
short-handled racket;
platform tennis or paddle tennis is an
outdoor game played with paddles (flat,
rounded pieces of wood with short
handles) and a rubber ball on a raised
platform surrounded by a screen,
combining elements of tennis,
handball, and squash.
Handball
Squash
Raquetball
Platform Tennis (Paddle Tennis)
15. Holidays and Celebrations
Labor Day The first Monday in September
Peter J. McGuire
Labor Day Parade
Columbus Day The second Monday of October
Christopher Columbus
Leif Ericson
Amerigo Vespucci
Lorenzo di Medici
Halloween (All Halows Eve) October 31
Samhain
Pomona
Bobbing for apples
Trick-or-treating
Jack-o-lantern
Thanksgiving Day The fourth Thursday in November
The Mayflower
William Bradford Chief Massasoit
Cranberries Squash
Pumpkin pie
Christmas December 25
Santa Claus
Mistletoe
Poinsettia
Ebenezer Scrooge
Holly
Menorah (Hanukkah)
New Year January 1
Eggnog
Times Square
Yuan TanFestival of Lanterns
Rosh Hashanah
Easter
Easter-related holidays

Shrovetide: the three or four days preceding
Lent;
Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras: the last day
of Shrovetide;
Ash Wednesday: the beginning of Lent;
Palm Sunday: the beginning of the Holy
Week;
Maundy Thursday: or Holy Thursday, is the
remembrance of Christs Last Supper;
Good Friday: recalls the Friday of the
Crucifixion.
Passover matzos
Washingtons Birthday The third Monday in February
Lincolns Birthday February 12 (the third Monday in February)
Celebrated in about
thirty northern states
Memorial Day The last Monday in May
Honors all Americans
who gave their lives for
their country;
A day of general tribute
to the dead.
Veterans Day November 11
A solemn occasion
honoring men and
women who have
served in the military.
Flag Day June 14
The birthday of the American Flag;
Nicknamed the stars and stripes;
The national anthem is The Star-
Spangled Banner.
Independence Day July 4
The most important patriotic
holiday, celebrates the birth of a
nation;
On the 4th of July 1776 the
Congress adopted the
Declaration of Independence.
Valentines Day February 14
St. Valentine was a third-
century Christian martyr who,
before being beheaded in
Rome, restored the eyesight
of his jailers blind daughter.
St. Patricks Day
March 17
Celebrated in honor of Irelands
patron saint who brought
Christianity to a pagan nation;
St. Patrick used the three-leaf
clover, which they call the
shamrock, to explain the Trinity
(Father, Son, and Holy Ghost).
April Fools Day April 1
The fun is to play silly
harmless jokes on family
members, coworkers,
and friends.
Mothers Day The Second Sunday in May
Mothers receive cards and
gifts from their husbands and
children.
Fathers Day
The third Sunday in June
Customs are similar to
Mothers Day.
Selected Bibliography
Falk, Randee. Spotlight on the USA. Oxford: OUP, 1993.
Fiedler, Eckhard, Reimer Jansen and Mil Norman-Risch. America in
Close-Up. Harlow: Longman, 1998.
Friedman, Michael J. Outline of the US Legal System. Online. Internet.
27.02.2006.
Infoplease. Profiles of the 50 Largest Cities of the United States. Online.
Internet. 27.02.2006.
Kearney, Edward N., Mary Ann Kearney and Jo Ann Crandall. The
American Way: An Introduction to American Culture. Englewood Cliffs:
Prentice Hall, 1984.
Tiersky, Ethel and Martin Tiersky. The USA: Customs and Institutions.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1990.
Trudgill, Peter. Coping with America. Blackwell, 1985.
US Census Bureau. Online. Internet. 22.12.2005.

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