1. Who discovered America? The
answer is: nobody knows. North
America may have been
discovered by Vikings under Leif
Eriksson, but Europeans didn’t
know about its existence until
Columbus’ voyages.
In 1492 three ships- the “Santa
Maria”, the “Pinta”, the “Nine”
under Columbus landed the
continent.
In 1507 Amerigo Vespucci explored the
area of South America and
introduced a new land to the world.
This continent was called after him
- “America”.
The main historic events of the USA
2. .
The Vikings visited the continent of North America almost a thousand years
ago, but they were seamen and fighters and they did not try to settle on the land
or make its discovery known. It was not really discovered until Christopher
Columbus, exploring for the King and Queen of Spain, arrived in 1492. He
didn't know that the big continents of North and South America blocked the
way. He was sure that because the Earth was round, he could reach India, China
and Japan by sailing west. He died believing that he had found the Far East, and
never understood that he had discovered new continents. After Columbus, there
were many trips of exploration by the Spanish, the Dutch, the French and the
English, but the first permanent English colony was not started until 1607. This
was in Virginia, where the settlers found out from the Indians how to grow
tobacco. Tobacco was very popular in Europe and Virginia became a rich
colony. Farther north, in New England, the land was being settled by people
who left their homes in England, and England had several growing colonies
along the Atlantic coast. Most of the settlers were English and they brought the
English language, culture and customs to the new land
3. SOME FACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF THE USA:
In 1620 the first people from England arrived in America. They left
England because of religious problems.
In 1776 after the war with Britain, America became an independent
country. Americans wrote the Declaration of the Independence and
designed a new flag – The Stars and Stripes.
4th July – The Day of Independence (a national holiday)
After the war in 1861-1865 between the northern and the southern
states (south lost) the government stopped slavery .
1969 – the first people on the moon were three astronauts: Neil
Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Ed Collins.
4. NATIONALITIES: WHITE AMERICANS - 83,5 %
AFRICANS - 12,4%
IMMIGRANTS FROM ASIA - 3,3%
NATIVE AMERICANS (INDIANS, ALEUTS, ESKIMOS) – 0,8 %
5. Official name: The United States of America
Status: A federal republic, a union of 50
states
Area: 9,364,000 squ. km.
Population: about 250 mln. people (2006)
Capital: Washington, D.C.
8. THE USA IS SITUATED IN THE CENTRAL
PART OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
CONTINENT.
It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in
the East and the Pacific Ocean in
the West.
9. IN THE NORTH IT
BORDERS ON CANADA
AND IN THE SOUTH IT
BORDER ON MEXICO.
10. THE USA IS THE
FOURTH LARGEST
COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD AFTER :
RUSSIA, CANADA AND
CHINA
