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UNITED STATES
OF
AMERICA
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The Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock,
December 1620
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.
BACK IN TIME...
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"That's one small step for man...
and one giant leap for mankind,"
said Neil Armstrong as he walked
on the moon, July 20, 1969
A depiction of the storming of
San Juan Hill from the Spanish-
American War
British general Burgoyne's
surrender at Saratoga in the
American Revolution
TIME LINE HISTORY OF AMERICA
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The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the
history of the United States. It represents the ofcial rst step toward the
separation of the 13 colonies from the control of Great Britain. The document was
written by Thomas Jefferson in seventeen days, during the Second Continental
Congress.
Although the Declaration of Independence was not ofcially signed until August
1, 1776, Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4,
1776. This is why we celebrate July 4th as Independence Day.
The Declaration of Independence
A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to
assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the
Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions
of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the
separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and
to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long
established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly
all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils
are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably
the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new
Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these
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Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their
former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain
is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be
submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for
the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing
importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be
obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to
them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts
of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation
in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants
only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable,
and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole
purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with
manly rmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be
elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have
returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the
mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and
convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that
purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to
pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions
of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to
Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their
ofces, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Ofces, and sent hither swarms of
Ofcers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the
Consent of our legislatures.
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He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the
Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our
constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their
Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders
which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benets of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province,
establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries
so as to render it at once an example and t instrument for introducing the
same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and
altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested
with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection
and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and
destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to
compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with
circumstances of Cruelty & perdy scarcely paralleled in the most
barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to
bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends
and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to
bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages,
whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages,
sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most
humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated
injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may dene a
Tyrant, is unt to be the ruler of a free people.
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Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned
them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable
jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our
emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and
magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to
disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and
correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces
our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in
Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General
Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People
of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are,
and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from
all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them
and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free
and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace,
contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which
Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a
rm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each
other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
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The Constitution of the United States
After the American Revolution the states were functioning under
the Articles of Confederation. As time passed it became clear
that changes to this system had to be made. A convention of
delegates from all the states except Rhode Island met in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May of 1787. George Washington
was chosen president of the convention. By the end of the month
it was decided that the best solution to the young country's
problems was to set aside the Articles of Confederation and
write a new constitution. This was not an easy chore. Three
months later and after a lot of debate and compromise, on
September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was
nally accepted by the delegates. But their work was not done.
The Founding Fathers now had to get all the states to agree that
this was a good document and that they should vote in favor of
it. This was the rst great political question that faced
Americans. Nine states had to vote for the Constitution for it to
be accepted. On December 3, 1787, Delaware was the rst state
to vote in favor of (ratify) it. New Hampshire became the ninth
state to accept the Constitution on June 21, 1788, ending
government under the Articles of Confederation. It was not until
May 29, 1790 that the last state, Rhode Island, nally accepted
the Constitution.
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The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln,
on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the National Cemetery at
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the
American Civil War (July, 1863). The text of the speech is as follows:
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this
continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or
any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met
on a great battleeld of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of
that eld as a nal resting-place for those who here gave their lives that
that nation might live. It is altogether tting and proper that we should
do this.
But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we
cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who
struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or
detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here,
but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to
be dedicated here to the unnished work which they who fought here
have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated
to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we
take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall
not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth
of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the
people shall not perish from the earth."
-- Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
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Our Nation
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 Pacic Ocean.
To the northwest of Canada is the state of Alaska. The state of
Hawaii is located in the Pacic 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 Pacic Ocean.
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Quick Facts:
The United States of America
Capital City:
Washington, D.C.
National Independence:
July 4, 1776
Motto:
In God We Trust
Largest Cities:
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego,
Dallas, San Jose
Border Countries and Oceans:
Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of
Mexico, Pacic Ocean
Population:
298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)
Land Area:
3,615,123 sq. mi. (9,375,720 sq. km.)
Highest Point:
Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft. (6194 m.)
above sea level
Lowest Point:
Death Valley, California, 282 ft (86 m.) below
sea level
Largest State:
Alaska
Smallest State:
Rhode Island
National Bird:
Bald Eagle
National Flower:
Rose
National Anthem:
The Star-Spangled Banner
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Our Capital City
New York City was the rst capital of the United States. George
Washington took the oath of ofce from the balcony of New York
City's old City Hall to become the rst President of the United
States.
The President had to help decide on a permanent location for the
countrys seat of government. As part of a compromise, it was
decided that the capital would move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1791 for ten years and then to a suitable permanent location on
the Potomac River.
President Washington chose an area that included land from the
states of Maryland and Virginia. At this time the area was primarily
farm and marsh lands. Nevertheless, Congress was scheduled to
meet in the new capital on the rst Monday in December 1800.
The capital city is named Washington after George Washington, our
rst president. It is located in the District of Columbia, named after
Christopher Columbus, a famous explorer.
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Quick Facts: 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
Land Area:
68 sq. mi.
District's Bird:
Wood Thrush
District's Flower:
American Beauty Rose
District's Song:
The Star-Spangled Banner
District's Tree:
Scarlet Oak
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SYMBOLS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
The Flag
The U.S. ag has undergone many
changes since the rst ofcial ag of
1777. On June 14, 1777, the
Continental Congress passed the rst
Flag Act, which said that the ag
would be made up of thirteen
alternating red and white stripes and
thirteen white stars on a blue eld.
Stars have been added to the ag as new states join the
union. Currently, the ag contains 50 stars.
Ever wonder why the ag is red, white, and blue?
While the ag's colors did not have a specic meaning
at the time, the colors were signicant for the Great
Seal of 1782.
White: Signies purity and innocence
Red: Signies valor and bravery
Blue: Signies 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.
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The Bald Eagle
The bald eagle is a large, powerful,
brown bird with a white head and
tail. The term "bald" does not mean
that this bird lacks feathers. Instead,
it comes from the word piebald, an
old word, meaning "marked with
white."
The bald eagle was made the national
bird of the United States in 1782. The
image of the bald eagle can be found
in many places in the U.S., such as
on the Great Seal, Federal agency
seals, the President's ag, and on the one-dollar bill.
Why was the bald eagle chosen as our national symbol?
The Founding Fathers wanted to choose an animal that was unique to
the United States. For six years, the members of Congress engaged in
a dispute over what the national emblem should be. As a result of the
debate, the bald eagle was chosen because it symbolized strength,
courage, freedom, and immortality and that it would look much better
as our national symbol.
When Europeans rst arrived on the North American continent in the
1600's, there were an estimated 25,000 to 50,000 bald eagles, but
populations have since dropped for many reasons. Many eagles were
captured for getting too close to poultry or shing nets; some were
captured for falconry; and many eagles were poisoned by pesticides.
In 1967, the bald eagle was included on the Endangered Species List.
Federal laws, such as the Bald Eagle Protection Act, protect the bald
eagle and have led to the recovery of bald eagle populations. In 2007,
populations have improved and the the bald eagle was removed from
the list.
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The 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%).
Made for the Pennsylvania State House (now
Independence Hall), the Liberty Bell was ordered by the
Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751 to commemorate the
50-year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of
Privileges. Shortly after its arrival in Philadelphia the
Bell cracked. Local craftsmen recast the bell using the
metal from the old bell, but this one also proved
defective. A third was cast by John Pass and John Stowe.
Their names appear on the bell, along with the city and date, along with this inscription:
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof - Lev. XXV, v. x.
By order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania [sic] for the State House in
Philada.
NOTE: The spelling of "Pennsylvania" was not at that time universally adopted.
Pensylvania was an accepted alternative spelling throughout the 1700's.
On June 7, 1753, the bell was hung in the tower of Independence Hall; however, during
the American Revolution, in 1777, British troops captured Philadelphia. For
safekeeping, the bell was moved to Zion's Reformed Church in Allentown,
Pennsylvania. It was returned to Philadelphia in 1778.
As tradition, the bell was rung on every July 4th and on every state occasion until 1846.
Not everyone agrees on when the rst crack appeared on the Liberty Bell, but by 1846 a
thin crack began to affect the sound of the bell. It was repaired so the bell could be tolled
for Washington's birthday on February 23, 1846. In order to repair the bell, a slot was
carved along the length of the crack that prevented the two sides of the bell from
vibrating against each other. Two rivets were inserted in this slot to control the vibration
of the two sides and restored the bell's tonal quality.
Today, the Liberty Bell hangs in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell Pavilion on Market
Street for all to see and is still gently rung each July 4th.
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Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam, a gure symbolizing the
United States, is portrayed as a tall, white-
haired man with a goatee. He is often
dressed in red, white, and blue, and wears a
top hat.
The exact origins of Uncle Sam as a
symbol for the United States are unknown.
But the most widely accepted theory is that
Uncle Sam was named after Samuel
Wilson.
During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson
was a businessman from Troy, NY that
supplied the U.S. Army with beef in barrels. The barrels were labeled
"U.S." When asked what the initials stood for, one of Wilson's workers
said it stood for Uncle Sam Wilson. The suggestion that the meat
shipments came from "Uncle Sam" led to the idea that Uncle Sam
symbolized the Federal Government and association stuck. In 1961,
Congress passed a resolution that recognized Samuel Wilson as the
inspiration for the symbol Uncle Sam.
But Sam Wilson looked nothing like the Uncle Sam pictured above.
Uncle Sam's traditional appearance, with a white goatee and star-spangled
suit, is an invention of artists and political cartoonists. One of these
political cartoonists was named Thomas Nast. Nast produced many of the
earliest cartoons of Uncle Sam.
The most famous picture of Uncle Sam appeared on an Army recruiting
poster. The poster was designed in World War I, and was used again in
World War II. The caption reads "I Want You for U.S. Army." James
Montgomery Flagg drew this picture, and served as the model too!
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National Floral Emblem - The Rose
The rose, said to be about 35 million
years old, has been used as a symbol of
love, beauty, war, and politics throughout
the world. The owers are generally red,
pink, white, or yellow and grow
naturally throughout North America. The
rose became the ofcial ower of the
United States in 1986.
In October 1985, the Senate passed a resolution that declared the
rose as the National Floral Emblem of the United States. Senate
Joint Resolution 159 was passed by the House of
Representatives on September 23, 1986.
The resolution asked the president to issue a proclamation
declaring the rose as the national ower. A proclamation
announces an act by the government and does not have the
effect of law.
President Reagan signed the resolution on October 7, 1986 in a
ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. On November 20,
1986, President Reagan issued Proclamation 5574: The National
Floral Emblem of the United States of America: The Rose.
Did you know?
Our rst President, George Washington, bred roses, and a
variety he named after his mother is still grown today.
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Glossary
Please note: The denitions provided in this glossary relate to the words as they are used on Ben's
Guide. There may be other denitions for these words.
amend -- To change the wording or meaning of a motion, bill,
constitution, etc. by formal procedure. For example, Congress may
amend the Constitution.
alien -- A resident of another country who has not yet become a citizen
of the country where s/he now lives.
American Revolution -- The struggle by which the United States won
independence from Great Britain (1775-1783).
Articles of Confederation -- The rst constitution of the 13 American
states, adopted in 1781 and later replaced in 1787 by the Constitution of
the United States.
bas-relief -- A three-dimensional sculpture in which the gures project
slightly from the background. Also called low relief.
census -- A periodic, ofcial count of the number of persons living in a
country.
checks and balances -- Limits imposed on all branches of government
by giving each the right to amend acts of the other branches.
citizen -- A member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its
government and is entitled to its protection.
congressional district -- A division or part of a state; each district elects
one person to the House of Representatives.
constituent -- A person who is represented by an elected ofcial.
Constitution -- The document which establishes the basic principles of
the American government.
delegate -- A person who acts for or represents another or others.
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Emancipation Proclamation -- An order issued during the Civil War by
President Lincoln ending slavery in the Confederate states.
Founding Fathers -- The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia in 1787.
hasty pudding -- A baked dish made mostly of cornmeal, milk, and
molasses. It's not pudding like Jell-O pudding, it's more of a mush. At the
time, pudding was the term used for the dessert course of a meal.
House of Representatives -- One house of the U.S. Congress, members are
granted to each state based upon its population.
immigrant -- A person who moves from one country to another to live
permanently.
macaroni -- A fancy and overdressed ("dandy") style of Italian clothing
widely imitated in England at the time. When Yankee Doodle stuck a
feather in his cap and called himself a "Macaroni", he was proudly
proclaiming himself to be a country bumpkin (an awkward and
unsophisticated person), because that was how the English regarded most
colonials at that time.
national -- A citizen of a nation who is entitled to its protection.
obelisk -- An upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers
as it rises and terminates in a pyramid.
sentinel -- A soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and
prevent a surprise attack.
separation of powers -- The system of dividing the powers and duties of a
government into different branches.
valor -- Boldness or bravery in facing great danger, especially in battle.
veto -- To cancel or postpone a decision, bill, etc. For example, the
president of the United States may veto a bill that has been passed by
Congress.