The United States Of America
The United States Of America
The United States of America is a unique country in that it was formed out of the desire for freedom, not out of the desire to conquer another nation.
From the discovery of the "New World" in 1492, the USA and it's neighboring Caribbean and Central/South American regions were colonized by the British, Spanish, French, and Dutch. The thirteen original states were under British Rule until the American Revolution. This armed revolt began in 1775, and in 1776 these states joined together to form one union, breaking away from their colonial masters with the Declaration Of Independence.
The founding fathers laid down laws based on freedom, and the equality of all men, resulting in t he Bill Of Rights and the Constitution Of The United States.
More states were formed over time as pioneers moved out west, the last two that form the current fifty states being Alaska and Hawaii which both joined the union in 1959.
By the mid 1800's there had appeared a sharp divide between the northern and the southern states. The northern states were becoming more industrialized, whereas the southern states still relied on agriculture for their livelihood. This divide was deepened further by the issue of slavery, with the majority of the north believing that this should be abolished. The southern states however relied very much on slavery for the harvesting of cotton, and opposed this idea. The political issues resulted in the forming of the Confederacy, and ultimately the American Civil War of 1861-1865.
By the beginning of the 20th century the USA was developing into a super power, and ties with Europe were strengthened with their willingness to join in the fight against Germany during WWI.
The Great Depression of the 1930's caused economic chaos during which millions of people lost their jobs and were barely surviving. These years also saw the growth of "The Mob" with gangsters such as Al Capone and Bonnie And Clyde. Many old millionaires lost their fortunes as companies went bankrupt one after the other, and at the same time many new millionaires were born, often those who were able to find a way to profit from the misfortune of others.
World War II saw the United States withhold from entry into the war, until the Japanese attacked the US Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on 7th December 1941.
Following the victories over Germany and Japan at the end of WWII, the USA became the worlds most powerful nation.
This document from the CIA provides an excellent guide to the background, geography and economic make-up of the United States.
Links to each state work up as far as Colorado at this time.
I will update this as new lenses are added for each state
Many thanks to www.schoollibrary.com for use of the USA map and to Free Blogger Backgrounds for the Stars and Stripes background.
This work is the copyright of the author. Please DO NOT copy this page elsewhere either in print or online. Photos are copyright of the credited sources.
The States That Make Up The USA
This is a set of lenses about the United States Of America and includes all 50 states, with a lens for each. Each lens includes one or more lists where you can add any lenses that are relevant to that state. I am hoping that you, my fellow Squidoo lensmasters, will help me to complete the missing detail for each state by adding your lenses to the lists .
MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI
NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA
OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE
Squidoo Lensmasters:
You can add your lenses to the following lists about the USA:
The United States
911
The War Of Independence
The Civil War
US Presidents & Government
The Rough Guide To The USA
Books About The USA
The Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem for the United States Of America.
America The Beautiful
A classic rendition of "America The Beautiful" sung by Barbara Streisand.
America by Simon And Garfunkel
"America" by Simon And Garfunkel is the definitive pop song about the United States Of America
America by Yes
Simon And Garfunkel's "America" arranged by YES. A personal favorite of mine from the album "Yesterdays", a compilation of their first 2 albums.
Know Your State's Motto
Do you know your state's motto?
Do you know your State's motto? Whether you do or not, you might enjoy this alternative set of State mottos...
Alabama
Hell Yes, We Have Electricity.
Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
Arizona
But It's A Dry Heat.
Arkansas
Literacy Ain't Everything.
California
By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda.
Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother.
Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedys Don't Own It Yet.
Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water.
Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids.
Georgia
We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism.
Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
(Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)
Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes...
Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
Illinois
Please, Don't Pronounce the "S"
Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn
Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky
Five Million People - Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
Michigan
First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
Minnesota
10,000 Lakes...And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes
Mississippi
Come And Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Nevada
Hookers and Poker!
New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone
New Jersey
You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right here!
New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent You Have The Right To An Attorney...
North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable
North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan
Oklahoma
Like The Play, But No Singing
Oregon
Spotted Owl...It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal
Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina
Remember The Civil War? Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet
South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee
The Edyoocashun State
Texas
Se Hablo Ingles
Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont
Ay, Yep
Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington
We have more rain than you do
West Virginia
One Big Happy Family...Really!
Wisconsin
Come Cut The Cheese!
Wyoming
Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared!
America from West Side Story
America is one of the famous songs from the musical West Side Story. Set in New York in the mid-1950s, the musical is based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
America - Tin Man
The three members of America were barely past their teenage years when they became an overnight musical sensation in 1972. Some of their best known songs are "A Horse with No Name", "Sister Golden Hair", "Ventura Highway", and "Tin Man". They were all sons of American fathers and British mothers, their fathers being military personnel stationed at the United States Air Force installation at RAF West Ruislip, London
Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Breakfast in America is the sixth album by Supertramp and was released in 1979. The album's front cover is an overlook of New York City through an airplane window. It was designed by Mike Doud and depicted Kate Murtagh as a Statue of Liberty figure holding a glass of orange juice instead of a torch and the background featured a city made from cornflake box, ashtray, cutlery (for the wharfs), eggboxes, vinegar, ketchup and mustard bottles, all spraypainted white. The twin World Trade Center towers appear as two stacks of boxes and the plate of breakfast represents Battery Park, the departure point for the Staten Island Ferry. The back cover photo, depicting the band members having breakfast while reading their respective hometown newspapers, was taken at a diner called "Bert's Mad House."
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