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The USA

The USA. World Powers Unit. This unit has 3 main sections: Political system and process Recent social and economic issues The role of the world power in international relations. World Powers Unit. Schools can choose any of the G20 countries. We will be learning about the USA.

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The USA

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  1. The USA

  2. World Powers Unit • This unit has 3 main sections: • Political system and process • Recent social and economic issues • The role of the world power in international relations

  3. World Powers Unit • Schools can choose any of the G20 countries. • We will be learning about the USA.

  4. Unit Content…according to SQA

  5. Plan… • Over the next three weeks, we will attempt to cover these three sub-topics. • You will complete several 12 and 20 mark essays. • You will be issued with model answers for other potential essays – to be learned in your own time.

  6. The USA • The following slides provide background information about the USA and some of the info can be used as knowledge in essays.

  7. Introduction to the USA • Geography • The USA is the fourth largest country in the world with mountains, desert and sub-tropical environments. • The USA stretches from Canada in the north to Mexico in the south. From New York to LA is about 2,500 miles. • The USA has 6 time zones (if you include Alaska and Hawaii)

  8. Introduction to the USA • History • The USA’s history has been dominated by immigration. The Native Americans (wrongly called ‘Indians’) make up only 1% of the US population. • European/White settlers were the first to arrive in the USA spreading from the East across the continent to the West in their millions. African Americans were also early to arrive in the US (as a result of slavery). • More recently immigrants from Mexico/Central America and Asia have been arriving in millions. In 2008 alone, 1m people were added to the US population.

  9. Introduction to the USA • The Multicultural USA Population • The USA has attracted people from all over the world. The US population numbers almost 320 million. According to the 2013 US census: • Most Americans, 62.6%, are White. • The biggest ethnic minority group of Americans are Hispanics or Latinos (Spanish speaking) around 17%. • The third largest group of Americans are African or Black Americans with 13% of US population. • There are around 17m Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (5%) of the US population. • Only about 1% of the US population are Native Americans.

  10. Introduction to the USA • The American Dream • The American Dream is the idea than any US citizens have the opportunity to be successful regardless of their background. The American Dream has two parts: • Americans believe the rights and freedoms they are guaranteed under the US Constitution benefits them. These rights include the right to free speech and the right to freely elect their representatives and government. • The American Dream also includes the idea that any American can become rich if they get an education, work hard and develop their skills. Some of the richest people in the world are American. The US is a capitalist country where wealth is mostly created and owned by individuals.

  11. Video Clip • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGYFRzf2Xww – brief history of the USA from Michael Moore’s documentary Bowling for Columbine

  12. US Population Distribution The North East The Mid West The West The South

  13. US Population Distribution • As of 2014, there are approximately 318 million people living in the USA • This is out of a world population of about 7.1 billion • The USA is very much a multicultural country

  14. US Population Distribution • White Americans – 63% • Approx. 200 million • White Americans are spread across the whole of the United States. • In the North, North East and North West, where Whites originally settled, there are fewer minorities hence Whites make up a greater percentage of the population.

  15. US Population Distribution • Hispanic Americans – 16.9% • Approx. 54 million • Hispanic Americans are most often found in the South West of the United States. • 60% of Hispanic Americans are of Mexican origin and have settled in the states nearest the US border. • There are also big numbers of Hispanics in Florida (from nearby Cuba) and in the North East of the US (Puerto Ricans entering US through New York).

  16. US Population Distribution • Black Americans – 13.1% • Approx. 42 million • Well over half of all Black/ African Americans are found in the South of the United States. • Originally Black Americans were taken to the US as slaves to work on plantations in the South. Today most Blacks continue to live where their ancestors did although there are established Black communities in most large US cities such as New York, Chicago, L.A. and Washington DC.

  17. US Population Distribution • Asian and Pacific Islander Americans – 5.3% • Approx. 17 million • The largest number of Asian Americans are found on the West coast of the USA – the nearest point of entry from Asia. There are also many Asians Americans in the large cities of the North East where they have migrated to find work. • Pacific Islanders are Americans from Hawaii or the other pacific islands

  18. US Population Distribution • Native American - 1.2% • Approx. 382,000 • The smallest ethnic minorities in the US are the Native American people. They are mostly found on those areas in the West of the USA where they were ‘relocated’ during the 19th Century. Task: For each of the main ethnic groups in the USA, describe their population distribution pattern and the reasons for this pattern.

  19. Video Clip… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOeuMymIezg – the changing state of US ethnicity (BBC)

  20. Questions? • Any additional questions about USA in general?

  21. Homework • Investigate the political system of the USA – this is a major part of the world power topic • Revise National 5 notes from last year.

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