Introduction to American Culture 4.25.2011

IntroductiontoAmericanCulturePresentedby:WillNollIntroductiontoAmericanCultureEarlyHistoryBasicFactsLanguagesandDemographicsReligionNationalHolidaysCuisine(Food!)SportsPopularCultureInnovationandNotableInventionsEarlyHistoryWasoriginallyaColonyofEnglandstartingin1606A.D.FirstsettlementwasnamedJamestown.Beforethis,NativeAmericanIndiansinhabitedthelandDeclaredIndependencefromEnglandonJuly4th,1776FoughttheRevolutionaryWarwithEnglandFirstPresidentwasGeorgeWashingtonandtheoriginal13coloniesbecame13independentstatesDeclarationofIndependenceBasicFactsToday–FederalConstitutionalRepublic–3branchesofGovernmentExecutiveBranch(thePresident)LegislativeBranch(U.S.SenateandHouseofRepresentatives)JudicialBranch(SupremeCourt)CurrentPresidentisBarackH.ObamaBasicFacts50statesand1Federaldistrict–IamfromthestateofTexasintheSouth310millionpeopleAnnualG.D.P.(GrossDomesticProduct)–14.62trillionChinaannualG.D.P.-$5.75trillionCurrency–UnitedStatesDollar(USD)LanguagesEnglish(82.1%)(OfficialLanguage)Spanish(10.7%)OtherIndo-Europeanlanguages(3.8%)OtherAsianorPacificIslanderlanguages(2.7%)Otherlanguages(0.7%)Demographics(Race)Caucasian(whitepeople)-64.7%Hispanics/LatinoAmericans-16.0%AfricanAmericans(blackpeople)-12.9%AsianAmericans-4.6%Otherraces-1.8%ReligionChristianity-76.0%Unaffiliated-15.0%Judaism-1.2%Islam-0.6%Buddhism-0.5%Hinduism-0.4%Other-1.4%Holidays(CulturalandNational)Jan1-NewYear'sDayJan17-MartinLutherKingDayFeb14-Valentine'sDayFeb21-Presidents'DayApr24-EasterSundayMay8-Mother'sDayMay30-MemorialDayJun19-Father'sDayJul4-IndependenceDaySep5-LaborDayOct10-ColumbusDayOct31-HalloweenNov11-VeteransDayNov24-ThanksgivingDayDec24-ChristmasEveDec25-ChristmasDayCuisine(Food!)TraditionalThanksgivingdinnerwithTurkey,dressing,sweetpotatoes,andcranberrysauce.Cuisine(Food!)TypicalAmericanseafoodwithFriedfish,shrimp,hushpuppies,andfries.Cuisine(Food!)CaesarSaladCuisine(Food!)Hamburger,fries,andacoke.Cuisine(Food!)ChickenFriedSteak(alternativelyknownasCountryFriedSteak.)Cuisine(Food!)Californiaclubpizzawithavocadosandtomatoes.Cuisine(Food!)Toastedturkeysandwich.Cuisine(Food!)Americanstylebreakfastwithpancakes,maplesyrup,sausagelinks,baconstrips,andfriedeggs.Cuisine(Food!)Ahome-cookedhotdogsausagewithmayonnaise,onion,andpickle-relish.Cuisine(Food!)HickorySmokedBabyBackRibs.Cuisine(Food!)Ameatloafwithatomatosaucetopping.SportsAmericanFootball(CollegeandNationalFootballLeague)Baseball(MajorLeagueBaseball)Basketball(NationalBasketballAssociation)Hockey(NationalHockeyLeague)Soccer(EnglishFootball)BowlingTennisGolf(ProfessionalGolfAssociation)BoxingandMixedMartialArtsSportsHOLLYWOODMOVIES–StarWars–LordoftheRings–IndianaJones–ToyStory–Batman–BacktotheFuture–Avitar–ButchCassidyandtheSundanceKid–E.T.–TheExtraterrestrial–SavingPrivateRyan–Casablanca–Alien–JAWS–CoolHandLukeHOLLYWOODMOVIESMusic–PopularArtistsofthepast50years–BrittanySpears–KanyeWest–BonJovi–BobDylan–BruceSpringsteen–LadyGaga–TheEagles–ElvisPresley–GarthBrooks–TheJackson5–LadyGaga–DaveMatthewsBand–U2–TheBeatles–TheRollingStones–GreenDay–MilesDavisMusic–PopularArtistsofthepast50yearsSocialMediaandInformationFacebook–socialnetworkingsite–similartoKaixininChina–topsocialnetworkingsiteover500millionmembersworldwideTwitter–topmicrobloggingwebsiteinAmerica–similartoSinaWeiboinChinaYoutube–toppersonalvideowebsite–similartoTudouinChinaGoogle–topsearchengine–SimilartoBaiduinChinaWikipedia–topusercontrolledencyclopediaItunes–topcompanyfordownloadingmusic,movies,TVshows,booksSocialMediaandInformationTopCompaniesinAmericaWal-MartStoresExxonMobilChevronGeneralElectricBankofAmericaAT&TFordMotorCompanyJ.P.MorganChaseHewlett-PackardGoogleAppleBoeingMicrosoftFacebookIBMMcDonaldsCocaColaPepsiCoLargestCompaniesinAmerica