History of the USA

Why do we need to know American history? To understand American politics, you must understand the history, out of which, its system of government has emerged. The American system of government is enshrined in the constitution, that was purposefully written to ensure it worked in a certain way. It has not evolved or emerged from the ‘mists of time’ like the UK constitution, it has been the same for over 200 years.

The USA Today The USA has 50 states, covering over 3.5million square miles with a population of over 300 million. The UK covers 94,000 square miles and has a population of 60million.

The USA in Statistics Population 308,745, ,611,029 households 2.6 average persons per household 24.3% under 18yrs 12.9% % female (49.3% male) Race 72.4% White 16.3% Hispanic/Latino 12.6% Black 4.8% Asian 0.9% Native Americans 12.4% foreign-born Language 82.1% English spoken as main language 10.7% Spanish spoken as main language Education 84.6% High School Graduates 27.5% Degree or higher 99% adult literacy (same as UK) Income 14.3% live below poverty line 47.39% earn less than $25k 28.01% earn $25k-$50k 18.36% earn $50k-$100k 6.24% earn $100k+ Religion 83% claim to belong to a religious denomination 40% claim to attend services nearly every week or more 58% claim to pray at least weekly 76% identify themselves as Christian (51% Protestant, 25% Catholic) 15% identify as having no religious belief or affiliation 5.2% claimed to be agnostic or refused to confirm their affiliation 3.8% identify themselves as non-Christian (e.g. Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh)

Presidents of the United States There have been 44 US Presidents. How many can you name? 0-10 – OK Good Excellent Genius!!

Presidents of the United States 1.George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren William Henry Harrison John Tyler James Knox Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Ulysses Simpson Grant Rutherford Birchard Hayes James Abram Garfield Chester Alan Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren Gamaliel Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Clark Hoover Franklin Delano Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight David Eisenhower John Fitzgerald Kennedy Lyndon Baines Johnson Richard Milhous Nixon Gerald Rudolph Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Wilson Reagan George Herbert Walker Bush William Jefferson Clinton George Walker Bush Barack Obama present