1. IT IS A HUGE COUNTRY !!! 4 TH Largest geographically 4 TH Largest geographically 3 rd largest in population 3 rd largest in population It is further from New York to LA than from NYC to London! It is further from New York to LA than from NYC to London! It has 4 time zonesIt has 4 time zones It has a huge range of environments It has a huge range of environments It has a huge range of political viewsIt has a huge range of political views

You have 5minutes to come up with as many of these as possible :

1. IT IS DIVERSE !!! RACE 75% White ; 15% Hispanic African Americans 10% This is still a divisive issue in the USA.

ECONOMIC DIVERSITY California Hi tech firms like Sun systems and Apple. Silicon Valley RUSTBELT Previously wealthy manufacturing region especially famous for Steel and Cars – now declining SUNBELT New industries ; Oil ; Hi Tech. New wave of population into these areas NORTH WEST New industries like Microsoft; Boeing, Starbucks

RELIGION BIBLE BELT Very strongly conservative Protestant evangelical States. Increasingly powerful (especially with Republican Party) HUGELY INFLUENTIAL ISSUE Up to 60% of US population attend church regularly God is regularly featured in Politics

DIVISION OF WEALTH Individualist country ; Pro capitalist. Therefore a big margin between rich and poor

HISTORY The United States was a British colony. It had been colonised steadily since the 1600’s. However as time went on a few things happened: 1.America became steadily rich—It had products such as tobacco & cotton which could be sold for big profits in Europe. 2.Its settlers became more independent. They were settling in America to make a new life or escape persecution—this gave them new political ideas about freedom 3.It expanded. America grew to 13 States becoming steadily bigger and more confident 4.It became more isolated from Great Britain and demanded more freedom. It resented having to pay taxes to Britain without receiving fair representation

Declaration of Independence In 1776 the US declared itself independent.In 1776 the US declared itself independent. An intense and brutal revolutionary war would follow which against the odds was won by the AmericansAn intense and brutal revolutionary war would follow which against the odds was won by the Americans AMERICA WAS NOW FREE BUT WHAT SORT OF GOVERNMENT WOULD IT HAVE?AMERICA WAS NOW FREE BUT WHAT SORT OF GOVERNMENT WOULD IT HAVE?

3 Articles of Confederation Following victory the new country signed articles of confederation. This very loosely tied all the States together in a loose confederation or friendship.This very loosely tied all the States together in a loose confederation or friendship. State governments were all powerful and made their own laws.State governments were all powerful and made their own laws. Central government was very weak and almost non existent.Central government was very weak and almost non existent. Soon obvious problems began to occur.

The Confederacy of American States proved a disaster! The States made all the laws themselves and argued between each otherThe States made all the laws themselves and argued between each other Each State seemed to have different taxes, customs, laws and even money!Each State seemed to have different taxes, customs, laws and even money! Central government was much too weak.Central government was much too weak. The solution that was agreed was for representatives of all the States to meet in Philadelphia to come up with a new CONSTITUTION. However to do this— Some key issues had to be overcome: However to do this— Some key issues had to be overcome:

1) There had to be a President / figurehead to help run and unite the country. BUT not a position that could be too powerful where the President could become a ‘tyrant like King George’ 2) States had to have their own powers to make laws separate from Central Government. They also had to be protected from too much Federal control 3 Smaller States (population) did not want to be overwhelmed by larger States. They wanted equal representation Larger States meanwhile also wanted more representation to represent them fairly and ensure their views were also heard 4) A strong central government was needed to run the United States as a whole and ensure it stayed strong and united.

The representatives responsible for putting the Constitution together are called the FOUNDING FATHERS. Americans revere their achievement and constantly debate their intentions ever since. They came up with THREE GREAT COMPROMISES

The representatives responsible for putting the Constitution together are called the FOUNDING FATHERS. Americans revere their achievement and constantly debate their intentions ever since. They came up with THREE GREAT COMPROMISES The American Constitution is founded on three great principles: ‘ Compromise, Compromise, Compromise’

The States were wary about having their rights, independence or powers removed. They knew some form of central government was needed but they wanted to ensure that its power was limited in some way. SOLUTION A FEDERAL SYSTEM was established This gave the Central FEDERAL government some powers BUT allowed the STATES to have equally important powers.

One major problem was the division between small population States and large population States. The VIRGINIA PLAN—set out the needs of large population States The NEW JERSEY PLAN— set out the needs of small population States SOLUTION What was agreed was called the CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE There would be a CONGRESS with TWO CHAMBERS (BICAMERAL) They would share EQUAL POWERS SENATE: Each State would be guaranteed 2 SENATORS no matter what size HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Each State would also be granted REPRESENTATIVES based on their size in population

There were huge worries that a President with too much power could become tyrannical. Therefore this was an important position to compromise on. Some wanted the President appointed others directly elected SOLUTION The solution was the President being INDIRECTLY ELECTED by an electoral college. The people would elect the electoral college—the electors would elect the President

4) A strong central government was needed to run the United States as a whole and ensure it stayed strong and united.