Essential Facts About the United States

Defining Culture

Culture is a set of customs typical of a country. It involves the ability to transmit knowledge, beliefs, laws, and morals. It is a collection of traditions, rules, and a way of living.

United States at a Glance

Demographics and Geography

• Area: 9 million km²
• Population: 300 million people
• Urban Population: 82% of the population resides in cities

Ethnic Composition

• White: 72% of the population
• Latino: 16%
• African American: 12.6%
• Asian: 4.8%
• Native American: Below 1%

Basic Knowledge

• The USA is composed of 50 states.
• The last state admitted was Hawaii.
• Five Biggest Cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, and Philadelphia.
• New York Population: 8 million
• Los Angeles Population: 4 million

US Government and History

Foundations of Government

• First President: George Washington
• Legislative Body: The Congress, which is composed of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• Vice President (at time of writing): Mike Pence

Key Historical Events

• Independence Day: July 4, 1776
• Declaration of Independence Signed: August 2, 1776
• Civil War (1861-1865): The North (The Yankees) vs. The South (The Confederacy). The North won the Civil War.
• Abolition of Slavery: December 18, 1865
• Oldest English Settlement: Virginia, 1585
• Discovery of America: Christopher Columbus in 1492
• Boston Tea Party: A political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1773, in defiance of the Tea Act of May 10, 1773.
• The Lewis and Clark Expedition (May 1804 - September 1806): Also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, it was the first American expedition to cross the western portion of the United States.

American Trivia and General Facts

Currency

• One-Dollar Bill: George Washington
• Five-Dollar Bill: Abraham Lincoln

Geography

• Longest River: Missouri River
• Highest Mountain: Denali (or Mt. McKinley)
• The Great Lakes: Located in the northeast of the USA at the Canadian border (e.g., Lake Michigan).
• The Rocky Mountains: Located in the western US, including states like Wyoming.

Miscellaneous

• CNN Founder: Ted Turner
• Chicago's Nicknames: "The Windy City" or "The City in a Garden"

US Presidential Election Process

Prerequisites for Running for President

• Must be a natural-born US citizen.
• Must have resided in the USA for at least 14 years.
• Must be at least 35 years old.

Key Terminology

• Incumbent President: A president who runs again for the presidency.
• Caucuses: A meeting of members or supporters of a specific political party.
• Primaries: A direct process of electing candidates and delegates.
• Open Primaries: Everybody can vote.
• Closed Primaries: Only registered party members (e.g., registered Democrats) can vote.

Election Concepts

• Party conventions are held in July.
• Blue States: States that typically vote for Democrats.
• Red States: States that typically vote for Republicans.
• Swing States: States that change their electoral preferences between elections.