Lucas Delmeiren
EL&C: USA
Table of contents
0. The American Dream and Statue of Liberty........................................................................................6
0.1. The American Dream...................................................................................................................6
0.2. Statue of Liberty..........................................................................................................................6
1. Geography..........................................................................................................................................7
1.1. General information.....................................................................................................................7
1.1.1. States and surface area.........................................................................................................7
1.1.2. Main geographical landmarks...............................................................................................7
1.2. Regions and states.......................................................................................................................7
1.2.1. 5 regions...............................................................................................................................7
1.2.2. The Northeast.......................................................................................................................7
1.2.3. The Midwest.........................................................................................................................7
1.2.4. The Northwest......................................................................................................................8
1.2.5. The Southwest......................................................................................................................8
1.2.6. The South..............................................................................................................................8
1.3. Map.............................................................................................................................................9
1.3.1. Important cities.....................................................................................................................9
2. Demographics...................................................................................................................................10
2.1. Population: general figures........................................................................................................10
2.1.1. Population...........................................................................................................................10
2.1.2. Population growth..............................................................................................................10
2.1.3. Race and ethnicity..............................................................................................................10
2.2. Immigration...............................................................................................................................10
2.2.1. Immigration over the years.................................................................................................10
2.3. Religion......................................................................................................................................10
2.3.1. USA as a religious country...................................................................................................10
2.4. Polarized nation.........................................................................................................................11
2.4.1. Blue and red states.............................................................................................................11
2.4.2. Identifying as Republican or Democrat...............................................................................11
3. History..............................................................................................................................................12
3.1. Up to 1775.................................................................................................................................12
3.1.1. The New World...................................................................................................................12
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,Lucas Delmeiren
3.1.2. First successful English settlement: Jamestown Virginia.....................................................12
3.1.3. The Origins of Slavery: 1619...............................................................................................13
3.1.4. Thanksgiving.......................................................................................................................13
3.1.5. Colonies..............................................................................................................................13
3.1.6. The French and Indian War (1754 – 1763)..........................................................................14
3.1.7. Boston Tea Party.................................................................................................................14
3.1.8. Political campaign for independence..................................................................................15
3.2. Revolutionary War to Civil War (1776 – 1860)...........................................................................16
3.2.1. The Revolutionary War (1776 – 1783)................................................................................16
3.2.2. The Constitution (1787 – 1789)..........................................................................................16
3.2.3. Western Frontier.................................................................................................................16
3.2.4. The Louisiana Purchase (1803)...........................................................................................17
3.2.5. Native Americans................................................................................................................17
3.2.6. Further expansion...............................................................................................................17
3.2.7. The Industrial Revolution....................................................................................................18
3.2.8. Slavery................................................................................................................................18
3.2.9. Frederick Douglass..............................................................................................................18
3.2.10. Political build-up to Civil War............................................................................................19
3.3. Civil War to WWI (1861 – 1918).................................................................................................20
3.3.1. General facts about the Civil War.......................................................................................20
3.3.2. The Union (North) vs. The Confederacy (South).................................................................20
3.3.3. The Fortunes of War...........................................................................................................20
3.3.4. The tide turns in favour of the North (1863 – 1865)...........................................................20
3.3.5. Lincoln’s legacy...................................................................................................................21
3.3.6. “How the West was won” (1862 – 1890)............................................................................21
3.3.7. Cowboys.............................................................................................................................21
3.3.8. Indians................................................................................................................................22
3.3.9. Birth of the modern city......................................................................................................22
3.3.10. The rich get richer.............................................................................................................23
3.3.11. While the poor…...............................................................................................................23
3.3.12. Meanwhile down South....................................................................................................23
3.3.13. The US expands again (1895 – 1901)................................................................................23
3.3.14. Early 20th century: time of progress..................................................................................24
3.3.15. World War I (1914 – 1918)................................................................................................24
3.4. Post WWI to WWII (1919 – 1945)..............................................................................................24
3.4.1. Social unrest after WWI......................................................................................................24
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,Lucas Delmeiren
3.4.2. Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)................................................................................................25
3.4.3. The Jazz Age........................................................................................................................25
3.4.4. Prohibition (1920 – 1933)...................................................................................................25
3.4.5. The Roaring 20s in entertainment.......................................................................................25
3.4.6. After the roaring 20s, the crash…........................................................................................26
3.4.7. The ‘Dustbowl’....................................................................................................................26
3.4.8. The New Deal (1933 – 1941)...............................................................................................26
3.4.9. WWII: America stands on the sidelines (1939 – 1941)........................................................26
3.4.10. WWII: A two-front war for the US.....................................................................................27
3.4.11. The end of the war (on two fronts)...................................................................................27
3.4.12. The Home Front during WWII...........................................................................................27
3.4.13. How WWII changed America............................................................................................28
3.5. Post-WWII to 9/11 (1945 – 2001)..............................................................................................28
3.5.1. 50s: The Age of Affluence...................................................................................................28
3.5.2. 50s: The Age of Paranoia.....................................................................................................29
3.5.3. The campaign for civil rights 50s.........................................................................................29
3.5.4. 60s......................................................................................................................................29
3.5.5. President John F. Kennedy..................................................................................................29
3.5.6. The campaign for civil rights early 60s................................................................................30
3.5.7. The Vietnam War (1955 – 1975).........................................................................................30
3.5.8. Violence sweeps America in late 60s..................................................................................30
3.5.9. The Moon landing in 1969..................................................................................................31
3.5.10. Watergate 1972 – 1974.....................................................................................................31
3.5.11. 70s....................................................................................................................................31
3.5.12. 80s....................................................................................................................................31
3.5.13. Ronald Reagan..................................................................................................................31
3.5.14. 90s....................................................................................................................................32
3.5.15. Early 2000s........................................................................................................................32
3.6. 9/11 and after............................................................................................................................32
3.6.1. 9/11 and its aftermath........................................................................................................32
3.6.2. Second Gulf War.................................................................................................................33
3.6.3. The Great Recession...........................................................................................................33
3.6.4. Barack Obama.....................................................................................................................33
3.6.5. Donald J. Trump..................................................................................................................33
3.6.6. Trump’s record and legacy..................................................................................................34
3.6.7. Storming of the US Capitol..................................................................................................34
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, Lucas Delmeiren
3.6.8. What is next for the US.......................................................................................................34
4. Political institutions..........................................................................................................................34
4.1. The Constitution........................................................................................................................34
4.1.1. The Constitution.................................................................................................................34
4.1.2. The Bill of Rights.................................................................................................................35
4.2. System of ‘Checks and Balances’................................................................................................35
4.2.1. Why the separation of powers?..........................................................................................35
4.3. Congress....................................................................................................................................35
4.3.1. Houses of Congress.............................................................................................................35
4.3.2. The House of Representatives (‘The House’)......................................................................35
4.3.3. The Senate..........................................................................................................................36
4.3.4. How democratic is the Senate?...........................................................................................36
4.3.5. Main function of Congress..................................................................................................36
4.4. Political parties..........................................................................................................................37
4.4.1. Two main parties................................................................................................................37
4.4.2. Differences between Democrats and Republicans..............................................................37
4.4.3. What are state governments in charge of?.........................................................................38
4.4.4. Gerrymandering..................................................................................................................38
4.5. President....................................................................................................................................38
4.5.1. Powers and duties of the President (‘POTUS’)....................................................................38
4.5.2. The Cabinet.........................................................................................................................39
4.5.3. Modes of transport.............................................................................................................39
4.5.4. Qualifications of the President and Presidential term........................................................39
4.5.5. Presidential election campaigns: from candidate to nominee............................................39
4.5.6. Presidential election campaigns: from nominee to President.............................................40
4.5.7. Election of the President.....................................................................................................40
4.5.8. What is the electoral college?.............................................................................................40
4.5.9. Vice-President.....................................................................................................................40
4.5.10. Overview of US Presidents................................................................................................41
4.6. Supreme Court...........................................................................................................................41
4.6.1. Supreme Court....................................................................................................................41
4.7. Differences and similarities between US and Belgian political institutions................................41
4.7.1. Similarities..........................................................................................................................41
4.7.2. Differences..........................................................................................................................42
5. Education..........................................................................................................................................42
5.1. General......................................................................................................................................42
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EL&C: USA
Table of contents
0. The American Dream and Statue of Liberty........................................................................................6
0.1. The American Dream...................................................................................................................6
0.2. Statue of Liberty..........................................................................................................................6
1. Geography..........................................................................................................................................7
1.1. General information.....................................................................................................................7
1.1.1. States and surface area.........................................................................................................7
1.1.2. Main geographical landmarks...............................................................................................7
1.2. Regions and states.......................................................................................................................7
1.2.1. 5 regions...............................................................................................................................7
1.2.2. The Northeast.......................................................................................................................7
1.2.3. The Midwest.........................................................................................................................7
1.2.4. The Northwest......................................................................................................................8
1.2.5. The Southwest......................................................................................................................8
1.2.6. The South..............................................................................................................................8
1.3. Map.............................................................................................................................................9
1.3.1. Important cities.....................................................................................................................9
2. Demographics...................................................................................................................................10
2.1. Population: general figures........................................................................................................10
2.1.1. Population...........................................................................................................................10
2.1.2. Population growth..............................................................................................................10
2.1.3. Race and ethnicity..............................................................................................................10
2.2. Immigration...............................................................................................................................10
2.2.1. Immigration over the years.................................................................................................10
2.3. Religion......................................................................................................................................10
2.3.1. USA as a religious country...................................................................................................10
2.4. Polarized nation.........................................................................................................................11
2.4.1. Blue and red states.............................................................................................................11
2.4.2. Identifying as Republican or Democrat...............................................................................11
3. History..............................................................................................................................................12
3.1. Up to 1775.................................................................................................................................12
3.1.1. The New World...................................................................................................................12
1
,Lucas Delmeiren
3.1.2. First successful English settlement: Jamestown Virginia.....................................................12
3.1.3. The Origins of Slavery: 1619...............................................................................................13
3.1.4. Thanksgiving.......................................................................................................................13
3.1.5. Colonies..............................................................................................................................13
3.1.6. The French and Indian War (1754 – 1763)..........................................................................14
3.1.7. Boston Tea Party.................................................................................................................14
3.1.8. Political campaign for independence..................................................................................15
3.2. Revolutionary War to Civil War (1776 – 1860)...........................................................................16
3.2.1. The Revolutionary War (1776 – 1783)................................................................................16
3.2.2. The Constitution (1787 – 1789)..........................................................................................16
3.2.3. Western Frontier.................................................................................................................16
3.2.4. The Louisiana Purchase (1803)...........................................................................................17
3.2.5. Native Americans................................................................................................................17
3.2.6. Further expansion...............................................................................................................17
3.2.7. The Industrial Revolution....................................................................................................18
3.2.8. Slavery................................................................................................................................18
3.2.9. Frederick Douglass..............................................................................................................18
3.2.10. Political build-up to Civil War............................................................................................19
3.3. Civil War to WWI (1861 – 1918).................................................................................................20
3.3.1. General facts about the Civil War.......................................................................................20
3.3.2. The Union (North) vs. The Confederacy (South).................................................................20
3.3.3. The Fortunes of War...........................................................................................................20
3.3.4. The tide turns in favour of the North (1863 – 1865)...........................................................20
3.3.5. Lincoln’s legacy...................................................................................................................21
3.3.6. “How the West was won” (1862 – 1890)............................................................................21
3.3.7. Cowboys.............................................................................................................................21
3.3.8. Indians................................................................................................................................22
3.3.9. Birth of the modern city......................................................................................................22
3.3.10. The rich get richer.............................................................................................................23
3.3.11. While the poor…...............................................................................................................23
3.3.12. Meanwhile down South....................................................................................................23
3.3.13. The US expands again (1895 – 1901)................................................................................23
3.3.14. Early 20th century: time of progress..................................................................................24
3.3.15. World War I (1914 – 1918)................................................................................................24
3.4. Post WWI to WWII (1919 – 1945)..............................................................................................24
3.4.1. Social unrest after WWI......................................................................................................24
2
,Lucas Delmeiren
3.4.2. Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)................................................................................................25
3.4.3. The Jazz Age........................................................................................................................25
3.4.4. Prohibition (1920 – 1933)...................................................................................................25
3.4.5. The Roaring 20s in entertainment.......................................................................................25
3.4.6. After the roaring 20s, the crash…........................................................................................26
3.4.7. The ‘Dustbowl’....................................................................................................................26
3.4.8. The New Deal (1933 – 1941)...............................................................................................26
3.4.9. WWII: America stands on the sidelines (1939 – 1941)........................................................26
3.4.10. WWII: A two-front war for the US.....................................................................................27
3.4.11. The end of the war (on two fronts)...................................................................................27
3.4.12. The Home Front during WWII...........................................................................................27
3.4.13. How WWII changed America............................................................................................28
3.5. Post-WWII to 9/11 (1945 – 2001)..............................................................................................28
3.5.1. 50s: The Age of Affluence...................................................................................................28
3.5.2. 50s: The Age of Paranoia.....................................................................................................29
3.5.3. The campaign for civil rights 50s.........................................................................................29
3.5.4. 60s......................................................................................................................................29
3.5.5. President John F. Kennedy..................................................................................................29
3.5.6. The campaign for civil rights early 60s................................................................................30
3.5.7. The Vietnam War (1955 – 1975).........................................................................................30
3.5.8. Violence sweeps America in late 60s..................................................................................30
3.5.9. The Moon landing in 1969..................................................................................................31
3.5.10. Watergate 1972 – 1974.....................................................................................................31
3.5.11. 70s....................................................................................................................................31
3.5.12. 80s....................................................................................................................................31
3.5.13. Ronald Reagan..................................................................................................................31
3.5.14. 90s....................................................................................................................................32
3.5.15. Early 2000s........................................................................................................................32
3.6. 9/11 and after............................................................................................................................32
3.6.1. 9/11 and its aftermath........................................................................................................32
3.6.2. Second Gulf War.................................................................................................................33
3.6.3. The Great Recession...........................................................................................................33
3.6.4. Barack Obama.....................................................................................................................33
3.6.5. Donald J. Trump..................................................................................................................33
3.6.6. Trump’s record and legacy..................................................................................................34
3.6.7. Storming of the US Capitol..................................................................................................34
3
, Lucas Delmeiren
3.6.8. What is next for the US.......................................................................................................34
4. Political institutions..........................................................................................................................34
4.1. The Constitution........................................................................................................................34
4.1.1. The Constitution.................................................................................................................34
4.1.2. The Bill of Rights.................................................................................................................35
4.2. System of ‘Checks and Balances’................................................................................................35
4.2.1. Why the separation of powers?..........................................................................................35
4.3. Congress....................................................................................................................................35
4.3.1. Houses of Congress.............................................................................................................35
4.3.2. The House of Representatives (‘The House’)......................................................................35
4.3.3. The Senate..........................................................................................................................36
4.3.4. How democratic is the Senate?...........................................................................................36
4.3.5. Main function of Congress..................................................................................................36
4.4. Political parties..........................................................................................................................37
4.4.1. Two main parties................................................................................................................37
4.4.2. Differences between Democrats and Republicans..............................................................37
4.4.3. What are state governments in charge of?.........................................................................38
4.4.4. Gerrymandering..................................................................................................................38
4.5. President....................................................................................................................................38
4.5.1. Powers and duties of the President (‘POTUS’)....................................................................38
4.5.2. The Cabinet.........................................................................................................................39
4.5.3. Modes of transport.............................................................................................................39
4.5.4. Qualifications of the President and Presidential term........................................................39
4.5.5. Presidential election campaigns: from candidate to nominee............................................39
4.5.6. Presidential election campaigns: from nominee to President.............................................40
4.5.7. Election of the President.....................................................................................................40
4.5.8. What is the electoral college?.............................................................................................40
4.5.9. Vice-President.....................................................................................................................40
4.5.10. Overview of US Presidents................................................................................................41
4.6. Supreme Court...........................................................................................................................41
4.6.1. Supreme Court....................................................................................................................41
4.7. Differences and similarities between US and Belgian political institutions................................41
4.7.1. Similarities..........................................................................................................................41
4.7.2. Differences..........................................................................................................................42
5. Education..........................................................................................................................................42
5.1. General......................................................................................................................................42
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