Plan: usa is federal republic

Theme: USA
Plan:
1.USA is federal republic
2.American holidays
3.Interesting facts about US

The USA (United States of America) is a rich and powerful country in the continent of North America. It is made up of 50 smaller states and the capital city is Washington DC. America has borders with Canada to its north and borders Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Alaska is situated in the extreme north west of America; because the islands of Hawaii are also part of the USA, the country extends into the Pacific Ocean too.
The United States of America (USA or US) is a diverse, multi-cultural country;
States of America is the fourth largest country in the world, but ranks third for population size. Each part of the country – the northeast, south, Midwest, southeast and western regions – has its own traditions, customs and landscapes, from the frozen north of Alaska to the desert south in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
The USA is made up of 50 states. The USA is a federal republic.
America's huge land is made up of many cities, suburbs and smaller towns. Big cities can be found in every state and each state will often have its own unique landmarks, foods, celebrations and dialects. American landscapes include fertile farmlands, coastal plains, prairie grasslands (the Great Plains) and lakes, mountain ranges, deserts and canyons.
The US has a long industrial heritage. Manufacturing, farming, commerce and tourism are vital to the economy, and New York City is the world's main financial centre.
Hollywood in California is the movie centre of the world and has been since the late 1800s. The first motion picture studio was built in Hollywood in 1919 and the area is still a world leader in film-making today. The people of America are very diverse and include Native Americans, people of European origin, Latin American origin, African Americans and Cajuns (French-Canadians). There is no wider range of racial, ethnic, and cultural heritage in any other country in the world.
The USA is home to many different animal species, from polar bears in the frozen north and eagles and pumas in the mountains to alligators in the swamps of Florida in the south. The grassy plains of the Midwest used to be home to millions of buffalo or bison; most of them now live in national parks where they are protected from hunting.
There is huge diversity in the plants that grow in the USA, too – in the northeastern US maple trees (source of delicious maple syrup!) grow, in the deserts of the south west cactuses are common and on the northwest coast there are giant redwood trees, the tallest trees in the world. The farmland in the Midwest generates more wheat and maize than anywhere else in the world. The West is home to huge cattle ranches where livestock is raised.
The first people to live in North America were Native Americans. In the 17th century European settlers arrived in America. The American War of Independence, or Revolutionary War, led to the birth of the United States. The 4th July, Independence Day, is a hugely important national holiday in America, when Americans celebrate their independence from Great Britain and the birth of their nation.
The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, when the Pilgrims (settlers from Europe) and the Native Americans met to celebrate a successful harvest. Today Thanksgiving is a very important American family holiday, when people gather to share a meal and give thanks for their blessings.
During the Civil War American states fought against each other. Before the Civil War, cotton in the southeastern states was the main crop and it was picked by slaves. Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865.
In the 20th century the USA established itself as one of the world's most powerful nations, playing an important role in WWI, WWII and in world events since 1945.
In the 1960s Martin Luther King Jr was the main leader of the Civil Rights movement, demanding justice for African Americans.
Music is a huge part of American culture. Jazz is a traditional American style of music, influenced by African music and culture. Other forms of music which originated in the US but are popular around the world include gospel, country and western, rap, rock and roll, bluegrass and rhythm and blues.
America has become famous for its "junk food" including burgers, fries and soda pop (known as fizzy drinks in the UK). American people also love pizza, Mexican and Chinese food, brought to the USA by the immigrants who make up modern American culture. American holidays are various in characters. Some of them are religious and some are connected with American history. American holidays are almost always celebrated by gathering together family and friends. There are often traditional meals. There are ten main holidays in the USA. They are:
1. New Year. New Year’s Eve is celebrated on December 31. At midnight, bells ring, horns blow and friends exchange hugs and kisses. Everyone stays up late to celebrate the arrival of another year. New Year’s Day is traditionally the time to start new programmes and give up bad habits. In big cities it is celebrated with parades, sporting events and fireworks.
2. Valentine’s Day. On February 14, or St. Valentine’s Day, people in America remind the people who are important to them that they are loved. Husbands and wives, parents and children, children and teachers give each other cards and candy that show how they really feel.
3. Easter. Easter is a religious holiday that comes on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Christians believe that Christ rose from the dead on Easter. Other people celebrate Easter as a sign of the coming of spring. Americans paint eggs pretty colours and give them as gifts to children. According to tradition, a rabbit called the “Easter Bunny” brings the eggs and hides them for children to find.
4. Memorial or Decoration Day. This holiday comes on May 30 and is dedicated to the servicemen who gave their lives in past wars. Schools, clubs and churches decorate cemeteries and hold memorial services. They hang American flags on the main streets of towns.
5. The Fourth of July (Independence Day). This is the biggest national holiday of the USA. It is celebrated as the birthday of the country, because on this day in 1776, the colonies declared their independence from the British Crown and became the United States of America. On Independence Day, Americans march in parades and gather with friends and family. They cook hamburgers and hot dogs over a fire. In the evening, people watch fireworks.
6. Labour Day. This is the holiday dedicated to the American working class and comes on the first Monday of September. It marks the beginning of autumn and is the last real holiday of summer. Many families take a vacation the week before Labour Day, as it is the end of summer vacation before the beginning of school.
7. Halloween. October 31 is a day when people, mostly children, dress up in costumes, enjoy parties, and collect candy from their neighbours, saying “Trick or treat.” The tradition started because, according to superstition, October 31 is the last day that spirits and devils can roam the earth before “All Hallows Day,” a holy day in the church. This means that the day before is “All Hallows Evening,” which has been shortened to “Halloween”. On this day, many people hollow out a pumpkin, carve a face into it and place a candle inside, making a glowing head called a jack-o-lantern.
8. Veterans’ Day. This comes on November 11 and is usually marked with parades and ceremonies in which people honour those who have served in the country’s military.
9. Thanksgiving Day. This holiday comes on the fourth Thursday in November and is a national holiday too; it is the day for being thankful for what one has and for the harvest. The tradition began when, in the 17th century, the colonists from Plymouth colony in Massachusetts held a big harvest celebration with their Native American friends who had helped them grow food after a terrible harvest the previous year. On Thanksgiving Day, families traditionally eat roast turkey. People travel long distances in order to be with their family on this holiday.
10. Christmas. Christmas is a religious celebration. It is celebrated on December 25 as the birthday of Christ. It is a family holiday, and every house tries to have a Christmas tree, which is brightly decorated. As a rule, presents for children, relatives and close friends are placed under the tree. There are many traditional songs, sweets and treats associated with Christmas. According to tradition, a mythical grandfatherly old man named “Santa Claus” brings presents to all the children while they are sleeping. He places them in the stockings (socks) that they leave for him to fill.
There are many other holidays that almost everyone in the USA celebrates. Among them are St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and April Fools Day.
Interesting facts about USA:
1. Although Washington DC is the USA's capital, the largest US city is New York, with a population of over 8 million people. The USA is home to a population of over 318 million people.
2. The currency is the US dollar. 'In God We Trust' (which is printed on dollar bills) is considered the national motto of America.
3. The United States is such a large country that it has many different climates and even three different time zones!
4. The US is home to spectacular landscapes, from snowy mountains to arid deserts, huge forests and vast grasslands.
5. The main religion is Christianity. After English, Spanish is the most-spoken language.
6. Native Americans, the first people to live in North America, crossed from Asia at least 10,000 years ago.
7. The United States of America was established as a country on July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was issued. 
8. The first state in the USA was Delaware (ratified in 1787); the last was Hawaii, which became the fiftieth state in 1959.
9. Silicon Valley in California is the centre of the world's computer industry.
10. Baseball, American football, basketball and ice hockey are the most popular sports to watch (and play!).
References:

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   Budiman, A. & Ruiz, N. G. (2021b). Key facts about Asian Americans, a diverse and growing population. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/29/key-facts-about-asian-americans/
   
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   Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division. (2019). International Migration 2019: Report (ST/ESA/SER.A/438). United Nations.Retrievedfrom https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/publications/migrationreport/docs/InternationalMigration2019_Report.pdf
   
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   www.native-english.ru