N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (doc) (798446), страница 2
Текст из файла (страница 2)
The United States Constitution was written in 1787, but it came into use in 1789. The Constitution established the country's political system and is the basis for its laws. The United States has experienced enormous growth and change. Yet the Constitution works as well today as when it was written. One reason is that the Constitution can be amended, or changed.
The United States has a federal system. This means that there are individual states, each with its own government, and there is a federal, or a national government. The Constitution gives certain powers to the federal government, other powers to the state governments, and yet other powers to both.
Words and Phrases:
to depend on/upon - зависеть от
independence - независимость
independent - независимый
wing - крыло
bearer - выразитель
to signify - означать
significance - значение
significant - значительный
to advance - продвигаться вперед
to decide - решать
decision - решение
decisive influence- решающее влияние
to influence - влиять
to establish - устанавливать
to amend - дополнять
amendment - поправка
advanced views - передовые взгляды
establishment - учреждение, организация
Tasks:
1. Answer the following questions:
a. When is the birthday of the US?
b. Who is the author of the US Declaration?
c- When did the United States Constitution come into use? d. What system does the US have?
2. True or False?
a. the Constitution of the US gives rights only to the federal government;
b. the US has not experienced great growth and change in its life;
c- the United States Constitution is not the basis for the country's laws.
AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
George Washington (1732-1799)
In 1775-1783 America fought against Great Britain for freedom and indepen, dence. It was an unusual war, which was fought on the American side by farmers mechanics, tradesmen, fishermen and others. Ordinary men and women got ц on their feet and after seven years' fighting with the help of France and French Fleet won. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Congress or July 4, 1776. Since then the 4th of July has been considered to be a great public holiday in America.
Speaking about American Revolutionary War of Independence one must say a few words about the first American president George Washington. At the start of the revolution George Washington was a planter and his tastes were peaceful. But when his country needed him, he left his "Mount Vernon", the house, which he loved so much, and served for seven years without pay as Commander-in-Chief of the American army.
On May 10, 1775, George Washington was elected by the Congress to command the American army against the British forces. When he arrived in Cambridge, he found the army without military training and set about drilling and training soldiers and the American army was soon able to drive the British forces from Boston.
On April 6,1789, G. Washington was unanimously elected the President of the US. He was elected twice, but he refused to be the President for a third time. He was a firm, dignified, but cautious and unaggressive chief executive, strongly opposed to party lines in home affairs and advocating America's neutrality as its predominant foreign policy. Americans say about Washington that he was "first in war, in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". In his honour the first permanent capital of the United States, founded in 1791, is named Washington. The US commemorated his memory for generations to come.
Words and Phrases:
fight - битва, сражение
cautious - предусмотрительный
to commemorate - увековечивать
to get up on the feet- подняться, восстать
to drill - обучать, муштровать войска
drilling - обучение, тренировка
predominant - преобладающий
Commander-in-Chief - главнокомандующий
to fight (fought) - сражаться
dignified - достойный
to drive - двигаться
tastes - зд. намерения
to adopt - принимать
adoption - принятие
permanent - постоянный
unanimously - единодушно
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most famous presidents of the USA. He was born in the family of a poor farmer in 1809 in Kentucky, but soon his family left for the
wild forest land of Indiana. He was taught reading, writing and simple arithmetic, as his family could not afford better education. When he was 18, he went to New Orleans and there he saw a slave market. It made a deep impression on him and he began to hate slavery and decided to fight against it. In 1830 he went to Springfield and became a clerk in a store. He learned much and greatly improved his knowledge. He was a self-educated man of great will-power with practically no schooling. He managed to pass the examinations as a lawyer and for a number of years he practiced law in his native state Illinois. He entered politics and in 1872 became a candidate for the Parliament of his state. Soon he became a force in political life and in 1860 was elected the 16th President of the USA.
He was an enemy of slavery. Some of the Southern States left the Union and the war between the South and the North began. At firstthe war went badly for the North, but Lincoln never lost his courage and soon they won. When the war was over, Lincoln issued a proclamation to say that slavery was abolished.
1. Practice with your partner answering questions:
a. When did America fight against Great Britain for freedom and indepen-
dence?
b. What can you say about the first American President?
c. When did George Washington become the first American President?
d. How did Americans commemorate their first President?
2. True or False?
a. Abraham Lincoln was the first American President, was not he?
b. Abraham Lincoln was elected a candidate for Congress from the state Cali-
fornia, was not he?
c. Abraham Lincoln was an enemy of slavery, was not he?
3. Explain your point of view to the words of Lincoln: "The Government that is
of the people, by the people and for the people will never perish on this Earth".
NOW HE BELONGS TO THE AGES
The 14th of April 1865 was a tragic day in the history of the United States. On the evening of that day, President Abraham Lincoln went to Ford's Theatre in Washington to see a play, which was popular at the time and never returned.
The day had started for the President with the usual office duties. The city of Washington D.C. was still in a happy mood. The weather was fine, the sky was cloudless, a fresh spring wind was blowing about flags on private and govern* ment buildings. The war had only ended a few days before, and the whole country continued to celebrate.
The theatre visit for that evening was planned by Mrs. Lincoln. The President usually enjoyed going to the theatre and went very often. But this evening he had no wish to go. He felt very tired all day and looked upset. He finally decided to go, however, because it had been announced in the newspapers that the President would be present at Ford's Theatre.
The President arrived at the theatre when the play had already begun. When he appeared in the box, the audience greeted him with a storm of applause and the performance was interrupted for a moment. Then the play went on.
At about ten o'clock an actor named John Booth came into the theatre and walked directly towards Lincoln's box. He noiselessly opened the door, approached the President so that his gun was only a short distance from his head, took aim and fired. The President fell forward in his chair. Booth immediately jumped from the box to the stage. He landed heavily, gave a cry of pain and had to lie still for a moment. Then he got up with difficulty and slowly walked to the back of the stage. His leg was broken, but he was able to get outside where a horse was waiting for him. The audience saw him do all this, but they thought that it was all part of the play. Then suddenly they heard a woman's voice cry out: "The President has been killed." It was Mrs. Lincoln cry.
Immediately a young doctor from the audience hurried to the box. After he examined Lincoln, he said that the President had only a few hours to live. Lincoln was lifted from his chair and carried to a house opposite the theatre, where he remained until his death the next morning. When he died, one of the people in the room said: "Now he belongs to the ages." These words have since become famous.
to return-возвращаться
return-возвращение
to greet-приветствовать
greetings-приветствия
to celebrate-праздновать
celebration-празднование
performance - постановка,исполнение
to perform - выполнять, делать
to be in good moods - быть в хорошем настроении
to announce - объявлять
anouncement - объявление
to arrive- прибывать
arrival- прибытие
to be tired- уставать
to be upset-быть расстроеным
approach- подход
Tasks:
1.Describe the city of Washington D.C. on the eve of the tragic event.
2. Ask your group-mate about the event, which took place on the 14th of April in 1865 in the USA.
3.Whom do the words "Now he belongs to ages" refer to?
4. Make up a short dialogue about the President Lincoln s last day.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
At present the Union comprises 50 states administratively united by the Federal Government in Washington, D.C. Now the District of Columbia is a Federal district, not a state and does not belong to any state. The district is named after Columbus. It was established in 1790 on the territory, which was ceded from the State of Maryland by the Act of Congress to become the permanent seat of the
Federal Government.
W.D.C. is, indeed, like no other city of the USA. It is unique among the bustling cities of the US; its population has topped the mark of 1 ml. Its the only industry is a government. As the nation 's capital and seat of the Federal Government, it is the heart of the country. It abounds in national monuments and historic buildings. Conceived by the French-born Piere Charles L'Enfant in 1791, the Federal City remains today much as it was originally designed. Washington, D.C. is rich in fine, freestanding outdoor sculptures.
The Capitol is the center of city. It is situated on Capitol Hill, which is the highest place in the city. Topping the dome is the 19-feet bronze statue of Freedom. There is a law that forbids to build houses higher than the Capitol.
The Capitol is the seat of Congress. It is made of stone and marble and contains 540 rooms. From the Capitol the streets are "lettered" E or W and "numbered". Broad avenues bear the names of states and run diagonally. From the Capitol to the White House runs Pennsylvania Avenue which is rich in history as the scene of every inaugural parade since Thomas Jefferson.
From left are the monumental carved heads of G. Washington, T.Jefferson, T. Roosevelt, A. Lincoln.
The White House on Pennsylvania Avenue has been the official home of every President since 1800 when the capital was moved to Washington from Philadelphia. The site was chosen by G. Washington; the house was designed by James Hoban; the corner-stone was laid in 1792. It has 132 rooms. In the Blue Room the President and the First Lady receive guests and hold diplomatic functions. The Oval Office is the President's office.
The Lincoln Memorial, a marble building, situated at the west end of the Mall, was designed by Henry Bacon and dedicated to Memorial Day - May 30th, in 1922 and to the Great Emancipator 16th President of the USA (1861-1865). Within the broad framework of classical design, the structure has a motif that symbolizes the Union of the States. The 36 columns surrounding the walls of the memorial building represent the 36 States in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. The Marble Statue of Lincoln occupies the place of honor centrally located near the back of the chamber and facing the Washington Monument and the Capitol.
The Washington Monument is one of the city's most impressive sights. It is situated in Potomac Park. The W. Monument in the center of the Mall is a 555-feet marble and granite obelisk commemorating G. Washington. It was erected on February 21, 1885 and opened to the public in 1888. It is called "The Pencil", because it is one of the tallest stone constructions in the world and the tallest stone structure in the US. A National Independence Day Celebration featuring a spectacular display of fire-works is staged on the W.M. grounds each year on July 4.
There are many libraries, museums and art galleries in the city. The National Gallery of Art was completed in 1947 and was accepted by President Fr. D.Roosevelt on behalf of the people of the USA. The paintings and sculptures given by Andrew Mellon, comprising works by the greatest masters from the 14th to the I9th century, have formed a nucleus of high quality from which the collection has grown. It is one of the finest picture galleries in America. The NASA Museum -the US government organisation responsible for space travel and scientific study of space is devoted to the US achievements in the exploration of space.
![](https://s.studizba.com/z.php?f=/templates/si/i/noavatar.png&w=100&h=100&t=1"){kind=avatar}
