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★Module 1
Cultural Notes
1. 10 Facts about New York
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It was named after an Englishman, the Duke of York.
It used to be called New Amsterdam.
The United Nations is based in New York
It is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the world with people from
all over the world including Russia, China, Italy, Ireland and Germany.
It is sometimes called the ‘Big Apple’.
Michael Jordan, one of the most famous basketball players of all time, is
from New York.
From 1779 to 1780, New York City was the capital of the USA.
New York is made up of several islands; Staten Island, Long Island and
Manhattan Island, but a part of it is on the mainland. New York City is in the
state of New York.
The Dutch bought Manhattan Island from the Native American’s for about
24 American dollars..
In the middle of Manhattan Island is a famous park called Central Park.
2. 10 Facts about The American Flag
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It was on August 3rd, 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress
designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
There are currently 50 stars on the USA flag and nine presidents have served
under the current flag.
Each star represents a state in America.
Each time a new state joins the USA, a new ‘official’ flag is produced.
The first flag had 13 stars as there were only 13 states at that time.
The flag is mentioned in the national anthem. In fact, the words were inspired
by the flag.
Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became the national anthem. He saw a
massive flag flying over the American camp
The flag that Scott Key saw was made by Mary Pickersgrill. This flag still
survives and now hangs at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of
American History.
The flag is often called the ‘Star Spangled Banner’
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There is a museum dedicated to the flag in Baltimore. The museum is
actually in the house where Mary Pickersgrill made the flag that Scott Key
saw.
3. Some Symbols of America
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The Bald Headed Eagle
The Bald Headed Eagle is the symbol bird of the United States of America. It
is a large eagle with a white-feathered head and neck. The Bald Headed Eagle
represents the traits of courage, independence and strength
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The Statute of Liberty
The statute of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the
people of France. She stands in the middle of the harbor of New York City.
She is a symbol of hope and freedom for immigrants.
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Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is the bell placed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. It was rung on July 8, 1776 to proclaim the independence of the
United States of America from England. It cracked in 1835.
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Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is the formal statement, written by Thomas
Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress, declaring the
thirteen American colonies free and independent of Great Britain. There were
56 signers.
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4th of July
The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. This is the
birthday of the United States of America. It is usually celebrated with
fireworks displays. Fireworks represent the battle of the War of 1812 which
Francis Scott Keys saw when he wrote the Star Spangled Banner, the national
anthem of the USA.