🗽 Culture américaine : histoire et société

The United States: history and society

The United States of America (the USA or the US) is one of the most studied countries in English classes. In 4e, you explore its history, its institutions and its society.

A young nation with a complex history

The USA declared independence from Britain on 4 July 1776. This date is still celebrated as Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence, largely written by Thomas Jefferson, proclaimed that *"all men are created equal."*

However, this equality did not include everyone. Slavery (l'esclavage) existed in the country until 1865, when the Civil War (1861-1865) ended and the 13th Amendment abolished it. This painful chapter in American history has had a long-lasting impact on society.

The Civil Rights Movement

In the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans fought for their civil rights. Civil Rights

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was a Baptist pastor and a key leader of this movement. He believed in peaceful protest (la protestation pacifique). His famous speech *"I Have a Dream"* (1963) called for racial equality. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

American institutions

The USA is a federal republic with 50 states. Its government is divided into three branches.

federal republic

• ▸The President lives in the White House in Washington, D.C. He or she is elected every four years.
• ▸The Congress (le Congrès) makes the laws. It is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• ▸The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution.

The national flag, the Stars and Stripes, has 50 stars (one per state) and 13 stripes (for the original colonies).

Society and culture

American society is very diverse. The expression melting pot describes a country built by immigrants from all over the world. Today, the USA has a population of about 330 million people.