American Studies – Landeskunde
1. Geography and Economy
Physical Regions od the United States
Contemporary cultural regions
- Orange – region
- Yellow – subregion
John Gast: American Progress (1872) – Painting
- Big territory – fight against distance → Straight line Borders no matter the surface
- Drive towards the west (great need for mobility)
- Many differences between states – culture and city / rural area
- Suburbs much larger than in Europe
- Hurricans go far North/South bc. The mountains are N/S
Economy in the US used to be the biggest – now its China
Conservative ppl in the south – uneducated and more poor areas
2. History to 1898
When does US History begin?
- 1492: Discovery of America by Columbus -> already 10 Mio ppl
- 1776: Declaration of independence
- 1789: Constitution of the United States
- 1619: First African slaves to America
History and the Past are not the same – story depends on who is telling it, what perspective
Most important events from the perspective of:
American Politics:
o Puritans: Pilgrim Fathers – religious freedom
o New colonies on a newly discovered continent, early colonists 1600 (Jamestown)
o Mayflower compact
o Boston Tea Party: 1773
o John Winthrop: shining city upon a hill (guide, destination)
o War of independence/revolutionary war: 1775-1783
