The review of the states.The United States of America is a federal Union (federation)which is made up of fifty states and one independent district – the District of Columbia (D.C.) The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA – Washington. Each state has its own government, laws and regulations, slogan, nickname and state emblems. The territory of New England comprises 6 states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island. Unofficial names or nicknames of the states reflect their peculiar features concerning geographical position of the state, its history, traditions and way of life. Thus, Vermont is called “The Green Mountain State” as it lies in the Green Mountains. The people living there is called “Green Mountain boys”. New Hampshire is “the White Mountain state”. Skiing is a major source of income in this state. Massachusetts is called “The Bay State” due to its geographical position. Boston is the capital of this state. It is famous for Harvard University which is located not far from Boston and considered to be oldest and the most privileged University in the USA. Boston is also associated with Boston Tea Party. Connecticut is the state which has three nicknames: “The Constitution State”, “The nutmeg State”, and “The brown stone State”. Rhode Island is one of the smallest states. That’s why it is called “Little Rhody”. Alaska is the largest state and its nickname is “The Great Land”. California is called “The Golden State”. There are gold mines on its territory. Gold – rush days are connected with California. New York State is famous for New York, one of the largest cities in the world. However, New York isn’t the capital city. Pennsylvania with its largest city Philadelphia, the first capital of the USA, is known for the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution. North Dakota is the exact geographical centre of North America. South Dakota is famous for a memorial to four famous presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Their heads are carved on a granite cliff of Mount Rushmore. Kansas is the geographical centre of the USA. Its nicknames are “The Sunshine State” and “The Central State”. Wyoming is called “The Equality State” because it is the first state where women where given the right to vote. Colorado is known to be a highest state in the country: there are 52 peaks there. Utah has a nickname “The Salt Lake State”. Great Salt Lake is situated on the territory of this state. The capital of the state is also called Salt Lake City. Nevada is nicknamed “the Silver State”. Rich deposits of gold and silver were discovered in 1859. Los Vegas is the largest city in this state. It is known all over the world as the city where a great number of gambling casinos, night clubs and other places of entertainment are located. Illinois is called “the Land of Lincoln” due to the fact that Abraham Lincoln began his political activities there. Chicago, the 2nd largest city after New York, is situated in this state. Arizona is “the Grand Canyon State”. The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. Four Indian tribes live in this region. New Mexico is famous for Carsbad Caverns, huge underground caves. Oklahoma is an Indian territory. Montana is “the Treasure State”. Its slogan is “Gold and Silver”. In the middle of the 19th century gold was discovered there. Cold winters and considerable snowfalls are typical for the climate of this state. Minnesota is called “the Bread and Butter State” or “the Wheat State”. New Jersey is known as “the Garden State”. West Virginia is famous for its colourful caverns. Virginia has a nickname “the Old Dominion of Mother of Presidents”. This state was settled by the English colonists and was nicknamed after Elisabeth I, the Queen of England. Florida is a resort area famous for unique beaches. Delaware has nickname “the First State”. It was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the USA. Michigan is called “the Lake State”. It is situated in the valley of the Great Lakes. Nebraska’s nickname is “the Blackwater State”. The water of its rivers is dark. Check yourself 1. What native American holidays can you name? 2. What nicknames and emblems of states can you remember?
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