Chapter 1 1
Panoramic View 1
1．Geographical position and territory 1
2．Physical features and topography 2
3．Rivers and lakes 5
4．Climate and weather 7
5．Natural resoures 9
6．Time zones 11
7．Commonly used regional terms 12
8．Population，ethnic groups and minorities 13
9．Religion 19
10．Principal cities 21
11．Holidays 28
12．Mass media 33
Chapter 2 36
The U.S.National Econmy 36
1．Framework of the economy 36
2．Productivity 40
3．Geographical distribution of the 40
U.S.economy 40
4．Industry 42
5．Agriculture 48
6．Transportation and Communication 53
1．Colonial period 56
A Short History of the United States 56
Chapter 3 56
2．The War of Independence(1775-1783) 64
3．Forming a Nation 76
4．America during the First Half of the 19th Century 88
5 The Civil War 98
6．The Rise of U.S.Imperialism 109
7．America during and after the First World War 122
8．America during and after the Second World War 137
Chapter 4 163
U.S.System of Government and political parties 163
1．The legislative branch of the U.S. government 163
2．The executive branch of the U.S. government 168
3．The judicial branch of the U.S. government 175
4．Political parties 178
5．History of the two main parties 180
6．The minor political parties 184
Chapter 5 187
Education in America 187
Chapter 6 202
American Customs and Character 202
1．Social customs 202
2．Manners and courtesies in social life 205
3．American character 208
Chapter 7 212
American Family and Youth 212