World War II

There was bad news from Europe and Asia in the late 1930’s. The governments of Germany, Italy and Japan were trying to gain control of other lands.

Americans read about what was happening in Europe and Asia in their newspapers.

Americans were against the USA getting involved.. But the bombing of Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii by the Japanese in December 1941 brought the United States into the war, first against Japan and then against its allies, Germany and Italy. American, British, and Soviet war planners agreed to concentrate on defeating Germany first. British and American forces landed in North Africa in November 1942, proceeded to Sicily and the Italian mainland in 1943, and liberated Rome on June 4, 1944. Two days later - D-Day of the invasion, June 5, 1944 went into history as D. Day) - Allied forces landed in Normandy. Paris was liberated on August 24, and by September American units had crossed the German border. The Germans finally surrendered on May 5, 1945. The war against Japan came to a swift end in August of 1945, when President Harry Truman ordered the use of atomic bombs against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nearly 200, 000 civilians were killed.

Control questions:

1. How did the war for independence start?

2. What measures did the British leaders take to collect the taxes? What did the tax collectors do? What did the ship owners do to avoid paying the taxes?

3. How did black slaves appear in America?

4. What was the position of black Americans in the first half of the 19^th century? Why didn’t the southern states want to abolish slavery?

5. What did the seceding states call their new nation? Who was Jefferson Davis?

6. When and how was President Lincoln assassinated?

7. When did the Japanese make an attack on Pearl Harbour?

8. Which two Japanese cities were A-bombs dropped on? When did it happen?

Lecture. Theme: Political System.

Plan: 1. The Constitution, Checks and Balances and the Bill of Rights.

2. The American System of Government.

a) Legislative branch

b) Executive branch

c) Judicial branch

3. Political Parties and elections

The aim of the lecture: To get acquainted with the State System. Constitution. Judicial, Legislative and Executive Branches of the USA government. Electoral system and political parties. Administrative divisions and dependent areas.

Key words:

dwelling- жилище

representative - представитель

confederation - конфедерация

veto - вето

ratify - ратифицировать

amendment – поправка, исправление

lobby - кулуары

The content of the lecture: A RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT