Statele Unite ale Americii

Tara imensa, cat intregul continent European,cu larga iesire la cele doua
mari oceane ale planetei(Pacific si Atlantic) si cu imense resurse de sol si
subsol,Statele Unite au fost parca predestinate sa domine lumea.
Evenimentele din ultimul deceniu al secolului XX au propulsat SUA intr-
o pozitie singulara pe glob, cea de unica superputere a lumii. Un stat care ocupa,
prin suprafata, locul 4,si, prin populatie, locul 3 pe glob si detine cel mai mare
PIB din lume(in jur de 11 000 mld. dolari) ,adica este prima putere economica
mondiala(circa o treime din PIB-ul planetei).

Desi reprezinta mai putin de 5% din populatia mondiala,americanii
consuma 1/4 din resursele planetei.

Scurt istoric
Pentru colonizarea Americii de Nord s-a dus o lupt acerb ntre britanici i
francezi. Aceasta s-a ncheiat cu victoria Marii Britanii n estul Statelor Unite
ale Americii de astzi i cu cea a Franei n nord. n nord-estul SUA,
imigranii puritani, proprietarii i companiile private au fondat coloniile Noii
Anglii. n secolele XVII i XVIII acestea i-au ctigat independena cultural i
ncrederea c pot duce o politic proprie, refuznd n cele din urma s plteasc
impozitele impuse de Marea Britanie. Conflictul a declanat un rzboi intre 1775
i 1783, marcat deDeclaraia de independen a Statelor Unite ale Americii din
1776 i de redactarea unei noi constituii federale.Statele Unite ale Americii, cu
puternicele tradiii spirituale europene, se strduiau s-i dezvolte propria
identitate. Prin Doctrina Monroe s-a implementat o politic de izolare pe plan
extern.
Pe parcursul secolului XIX, Statele Unite s-au extins prin cuceriri i anexri de
teritorii strine. Dup 1828, diferenele dintre statele din Sud i statele din Nord
se accentuau tot mai mult n problema deinerii de sclavi. Rzboiul de Secesiune
din 1861-1865, a traumatizat tnra ar, ns Uniunea s-a meninut datorit
victoriei unionitilor din nord. Dup Rzboiul de Secesiune, a nceput
ascensiunea economic i tehnologic a rii.
Intrarea Statelor Unite ale Americii n Primul Rzboi Mondial n 1917 a marcat
abandonarea izolaionismului. Dup Primul Rzboi Mondial, SUA a revenit la
izolaionismul su tradiional. Aceast perioad a cunoscut o puternic
dezvoltare economic, ns ncrederea oarb n progres a determinat o siguran
exagerat i euforic pe pieele financiare. Cnd baloanele de spun ale
speculaiilor au explodat n 1929, determinnd prbuirea bursei, economia
lumii a intrat n declin. Politica de intervenie a guvernului condus de Franklin
Delano Roosevelt atenua multe dintre efectele Marii Crize. n 1939, SUA,
oficial neutre, au sprijinit de facto Anglia n lupta mpotriva Axei, iar n 1941 au
intrat n rzboi mpotriva Japoniei.
Statele Unite ale Americii au ieit ntrite economic din cel de-al Doilea Rzboi
Mondial i au devenit liderul politic, economic, industrial, militar, tehnologic i
cultural al Vestului n anii imediat urmtori, n cadrul sistemului bipolar ce
ncepea s prind contur. S-au opus Uniunii Sovietice n timpul Rzboiului Rece
care a durat pn n 1991. Pe plan intern, micrile pentru drepturi i liberti
civile i protestele mpotriva Rzboiului din Vietnam au dus la liberalizarea
societii n anii 1960. Ca superputere, SUA au oscilat din 1991 ntre cooperarea
global i tendine hegemonice. La nceputul celui de-al treilea mileniu, SUA i
Occidentul s-au confruntat cu provocrile terorismului internaional i cu
obstacolele crizei economice globale

Muntele Rushmore
Why These Four Presidents?
George Washington, (1st president) led the colonists in the American Revolutionary War to
win independence from Great Britain. He was the father of the new country and laid the
foundation of American democracy. Because of his importance, Washington is the most
prominent figure on the mountain. (1732-1799)
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
"Believing that a representative government, responsible at short periods of election, is that which
produces the greatest sum of happiness to mankind, I feel it a duty to do no act which shall essentially
impair that principle." George Washington
Thomas Jefferson, (3rd president) he was the author of the Declaration of Independence, a
document which inspires democracies around the world. He also purchased the Louisiana
Territory from France in 1803 which doubled the size of our country, adding all or part of fifteen
present-day states. (1743-1826)

Thomas Jefferson Memorial National Memorial
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Memorial
"We act not for ourselves but for the whole human race. The event of our experiment is to show whether
man can be trusted with self - government." Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt, (26th president) provided leadership when America experienced rapid
economic growth as it entered the 20th Century. He was instrumental in negotiating the
construction of the Panama Canal, linking the east and the west. He was known as the "trust
buster" for his work to end large corporate monopolies and ensure the rights of the common
working man. (1858-1919)

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
"The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his
weight - that he shall not be a mere passenger." Theodore Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln, (16th president) held the nation together during its greatest trial, the Civil
War. Lincoln believed his most sacred duty was the preservation of the union. It was his firm
conviction that slavery must be abolished. (1809-1865).

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Lincoln Memorial National Memorial
"I leave you hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt
that all men are created free and equal." Abraham Lincoln
To learn more about these four presidents and all the others follow this link to the White House.

Statuia libertatii
A fost plasat n anul1886 la intrarea portului de pe insul cu scopul de a transmite cltorilor
sosii salutul de bun venit pe pmnt american. Statuia este un cadou al Franei fcut Statelor
Unite ale Americii cu ocazia aniversrii a 100 de ani de la ctigarea independenei Statelor Unite
i inaugurat de preedintele Grover Cleveland la 28 octombrie 1886.