Sylicon Valley
Santa Clara Valley, south of San Francisco, was famous for its prunes. The valley had acres of prune trees.
In 1939, two young engineers, Bill Hewlett and David Packard, went to work in a garage in the valley. They developed an oscillator, an electronic device.
Today Santa Clara Valley is the most important center of America’s computer and electronics industry, and Hewlett- Packard is one its major firms. More often than not, Santa Clara Valley is referred to by its nickname, Silicon Valley. (Silicon is an element used in making computer chips.)
Silicon Valley developed because there were entrepreneurs with ideas and capitalists who had the money to back them. Companies are more informal than many American workplaces; some almost seem like college campuses. Jogging is a popular lunchtime activity, and engineers are encouraged to spend time thinking about new ideas. Silicon Valley has changed over the years. Trends today include more attention to computer software, more partnerships with Japanese companies, and consolidation. One key element remains the same: the emphasis on innovation.
The symbols of the USA. American Flag.The United States Flag has had many names and many designs since it was first made in 1775. The most popular name is the Stars and Stripes. The flag stands for the land, the people, the government and the ideals of the United States.
The first flag represented the 13 original colonies but had the British flag in the upper left hand corner. After the Declaration of Independence was written the British flag was replaced with 13 stripes and 13 stars representing the 13 colonies. As more states were added to the union more stars were included. The 13 original stripes remain on today's flag, but there are now 50 stars for the 50 states.
Statue of Liberty.The Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France in 1884. It was a symbol of friendship and liberty that both countries shared. France and the United States both shared its expense. A French sculptor, Fredric Auguste Bartholdi, designed it and chose its location. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol that expresses freedom to people all over the world. Her crown bears seven spikes representing the light of liberty on the seven seas and seven continents. In her left arm she holds a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence. A broken chain at her feet represents the brokenness of a dictatorship. Millions of immigrants were "greeted" by her as they entered the United States seeking freedom and opportunity.
White House.The White House is the home of the President of the United States. Whoever is President lives and works there until someone else becomes President. It is located in Washington D.C. President and Mrs. John Adams became the first family to live in the White House in 1800. The British burned the mansion down during the War of 1812, but it was rebuilt. Throughout the years, 43 presidents have made some of the most important decisions in history while living in the White House.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial.The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a shrine to honor the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke at a ceremony at the start of construction in 1938.
On the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth (April 13, 1943) it was dedicated. The design of the building, which is circular, was introduced to the United States by Jefferson, himself. A Statue of Thomas Jefferson and four of his famous quotes are located inside the shrine.
Mount Rushmore.Mount Rushmore is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It show the faces of the four American Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. It is a memorial designed by an American sculptor, Gutzon Borglum. It is taller than the Great Pyramid of Egypt and is the world's greatest mountain carving.
Liberty Bell.The Liberty Bell is a treasured remembrance when America was fighting for its Independence. It was rung on July 8, 1776, for the 1st public reading of the Declaration of Independence. It weighs over 2,080 pounds. Today the bell hangs in a shelter, just north of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. For nearly 100 years, the Liberty Bell rang on many special events. The Bell cracked in 1841, so it is not rung anymore. Although, it is struck with a mallet on special days.
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