# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Civilisation Américaine :

I/ INTRODUCTION (GEOGRAPHY) :

The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world. It is

with a superficy of around 9,630,000 km² (4500 X 2500) - seventeen times as large as France. The country is mainly made of wide open spaces that have attracted immigrants and have shaped the national identity. The distance between San Francisco on the west coast and Boston on the east coast is greater than the distance from Nantes to Moscow. The USA is also farther south than Europe; Here are some other geographical references:

Miami is on the same parallel of latitude as Canary Islands,

Washington // Lisbon,

Seattle // Nantes.

The "Mainland" counts 48 states, but as you must know, the Star-Spangled Banner has 50 stars, representing the 50 states; the two others being Alaska (49th) and Hawaii (50th), both became US states lately, in 1959.

At 3 million square miles (9 million km²) and with over 300 million people, the United States is the fourth largest country by total area, and third largest by land area and by population. The United States is one of the

world's most ethnically diverse nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries US economy is the largest national economy in the world, with a nominal 2006 gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$13 trillion (over 19% of the world total).

The nation was founded by thirteen colonies of Great Britain located along the Atlantic seaboard. Proclaiming themselves &amp;quot;states,&amp;quot; they issued the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The rebellious states defeated Britain in the American Revolutionary War, the first successful colonial war of independence. A federal convention adopted the current United States Constitution on September 17, 1787; its ratification the following year made the states part of a single republic. The Bill of Rights, comprising ten constitutional amendments, was ratified in 1791.

In the nineteenth century, the United States acquired land from France, Spain, Mexico, and Russia, and annexed the Republic of Texas and the Republic of Hawaii. Disputes between the agrarian South and industrial North over states' rights and the expansion of the institution of slavery provoked the American Civil War of the 1860s. The North's victory prevented a permanent split of the country and led to the end of slavery in the United States. The Spanish-American War and World War I confirmed the nation's status as a military power. In 1945, the United States emerged from World War II as the first country with nuclear weapons, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and a founding member of NATO. The United States emerged from the Cold War to become, at least briefly, the only superpower in the post-Cold War era and the dominant economic, political, and cultural force in the world.

the weather is conditioned by two main factors:

The presence of the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada which keeps most of the country under cover from rain and humidity (limited influence of the ocean) ;

The absence in the North and the South of mountains which allows drafts such as hot wet air coming from Central America (&amp;amp; Florida) in summer and cold air coming down from Canada in winter. So, generally, we say the West side is a rather dry area while the East side is a wet area. Now, let's see more precisely the different climates:

The USA is divided in two parts on the 100° west longitude :

to the West :

East of Sierra Nevada :

North : dry continental climate with hot summers and cold winters

South-west : desert (the hottest place on earth (56,7°C world's highest temp.) the Death Valley)

West of Sierra Nevada :

North-west : oceanic, rainy climate

South-west : Mediterranean, dry climate

to the East :

North-East : wet temperate climate

North : rainy

South : (humid) sub-tropical climate

Natural hazards: The USA is the 4th largest territory in the world, so, needless to say that implies that lots of areas are liable to natural dangers :

In the South-East, hurricanes are pretty common (Katrina, etc.)

In the Middle-West, winters with many snow falls that cripple the circulation, lightning storms (also in Florida &amp;amp; Mojave desert)

Around the Mississippi basin, floods (at least every 10 years), and tornadoes (every single year)

In the North-West and Alaska, the world's biggest and most active volcanoes (also in Hawaii), earthquakes (+California, Missouri, and South Carolina).

Concerning urbanization, the USA is considered as an "urban country" since about 1920. In its past, there have been 4 major periods during which cities got developed :

1900-1950 : growth of big cities : NY, Chicago, &amp;amp; LA (with skyscrapers' erections, development of suburbs and automobiles)

1950-1970 : explosion of suburbs, meaning middle classes leave centers to

The first type is practiced with mighty corporations or enormous farms which have taken control of agriculture in California (fruits, vegetables), in Florida (citrus &amp;amp; grape fruits), in Texas (cattle, cotton), in Hawaii (citrus fruits, sugarcane) and in the Columbia river valley (fruits). The second type, the family farmings, is to be found in the Midwest (corn in Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois), in North &amp;amp; South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas (wheat), in Wisconsin and the Northern Appalachia (dairy cattle), in the "Tobacco belt", i. North &amp;amp; South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama (tobacco, poultry) and is also widespread around big cities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Civilisation Américaine géo - Civilisation Américaine : I/ INTRODUCTION (GEOGRAPHY) : The United - StuDocu

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world. It is with a superficy of around 9,630,000 km² (4500 X 2500) - seventeen times as large as France. The country is mainly made of wide open spaces that have attracted immigrants and have shaped the national identity.

# data[].attributes.headline
Geographical Greatness: Monument Valley (Border of Utah and Arizona)

# data[].attributes.subject
Geographical Greatness: Monument Valley (Border of Utah and Arizona)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Monument valley - Border of Utah and Arizona

# data[].attributes.headline
Geographical Greatness: From Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California

# data[].attributes.subject
Geographical Greatness: From Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California

# data[].attributes.headline
From Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California

# data[].attributes.subject
From Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California

# data[].attributes.headline
Ideological Greatness: "A City Upon a Hill" Part 1

# data[].attributes.subject
Ideological Greatness: "A City Upon a Hill" Part 1

# data[].attributes.headline
Ideological Greatness: "A City Upon a Hill" Part 2

# data[].attributes.subject
Ideological Greatness: "A City Upon a Hill" Part 2

# data[].attributes.headline
Ideological Greatness: 'Liberty Enlightening the World' (BONUS)

# data[].attributes.subject
Ideological Greatness: 'Liberty Enlightening the World' (BONUS)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Statue of Liberty is one of the world's most famous and symbolic monuments, and understanding the meaning of the Statue of Liberty makes a visit there more memorable.

From the very beginning, the statue was built to celebrate and inspire. As a tour guide, I have the privilege of sharing her story with people every single day.

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (the architect of the statue) set out with a very specific vision in mind. Today, people often ask what exactly that vision represents. But there's not just one, simple answer. The statue stands for many things, each represented by a different element of her design.

In this article, I'll share everything about the Statue of Liberty's meaning and symbols and break down piece by piece the significance of each element.

The torch

The statue's torch is a combination of copper and gold leaf, held up high by Lady Liberty's right hand. By day, the sun's rays reflect off the gold, while flood lights illuminate the torch at night. The original torch sits in the lobby of the museum. What you see today is a 1986 replacement.

Symbolically, the torch represents enlightenment. It is meant to light the way to freedom and guide us toward the path of liberty and justice.

At one point, it was even proposed that the statue could act as a literal guide, lighting the way for sailors coming into New York harbor.

While this idea never came to fruition, the flame still remains. It represents the statue's official title: "Liberty Enlightening the World."

The use of the flame was chosen by Bartholdi for a very specific reason. A torch represents progress. Rather than promoting violence or chaos, he wanted to give Lady Liberty a peaceful appearance.

The crown

Atop the head of Lady Liberty is her crown. Not the crown you'd imagine on a king or queen, but rather a series of windows, and rays jutting out from the top.

The rays represent a halo (or aureole). They radiate forward like the sun - another way in which Lady Liberty enlightens the world.

It's not a random number either. There's seven rays on the crown, to represent both the seven continents and the seven seas of the world.

The 25 windows symbolize gemstones and heaven's rays of light. This is best seen at night when the statue's crown shines from within.

The tablet

While her right hand holds the torch, the statue's left hand sits by her side, holding a slab of copper over 23 feet long.

This slab is actually a tablet, with Roman numerals inscribed reading "July 4, 1776". This date of American independence was chosen by Bartholdi due to its association with America's Declaration of Independence. He greatly admired the American fight for liberty and freedom, as well as the U.S. Constitution.

As a symbol, the tablet represents a book of law. The shape isn't actually square but rather a keystone. This signifies the great importance that the rule of law has in America.

Initially, Bartholdi wasn't sure what should be held in her left hand. Early versions of the statue's design show her holding broken chains. However, it was decided that this might cause too much commotion following the recent end of the Civil War.

The broken chains

Not wanting to completely rid the statue of her symbolic broken chains, Bartholdi made the sneaky decision to move them to another location. One that wasn't quite so obvious.

Today, Lady Liberty's feet are surrounded by a broken shackle and chains. It shows her as a goddess free from oppression and servitude, very much reflecting the recent abolition of slavery in the country at the time of her opening.

The chains are half-hidden by her robes and nearly impossible to see from the ground. Since very few people see her from above on a daily basis, most visitors have no idea of their existence.

From above, you can also see that her right food is raised, depicting the idea that she is walking forward. This exemplifies the idea that progress is a journey, a never-ending movement forward.

The poem

While the Statue of Liberty means many things to many people, nothing captures her impact and influence quite like the famous poem by Emma Lazarus.

As fundraising for the pedestal began in the United States, money-raising events were hosted throughout the city. Emma Lazarus was asked to contribute by donating an original work that would be put up for auction.

What resulted is "The New Colossus" - a sonnet that pays tribute to the statue's symbolism as a beacon of hope. Lazarus famously refers to Lady Liberty as the "Mother of Exiles" and penned the iconic lines: "Give me your tired, your poor." Here's an excerpt:

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Her inspiration for the poem came from her involvement in aiding Jewish refugees from eastern Europe. After seeing the conditions in which many of these people lived, she expressed her empathy and compassion through the lines of the poem.

In 1903, the text of the sonnet was inscribed on a bronze tablet and placed inside the pedestal. Today, that plaque sits inside the museum and forever commemorates the significance Emma Lazarus placed on Lady Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty: A timeless image

I believe the Statue of Liberty's meaning - her ultimate meaning - still remains relevant today. But in some ways, what she represents has also continued to grow and change over time. Initially, she was meant to greet immigrants and travelers in New York harbor. This was back in the days when boats were the primary form of long-distance transportation. Nowadays, you're lucky if you can get a glimpse of her from above as you fly into Newark airport.

But year after year, no matter how people have come to see her, that first moment is one you will never forget. Emotion swells over you and suddenly you realize why so many people have admired and adored her.

So in many ways, the meaning and the significance of the statue is impossible to describe. You only know that she will always extraordinary in every way.

Want to know more about the inspiration behind the statue? Read our post to discover the woman behind Lady Liberty.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Statue of Liberty Meaning: What She Stands For | Statue of Liberty Tour

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about the Statue of Liberty meaning, symbolism and historic purpose. Here's what she truly stands for and how each element of her design contributes to her meaning.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ideological Mediocrity: Black Codes and Freedom

# data[].attributes.subject
Ideological Mediocrity: Black Codes and Freedom

# data[].attributes.headline
Ideological Mediocrity : THe HealthCare System

# data[].attributes.subject
Ideological Mediocrity : THe HealthCare System

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CE - Health Insurance and Healthcare in the US Explained