The 4 of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. On this day the Americans celebrate the Declaration of Independence, which goes back to 1776. On the 2 of July 1776 during the American Revolution, the continental congress signed the document, by which they declared their independence from the British monarch. 

 

The American revolution from 1763-1789, is from crucial importance, from the American history. In this period, self-awareness was growing under the Americans. During this time, America belongs to the 13 British colonies. In 1774 in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress gathered, where they discussed the sanctions England gave them. They shed down the trade with England and declared the Coercive Acts invalid. The final eruption followed in April 1775. After this, the American revolution begins. 

 

Thomas Jefferson, who was the president of the United states that time, was responsible for the independence statement from 1776. He was considered as the spiritual father of the States. He designed the foundations of the nation: ‘’all men are created equal’’. 

 

How do we celebrate Independence Day nowadays? This day is commonly associated with fireworks, events like concerts, games, ceremonies, family meetings and of course lots of food! 

 

During the first attack in the morning, one airplane flied in the North Tower of the World Trade Centre. Nearly 20 minutes later, the second airplane drilled in the South Tower. Both buildings didn’t shed down immediately. After almost one hour the South Tower shed down, after which the North Tower followed. A couple hours later, also the third Tower of the WTC shed down, because of the damage and fire. But this were not the only buildings which were attacked. Also, the building from the American Minister of Defence, the Pentagon, was attacked by an airplane. Above this, the fourth airplane shed down on a field in Pittsburgh. 

 

There was a long sense mourning in the USA, but also in the rest of the world. The States viewed the attacks as a direct declaration of war against Afghanistan. On the 7^th of October the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan begins.   

 

 

 

Another sport which is very popular in the USA, is baseball. Each club who is participating in the Major League Baseball competition, plays 160 matches a year. Therefore, a lot of people are visiting these games from all over the world, because it is highly probable that a competition will be held when you are visiting the States. 

 

School and sports, a common combination in the American culture. There is a clear division between athletes and non-athletes in American schools. Sport is not an extracurricular activity, but Americans are playing sport at school. For this reason, you play competitions for your high school. Students have to do try-outs, if they want to participate in the school team. You only have 2 levels, the varsity team (the best athletes) and junior varsity, for this reason only the best participators can join the team. 

But why are sport that important in America? The most outstanding reason is, when you are doing very well in the sport you play, you can get a scholar ship for a university in the USA. Besides, athletes (the name of the students with a scholar ship) have to do it well in school, otherwise you can’t participate in the watches and you can lose the scholar ship. 

The eat culture in America is definitely not haute cuisine, but consists of fast food, lots of fast food. Chips, Hot Dogs, Doughnuts, McDonalds, KFC, health freaks wish this was never discovered, but it is. It is discovered by the Americans and they are proud at it! Around de 60’s, also in Europe there are more and more signs of the American eat culture. Like McDonalds, which has more than 39.193 restaurants in 119 different countries. 

 

Eating in America happens very fast. You eat your plate and almost immediately you get the bill. The number of choses in fast food is enormous. Not only for lunch and dinner, also for breakfast. For example, when you are in an American convenience store, you see tens meters of breakfast cereals with different flavors (which aren’t that healthy). 

 

Because of this way of eating, more than 70,7 per cent of the Americans suffer from overweight or obesity. The reason for this, fast food is very cheap in America, especially poor families in America are eating fast food because of the low costs. Therefore, it is easy to buy these kinds of food. Around every corner you find a fast food restaurant. Besides this, the portions in America are very large, which involve lots of calories.