В Америке 50 соединенных штатов. Население около 200 миллионов. До 1776 года в Америке было много флагов. В Род-Айленд, например, изображался якорь на флаге, в Массачусетс - дерево, Нью-Гэмпшир - корабль. В 1776 году после оглашения декларации о независимости "Звезды и полоски" впервые появились на Американском флаге. 13 полосок представляют собой 13 штатов, которые подписали декларацию о независимости и белые звезды означают число штатов, входящих в целое число союза. Новые штаты вступали в союз и появлялись на флаге 26 раз. Два самых северных штата, Аляска и Гаваи.
when the time for the next elections came, it was clear that the most important question would be slavery. there were four candidates, but a northerner called abraham lincoln won the election. in his inaugural address lincoln warned the southerners that they shouldn't destroy the union of the states, but they didn't listen. in february 1861 eleven southern states formed their own union, which was called the confederacy, but abraham lincoln wouldn't let them split up the country. and so the civil war began. the north (their army was called the union army) was actually more powerful than the south: as you remember, they had more men, and their factories produced weapons and supplied the northern army with everything it needed. but the confederacy had one big advantage: they didn't have to invade the north, they just had to protect their own land and homes. at that time a lot of people thought that it would be possible. so at first, the confederacy had more luck; their men were better trained and fought with more spirit. just as in the revolutionary war, americans from the south were once again fighting for their independence. the union soldiers were getting tired. after they lost some important battles, the anti-slavery idea wasn't enough to inspire them any more. the southerners felt that just one more big victory would be enough to win the war.
when the time for the next elections came, it was clear that the most important question would be slavery. there were four candidates, but a northerner called abraham lincoln won the election. in his inaugural address lincoln warned the southerners that they shouldn't destroy the union of the states, but they didn't listen. in february 1861 eleven southern states formed their own union, which was called the confederacy, but abraham lincoln wouldn't let them split up the country. and so the civil war began. the north (their army was called the union army) was actually more powerful than the south: as you remember, they had more men, and their factories produced weapons and supplied the northern army with everything it needed. but the confederacy had one big advantage: they didn't have to invade the north, they just had to protect their own land and homes. at that time a lot of people thought that it would be possible. so at first, the confederacy had more luck; their men were better trained and fought with more spirit. just as in the revolutionary war, americans from the south were once again fighting for their independence. the union soldiers were getting tired. after they lost some important battles, the anti-slavery idea wasn't enough to inspire them any more. the southerners felt that just one more big victory would be enough to win the war.