http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/aj/id/4799

Linked above is a first hand account, written by George Percy in 1606. The account (of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia) covers where the settlement is located, how long they had been there, and the settlers first meeting with Native Americans.

I think the thing first stood out at me was the way Percy calls the Natives savages,
 'The first night of our landing, about midnight, there came some savages sayling close to our quarter'.
Although Percy and the other settlers had never before seen a Native American, they still label them as savages, which to me suggests that Percy thought himself and the others to be better than the natives.

'Wee came to a savage town, where wee found but few people...we had of them strawberries and other things'. Percy then goes on to say how one of the savages offered them each tobacco and fruit. I think that this part of the article stands out to me because even though the Natives are being welcoming and peaceful, offering fruit and tobacco, the settlers still refer to them as Savage, suggesting that possibly the settlers believe that they are inherently better, more civilised people, as the continued use of the word savage, to me, shows distrust and dubiousness.

Obama: Republicans using 'extortion' on debt limit

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24453693

In this news article Obama is speaking about the recent government shut down, and how the republicans have been demanding money in their budget in agreement for Obamacare. Although this is incovnient for Obama, it is also good for the fact that it may give him good publicity as he is trying to help the American people with the healthcare regime. This may also help the democratic party in the next election. However for the time being, Obamacare may not get passed due to such strong views against the act.

USA Map

 

In this image of the Untied states, it shows the difference from the west of America to the east. The difference from Insdustrialisation in the West and the agricultural side of the west. This is quite a fun image for children aswell to show the variety of america, and with the images shown it would be inviting for them. It shows what each part is know for, for example florida and oranges, or new orleans and jazz.

  

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138009/andrew-j-nathan-and-andrew-scobell/how-china-sees-america

This link explains how China is now as a country growing in power and wealth. The most powerful country currently is the United States of America, China is of course aware of this and therefore there are elements of concern debating weather of not the United States will notice China's growth in power and growth economically and may try and sabotage China's succession.

Americans believe that they have a solid positive relationship with China, which the link below shows. However China do not have this same view. China as a country although they don't have a bad relationship with America are still wary of them.

As both countries become more and more powerful, conflict could possibly arise as they could start to compete to become the most powerful and influential country.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/11/01/how-americans-and-chinese-view-each-other/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24346960

(Linked above is an article on the BBC website entitled 'Viewpoints: Is American politics broken?')

Below is a section of the article by Darrell West;

'The problem with American politics is that Tea Party activists have taken over the Republican Party.

They come from small, rural districts and now are demanding that House Speaker John Boehner practises extremist politics.'

Boehner could end this stalemate today by allowing a continuing resolution to go to the floor for a vote without repealing Obamacare. It would pass and this crisis would be resolved.

However, conservatives have warned that if Mr Boehner allows a floor vote without their support, they will depose him and elect another Speaker.'

I think that in this case, West assumes that Tea Party (extreme right wing) members are corrupting the process of fair and democratic politics by demanding that the whole republican party go their way. 

Although i do not necessarily agree with the point at hand, i do believe that corruption and so on is an unavoidable tragedy of today's political systems. So although i do not agree completely, i do think the point made is completely valid.  

image taken from; www.whepducom.blogspot.co.uk  (http://whepducom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/in-olympics-of-teen-pregnancy-u.html) August 14th, 2012.

The image above shows a cultural demographic map of the poverty amongst children in the United States. The map clearly shows how the majority of southern states show the highest percentage of childhood poverty, whilst the other southern states which are not 30 or more percent, are close to it.

I think one of the contributing factors to the south's high poverty rate is the high population of African-Americans, struggling against racial inequality (where jobs and fair pay are concerned) in the somewhat racially bias region.

I also think that, with the South being such a densely populated region. problems such as poverty will naturally occur as jobs and a reasonable standard of housing are in high demand. That being said, if we look at the childhood poverty percentage for Wyoming, we see that it is less than 10%. This is because, although Wyoming is a large state, it is vastly empty with a population of around 500,000, therefore the demand for work and quality housing are not as high as the densely populated south.

This demographic map shows the sections in which where people live. They are split into coloured sections indicating their ethnicity. From this map I am surprised in the amount of light blue, multiethnic , whom live within America. On the map you can see how the light blue is spread around the map but it is mainly focused in the western half of America.