Aaammerrrriiiccccaaaaa, Aaammerrrriiiccccaaaaa:

By: Jordan Gentry

Discovered in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed with the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria in hopes of finding gold, pearls, and spices.

Slavery began when the first African slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of tobacco. Slavery was practiced throughout America in the 17th and 18th centuries, and African American slaves helped build the economic foundations of the new nation.

As the Declaration of Independence was created in 1776 America became more and more of a country. With only 25 million people living in the U.S. a lot was done to help establish America.

Our flag was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The flag included the original “Old Glory Blue” stars that represented the original 13 colonies and the “Old Glory Red” and “White” stripes. The red signifies blood, hardiness, & valor, the white signifies purity and innocence, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.

Fun Facts:
> About 35 MILLION AMERICANS SHARE DNA with AT LEAST ONE of the 102 PILGRIMS who arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620.
(*That’s a lot of history*)
> The FIRST SLAVE OWNER was a BLACK MAN.
(*Shocker*)
> The DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE was written on HEMP PAPER.
(*;)*)
> JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON died 50 YEARS TO THE DAY of signing the DECLERATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
(*What a coincidence*)
> In 1893, an AMENDMENT was proposed to RENAME THE U.S. into the "UNITED STATES OF THE EARTH".
(*That just sounds dumb*)
> The U.S. GOVERNMENT POISONED ALCOHOL during Prohibition in the 20s and 30s, KILLING OVER 10,000 PEOPLE.
(*Killed more people than the alcohol probably did*)
> In 1943, the U.S. BANNED SLICED BREAD as a WARTIME CONSERVATION measure.
(*I mean I like bread for my sandwiches, so what did people eat for lunch?*)
> AMERICAN FLAGS MADE IN CHINA are BANNED IN THE U.S. MILITARY.
(*Can I ask why?*)
> 97% of RAPISTS in the U.S. NEVER SPEND A DAY IN JAIL for their crime.
(*Truly doesn’t surprise me*)
> In 31 STATES of the U.S., Rapists CAN LEGALLY SUE FOR CHILD CUSTODY if the rape results in PREGNANCY. (*That’s ridiculous*)
> At least 1 in 25 people sentenced to the DEATH PENALTY in the U.S. are INNOCENT. (*Everybody makes mistakes, clearly*)
> It COSTS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT US$2,768,902 PER YEAR to hold a prisoner in GUANTANAMO.
(*Hmmmm*)
> NELSON MANDELA was not removed from the U.S. TERROR WATCHLIST until 2008. (*I wonder why?*)
> RUSSIA & AMERICA are LESS THAN 4 KM APART at the nearest point.
(*Nope, I’m not scared at all*)
> There are still CASES OF BUBONIC PLAGUE reported in the U.S. EVERY YEAR.
(*Please tell me this is all lies!*)
> MEDICAL ERRORS are the 6TH LEADING CAUSE OF THE DEATH in the U.S.
(*And they said recovery would be easy*)
> In the U.S. there's an OFFICIAL ROCK PAPER SCISSORS LEAGUE.
(*I won’t be joining, everyone knows I suck at this game*)
> The U.S. has 115,000 JANITORS, 83,000 BARTENDERS AND 323,000 RESTAURANT SERVERS with BACHELOR'S DEGREES.
(*Such a great point*)
> In the U.S. it COSTS US$245,000 to RAISE A CHILD, before college.
(*Not a surprise*)
> There are MORE PUBLIC LIBRARIES than MCDONALD'S in the U.S.
(*Surprisingly*)
> COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS PRICES in the U.S. have RISEN FASTER THAN HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, AND INFLATION.
(*How sad, no wonder students are poor*)
> 1 IN 25 U.S. TEENAGERS has ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
(*This needs to stop!*)
> There are MORE TVS in the U.S. THAN PEOPLE in the U.K.
(*We <3 TV*)
> APPLE has MORE OPERATING CASH than the U.S. TREASURY.
(*Cause the U.S. spends money “wisely”*)
> There are more FACEBOOK USERS from the U.S. than U.S. citizens that VOTED IN THE LAST ELECTION.
(*But we wanted the right to vote…*)
> EVERY TWEET AMERICANS SEND is being ARCHIVED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. (*That’s not creepy*)