NTC's Dictionary of the USA [antikvár]

troduction Much has happened in the New World since the settlement of the Jamestown colony in Virginia in 1607. In almost 400 years, its population has grown to more than a quarter of a billion people, and many facets of American life—from the hamburger to jazz—have become part of worldwide culture. Thousands of books have been written about the United States of America, and it would be folly to suggest that this small volume embraces all that has been written before. It does, however, list the highlights of U.S. history and culture. The following pages present a good sampling of the famous and significant people, places, things, and ideas that signify the USA. The reader will find entries describing the people who made the country great as well as those remembered primarily for their villainy; musical forms ranging from ragtime to rap; important holidays; national parks; food; political and social movements; historical events; and more. Photographs showing some of the faces and places of the USA complement the text. Anyone eager to learn about the USA—visitors, recent immigrants, students of American language and culture—will enjoy browsing through these informative pages.