{{B}} 1. Washington D. C.{{/B}}
Washington, the capital of the United States, is in Washington. D.C. and is situated on the potomac River between the two states of Maryland and Virginia. The population of the city is about 800,000 and it covers an area of over 69 square miles (including 8 square miles of water surface). The section was named the District of Columbia after Christopher Columbus, who discovered the continent. The city itself was named Washington after George Washington, the first president of U. S. A.
The building of the city was accomplished in 1800 and since that year, it has served as the capital of the country. Thomas Jefferson was the first president inaugurated there. In the War of 1812, the British army seized the city, burning the White House and many other buildings.
Washington is the headquarters of all the branches of the American federal system; Congress, the Supreme Court and the Presidency.
Apart from the government buildings, there are also some other places of interest such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Library of Congress and Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington.
{{B}} 2. New York City{{/B}}
New York City, located in New York State, is the largest city and the chief port of the United States. The city of New York has a population of over 7 million (1970) and Metropolitan, 12 million. The city has five boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond.
The city with its good harbor was discovered as early as 1524, and it was established by the Dutch who named the city New Amsterdam. In 1664, the city was taken by the English and it got the name New York as it bears now. During the American Revolution in 1776, George Washington had his headquarters for a time in New York City. The Declaration of Independence was first read there on July 4th, 1776. The city remained the nations capital until 1790.
New York became an important port early in the last century. A large portion of the national exports passed through New York Harbor. New York has become one of the worlds busiest ports and also the financial, manufacturing, and travel center of the country. Some of the places of interest in the city are: the Statue of Liberty (152 meters high) which was given by the French people to the American people as a gift in 1877. It was erected on Liberty Island in the middle of New York Harbor. Broadway, Wall Street and Fifth Avenue are a few of New Yorks more famous streets. Wall Street, where many famous banks are centered, is the financial center of America and has become a symbol of the American monopoly capitalism. Fifth Avenue is the street with famous stores and shops. Time Square is in the center of New York City, at Broadway and 42rid Street. Greenwich Village is an art center. Many American artists and writers have lived and worked there. The group of the third largest city buildings of the United Nations stand along the East River at the end of the 42nd Street.
{{B}} 3. Chicago{{/B}}
Chicago, the second largest city in population in the United States, lies on the southwestern shore of bake Michigan at a point where the Chicago River enters the lake.
The city is now the largest industrial city in the country. Both heavy and light industries are highly developed, particularly the former. Black metallurgical industry and meat processing are assumed to be the head in the U. S. It is now considered the center of industry, transportation, commerce and finance in the midwest area.
The working class in Chicago has a glorious revolutionary tradition. On May 1st, 1886, thousands upon thousands of workers in the city and the country went on strike for the eight - hour workday and succeeded. Since 1890, May 1st has been observed every year as an International Labor Day.
On March 8th 1909, women workers in Chicago held a big strike for freedom and equal rights with men and since 1910, March 8th has been celebrated each year as an International Working Womens Day.
{{B}} 4. Los Angeles{{/B}}
Los Angeles is situated near the Pacific coast in California. It is an important center of shipping, industry and communication.
The city was first founded by a Spanish explorer in 1542 and turned over to the U. S. in 1846.
The city leads the country in the manufacture of aircraft and spare parts and the area has become an aviation center. California is a leading state in the production of electronic products and the area of Los Angeles has grown into an important electronic center.
Since the first American movie was made in Los Angeles in 1908, the city has remained the film center of the United States. Hollywood, the base of the film industry in the city, is a world famous film producing center.