Reading 4

   
Religion in America
What do the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. law say about religion?  Do public schools have religion classes?  Can government money be used to support religion?  Can a person be forced to do things against his religion?
U.S. Constitution First Amendment
Court cases that decided religious questions:  University of Virginia Freedom of Religion Page   
Schempp case--prayer and Bible reading as part of the school day
one-line summaries of court cases


What are the differences between Christian denominations? 
Religion in the United States from Wikipedia
Numbers of members in the U.S.  As the article explains, it's difficult to compare numbers because different churches define "membership" differently.
Where are they?  Some of the largest Christian denominations are found especially in some regions.  See the map. 
Two short, simple pages to explain the Catholic beliefs and Protestant beliefs. 
Evangelical Christian groups are growing.  How do we define evangelical?
This is an opinion article, but it states important historical trends simply.  There are some parts you can skip--Skip "The Early Church" to "Missionaries to Russia."  Start again at the 1054 split.
Wikipedia Religious History of the United States  is most interesting for its discussion of the religions followed in different colonies.
What's the Difference? article comparing Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian beliefs and practices  note:  dates from 1965
Comparison of the practices of 9 Christian denominations at religionfacts.com .  See also the Beliefs  section on the same page.
Web page of the Brethren Church.  See sections on the right for more information.


Higher Education in America
The Measure of Learning   U.S. News March 4, 2007
The Undergraduate Experience  article from U.S. Department of State website
Independent Colleges  article from the U.S. Department of State website
Educational Attainment in the U.S.  from Wikipedia


The American Worker
Social Security: A Snapshot -- a U.S. government publication that explains the social security system
The Future of Social Security  -- another U.S. government publication.  This one explains different arguments about possible financial problems as the Baby Boom generation retires.
Yes, you like the job, but what are the benefits?  Some examples of employee benefits:  QuickTrip convenience stores, google,  Georgia Tech,
Retirement is a State, not a Date  -- a study of life after retirement
Household income in the U.S.  -- Wikipedia article
Who works for the minimum wage?  -- article supporting the minimum wage increase that was voted in late 2006
Low wage work in the U.S.  -- article by the Center for Economic and Policy Research in partnership with Inclusion
U.S. laws on discrimination -- page from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws against discrimination in employment
An Aging Workforce's Effect on U.S. Employers  --  article from Forbes magazine online
U.S. Census Bureau statistics on the U.S.population -- How many Americans are over 65?  Are in the baby boom generation?  Are
Generation Y Joins the Workforce  USA Today
Mentoring the New Generations  -- What you need to know if you are a boss or supervisor of workers from Generation X and the Millenial Generation
Recruiting and Employing Workers from the Millenial Generation   --  article from Emory University
The New 65  Slate article on the Social Security crisis


Marriage American Style
The percentage of Americans who are married is declining, Washington Post, March, 2007
Facing middle age with no degree and no wife  NY Times August 6, 2006
American wedding customs:  The Bride from Wikipedia.  Don't forget to read the sections on the other members of the wedding party:  the groom, the bridesmaids, etc.



U.S. News articles
Home on the Range and other American folk and old-timey American songs (midi files, not lyrics)


















My Antonia  Summer 2005


History and Culture

Nebraska Studies:  history, excellent timeline and explanation of the Homestead Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act
http://www.nebraskastudies.org/

Red Cloud, Nebraska
http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/search_frame.html

Nebraska map with counties (Red Cloud is in Webster County.)
http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/search_frame.html

A Nebraska sod house, 1886
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/photos/digital/newlook.htm

Another sod house
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/images/lib-arch/research/photos/imagelab/10358.jpg

photograph collection from Nebraska Historical Society
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/photos/highlite/index.htm

U.S. Library of Congress American Memory Project--settling of the Plains
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/nbhihtml/pshome.html

prairies of the world
http://www.gpnc.org/prairies.htm

relief map of Nebraska
http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/states/maps1/ne.gif

photos of the Great Plains
http://www.greatmirror.com/index.cfm?navid=447&picturesize=medium

Great  Plains definintion
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/G/GreatP1la.asp

art image of the prairie
http://www.unl.edu/plains/gallery/currentexhibits.html

children's page on the states--Nebraska
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/nebraska/

everything about Nebraska in a few sentences
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/ne.htm


Cultural references in My Antonia

Jesse James
http://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/history/jessejames.cfm

fraternal organizations
http://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/history/jessejames.cfm
http://www.mooseintl.org/public/default.aspx

prairie dog
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=prairie+dog

Willa Cather

Willa Cather Center
http://www.willacather.org/

Willa Cather Studies Page at Gustavus Adolphus College--includes Willa Cather Studies journal
http://www.gustavus.edu/oncampus/academics/english/cather/