Core Activity #5: Interactive comparative table between UK and USA

Comparative table

United Kingdom

United States Of America

Typical Food

Holidays and Traditions

Government System

Typical Food

Holidays and Traditions

Landmarks

Landmarks

Differences between USA and British Political System

The primary difference is the form of government. As opposed to a parliamentary system of democracy, the US has a presidential democracy form of government.

The elected US president makes a few thousand political appointments. While in UK Prime Minister appoints his Cabinet of several ministers from the parliament.

UK parliament may pass vote-of-no-confidence to dissolve the government. US congress cannot do so.

No member of government is allowed to be a member of the senate; a concept supporting separation of powers. While in the UK the minister has to be a member of parliament.

The transition of power from the previous to the new president in the US takes more than 3 months. While in the UK the previous Prime Minister evacuates the 10-Downing Street within hours after losing the elections.

Unlike Britain where the Prime Minister and his cabinet are answerable to the parliament, the US president is not questionable by the senate; however, any new law or regulation signed by the president has to be passed through the senate.

She is an icon, a national treasure, and one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Each year millions who cherish her ideals make the journey to experience her history and grandeur in person. She is the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, inspiration, and hope.

Statue of Liberty, New York city

The sculpture, forged by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, is officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World and is widely recognized as a symbol of freedom and democracy. The statue holds a tablet in her left hand, engraved with the date July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals, which highlights her role as a representation of American independence. She embodies the ancient Roman goddess Libertas, who signifies sovereignty. Hidden beneath her drapes, a broken chain and shackle remain at her right foot, showcasing a commitment to ending oppression. Just seven years after the statue was constructed, Ellis Island Immigration Station opened as the main Atlantic point of entrance to America. Lady Liberty literally welcomed more than 12 million immigrants to the United States, sharing a vision of freedom and opportunity. After immigrants traveled thousands of miles across the Atlantic, they were greeted by the empowering image and reminded of the determination and resilience of the American people.

Cloud Gate, Chicago, Illinois

Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of Grainger Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" because of its shape, a name Kapoor later grew fond of. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley declared the day of the sculpture's dedication, May 15, 2006, to be "Cloud Gate Day". Kapoor attended the celebration, while local jazz trumpeter and bandleader Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic played "Fanfare for Cloud Gate", which Davis composed. The public took an instant liking to the sculpture, affectionately referring to it as "The Bean".Cloud Gate has become a popular piece of public art and is now a fixture on many souvenirs such as postcards, sweatshirts, and posters. The sculpture has attracted a large number of locals, tourists, and art aficionados from around the world.

Niagara Falls, New York

The Niagara River, and the entire Great Lakes Basin of which it is a part, is a legacy of the last Ice Age. 18,000 years ago, Southern Ontario was covered by ice sheets two to three kilometres thick. As the ice sheets advanced southward, they gouged out the basins of the Great Lakes. Then as they melted northward for the last time, they released vast quantities of melt water into these basins. Our water is “fossil water.” Less than one percent of it is renewable on an annual basis, the rest leftover from the ice sheets. Not only are the Falls themselves powerful, but the City of Niagara was the birthplace of hydroelectric power! In 1896, Nikola Tesla developed the alternating current system, which allowed for the transmission of power generated along the Niagara River to homes and businesses. The Schoellkopf Power Station, nearby the Niagara Gorge, is where electricity was first sold as a commodity. Today, power plants on both the American and Canadian side of the Falls produce nearly 2.5 million kilowatts of electricity. Power up and explore more at the Niagara Power Vista, where scientific exploration awaits with interactive activities and experiments, a multi-sensory 4D theatre and more.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chicken wings
• Vegetable oil
• Garlic Powder
• Hot Sauce
• Honey & Butter

It is a typically American dish that is usually eaten as an appetizer. It is one of the foods that are inherently associated with great sporting events, where they are usually served accompanied by celery or a sauce known as "blue cheese dressing", made from strong blue cheese.The name of the dish comes from the city of Buffalo, in New York, where the recipe was created.

Buffalo Wings

Holidays and traditions in USA

• Thanksgiving: A favorite holiday that many enjoy, with a popularity rating of 79% in a 2023 survey.
• Veterans Day (November 11): Honors military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Juneteenth (June 19): Commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865.
• Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1): Celebrates African-American culture and heritage.

Sitting majestically atop Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle is a beacon of Scotland’s capital. It’s one of the oldest fortified castles in Europe and one of the most impressive in the world. Catch a glimpse of it as you exit Edinburgh Waverley, and make sure to visit during August to witness the incredible Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo festival. Edinburgh Castle interestingly sits atop an extinct volcano. During the Carboniferous period, around 340 million years ago, an eruption at this site occurred. The boiling magma that reached the surface eventually cooled and hardened to create a plug, effectively ending the volcano's life for good. However, there is still evidence of an ancient volcanic system that runs down beneath the city.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh

Wales’s capital has an abundance of recognisable landmarks, but few have the aesthetic impact of Cardiff Castle. Situated within walking distance of some of the city’s most popular streets, the fortress was built in the 11th century and boasts a dense history. Discover stunning Victorian Gothic architecture outside and delve inside for incredible views of Cardiff. Cardiff Castle has an eclectic offering when it comes to historical treasures. A visit will reward visitors with original Roman stonework, a Norman motte and bailey founded by William the Conqueror, and a stunning Victorian banqueting hall and library.

Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

Quite possibly the most famous clock in the world, Big Ben – the name given to the bell within the Elizabeth Tower – dominates views of the Thames. It was completed in 1859, and towers above the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Back in 2022, a team of skilled craftspeople finally completed Big Ben's biggest makeover ever. It took five years, during which London locals and tourists had to witness the tower behind a sombre grey shroud. The project required a wealth of highly specialised skills that are almost lost to time, like stone masonry and gilding, which emphasised the importance of preserving these practices. Today, Big Ben stands proud as a testament to the UK's architectural heritage, ready to chime on the hour, every hour for many years to come.

Big Ben, London

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into strips
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
• 1 ½ pounds cod fillets

The pairing of fish and chips has long been considered a British staple. The irresistible combination of a hunk of battered cod resting atop a mound of steaming hot chips (french fries in America) is the quintessential British comfort food. Whether eaten on a plastic tray on your lap in front of the “telly” or gobbled down from a makeshift paper cone on the way home from the pub, a meal of fish and chips is like a serving of deep fried nostalgia in the UK – and let’s not forget a sprinkling of salt and vinegar.

Most British food to ever exist!

Fish and Chips

Ingredients:

• Early May bank holiday: In general, the Early May Bank Holiday, which often falls on 1 May, is celebrated with maypole dancing. Children, especially girls, often dance around a tall pole which is decorated with long, colourful, flowing ribbons.
• Summer solstice: The summer solstice marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year, although the sun's position remains in pretty much the same place for a few days on either side. It is celebrated all over the UK in a diverse variety of ways.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival: ‘The Fringe’ features over 50,000 performances and more than 3,000 shows, which take place over three weeks every August. As the world’s biggest arts festival, it’s the best place to go for stand-up comedy, dance performances, theatre, art exhibitions, circus, spoken word, opera and much, much more.
• Belfast International Arts Festival: Celebrated each year in Autumn, celebrates contemporary arts - dance, music, theatre, visual arts, film and music - with an international outlook and artist base. It brings the world's best and most innovative artists to Belfast every year from across the globe.

Most famous festivities: