Capital or Capitol correct spelling

Should you use the spelling "capital or "capitol"? Which spelling is correct?

Well, "capital" comes from the Latin "caput" and means a head. This gives us a capital letter at the start or head of a sentence and later the word was used as the head city of a country, usually its administrative center.

Our heads are the administrative centers of our bodies so the metaphor is obvious. In USA the main legislative building is referred to as the "Capitol" on Capitol Hill.

It is probably better to use "capital" in general usage and leave "capitol" for buildings but you will often find people using them interchangeably.

States capitals and flags of USA

This is a video from a very patriotic American lady intended for students and educators of the states and capitals of the USA where ever they live. She reviews the capital cities of the USA with each state's capital and flag. It starts slow and then increases in speed. The lady challenges you to identify each capital city as it's state is revealed.

If you are a non-American you will learn the correct pronunciation of the state and capital names.



This helpful lady says: " All photos contained herein are royalty free.
Should you desire this film clip for your own personal/school use, simply email me with your request plus your regular or school email address and I will endeavor to email the file to you. No cost or obligation. Freely received and so freely give. Feel free to embed this on your website as well."

http://www.youtube.com/user/InHISWord2

States and Capitals Cheap Textbooks

Geographical books and equipment, states and capitals maps etc.can cost a lot of money. If you are studying on a low budget you need to be careful with your money, so buying good used books is a sensible option.

CheapestTextbooks.com is a site that specializes in cheap college text that you can quickly locate books using their price comparison tool.

The aim of CheapestTextbooks is helping you find extremely cheap college books. “Don't waste your hard earned money by giving it to the campus bookstore”, they say.

You can save over 95% off of the price of textbooks compared to major online college textbook stores. Books are compared by their price and condition with free shipping offers and “dollar off“ coupons.

When searching for your text books follow three easy steps the cheap used college books you need will soon be on their way.

Step 1: Search for the college textbook you need using the Title, Author, Keyword or ISBN.

Step 2: When you've located the cheap college book, click on the "Find the Cheapest Price!" button. The Multi-Store College Textbook Search will hunt through multiple online college textbook stores.

Step 3: having found the best deal, click on "Select" to buy your discount college textbook.

It takes no time at all to find rare or out of print books. This tool will save your time and money, something almost all students are short of. This site is well worth looking at.

The Star-Spangled Banner lyrics

Take a tune from a British men's social club in London: "To Anacreon in Heaven" by John Stafford Smith, and a lyric from a poem: "Defense of Fort McHenry" by Francis Scott Key, and by the alchemy of creation emerges: "The Star-Spangled Banner". This moving song written in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812 went on to become the national anthem of the United States of America.

The War of Independence was something of an inter-family quarrel where the former colony was showing that it had grown up and wanted to be independent. It is fitting then that this song taking elements from the old and the young should be this bold new country's way of expressing its identity.

The song is difficult to sing as it has a range of one and a half octaves, and only the first stanza is usually sung. The fourth is included when more formality is looked for.

Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Image of Battle of Baltimore where the Star-Spangled banner had its origins.

Battle of Baltimore Bombardment of Fort McHenry


Instrumental of Star-Spangled Banner courtesy of U.S. Army Bands Online (ABO) a public service by the Chief of Army Bands.



The Star Spangled Banner Instrumental

From the time of President Woodrow Wilson (1916), "The Star Spangled Banner", was ordered to be played at military and naval occasions. It was not until an Act of Congress in 1931 that it became the national anthem of America.

States and Capitals Honeymoon

States and capitals as a subject to study can get a little wearisome so lets consider another set of US "capitals". Honeymoon capitals. There is no official backing for the terms but people have come to refer that way to theses favored places of retreat for that special time in your life The "Honeymoon Capitals" are Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Niagara Falls, and The Poconos in Pennsylvania.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee
This destination is adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where around 9 million visitors flock each year. Designated the "Honeymoon Capital of the South," it capitalizes on the magnificent scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains. It has plenty of places to stay and things to do.

The Pocono Mountains, Eastern United States

You have to be pretty confident to describe your homeland as "The Honeymoon Capital of the World"? If you live locally and witness the yearly arrival of more than 400,000 honeymooners to kick off their marriages you will not expect to be contradicted. The backdrops speak for themselves: over 2,400 square miles of forested mountains and valleys drained by cold, clear rivers spectacular waterfalls to create placid lakes,, and some of the most in the.

Niagara Falls

Another competitor for "Honeymoon Capital of the World." is Niagara Falls. The big draw is the famous falls to be found on the border between the New York State and Ontario, Canada. The falls are comprised of three distinct waterfalls: Horseshoe or Canadian Falls (regarded as the best), the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls.

Many notable people have honeymooned here, including Napoleon's brother.


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Washington DC

The choice of where to site the Capital of the USA came about mostly through the determination of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. His perseverance and persuasion led to a site on the Potomac River being chosen.

On July 16, 1790 an act of Congress was passed establishing the location of America's capital city at a place called Conococheague by the Native Americans after a boundary stream.

The new capital was named "Washington DC" in honor of the President, George Washington who was given the power to define the exact boundaries within a ten square mile area. The city was planned and surveyed by an architect and engineer of French extraction, Pierre Charles L'Enfant.

This site was designated a "district" and is not a state. D C stands for District of Colombia after Christopher Columbus the discoverer of America. Some people prefer the spelling "capitol"



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States Wordsearch

Wordsearches are a challenge for the sharpness of the eye.

If you are studying the 50 states of America you might very well enjoy trying the wordsearch at States capitals Wordsearch and try to find the 50 states hidden in the puzzle.

It can be printed and scored on.

States And Capitals

A scrolling list of States And Capitals helps to teach you the list as lively singers sing the song with vigor. Loud and energetic to waken you up after a bout of studying your states and capitals.




States And Capitals is well done and worth a look.

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States Crossword Puzzle

Cross word puzzles are very popular and if you are learning the 50 states of the US you can enjoy testing your knowledge. The crossword is free to download, print and fill in. The puzzle and answers sheet can be found here. States Crossword Puzzle



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Study States and Capitals

There are many ways to study the 50 states and capitals of America. The most obvious is simple repetition until they have sunk in. This is often called "learning by rote". This is time consuming and very hard. Not surprisingly, people have tried to find fast, easy ways to study the 50 states and their capitals, and remember them for exams and tests.

It is arguable as to which is the easiest, but one method of study is to use a mnemonic. That is a phrase or sentence that links all the state or capital names together with an initial letter. You learn the phrase and each letter is a cue to the state or capital's name. You could try making up one of your own or use the one here Learn states mnemonic

The second method whereby you can study the American states and capitals (or capitols as some people prefer to spell it) is by word-association. This requires the student to memorize a numerically ordered list of visually stimulating objects and link the state or capital to it. There is a very good explanation of this technique here, Learn states and capitals

Whatever method of study you decide is best for you it is essential that you give it some time and apply yourself. "Rome wasn't built in a day" so be patient and it will come right eventually.

States and Capitals Free, Printable worksheets blanks

If you need some blank, printable, work sheets to help in the study of the American states and capitals you will find them here for free. List of work sheets for 50 States

Full lists are available in columns alphabetically. Lists with columns left blank for students to fill in are particularly good for testing purposes.

Lists of the states with the capitals blank. Capitals with states blank. Postal abbreviations are also covered. These can be printed out and photocopied. A very useful and free resource for you convenience

Statehood date list

The United States of America was formed from a union of states.

The date when each state proudly took its place in the Union and achieved official statehood is listed in order from December the 7, 1787, to August 21, 1959 here: List Date of Statehood list . Work sheets with state lists and blanks to fill in are provided free to print.

The original thirteen states were members from the date of the Declaration of Independence in July 4, 1776, but they are regarded as having been admitted or
ratified on specific dates. Later states' admission dates were set by the Act of Admission or a resolution issued under the act. Ohio was an exception as its date of
admission was determined through an Act of Congress in 1953.
The Confederate States of America seceded during the American Civil War but were readmitted between 1866 and 1870. Their date of statehood listed is the
original one.


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Nicknames of the 50 states

Every state in the USA has acquired a nickname that the people think in someway enhances their state or communicates something it contains or makes a statement about the attitudes of the residents. The image brings a particular state to mind and helps in recall.

For example, South Dakota likes to be known as "Mount Rushmore state" as this
immediately gives hearers a mental image of the state. Most people around the globe have heard of this famous rock carving of the presidents, and the good folks of South Dakota are justifiably proud to have this great memorial in their state.

Most nicknames are as a result of common usage but some have been officially recognized by the state authorities.

A list of states' nicknames presented in columns with the states and capitals for convenient study is provided here Learn States' Nicknames for anyone wishing to study them.

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Fifty Nifty United States - Tutorial and Memorial

This is a great video for those learning their states and capitals with some of the history of the origins of the USA included in the lyrics. The title "Fifty Nifty United States - Tutorial and Memorial" says it all.



Fifty Nifty United States - Tutorial and Memorial "Lyrical Tutorial. Great for teachers, students, etc.I was 11 at the time I made this, now i'm 13.

Dillon"

Well done, Dillon.


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States and Capitals Games

Software

Grasp the USA
Combines various games to teach and reinforce the states and capitals of the USA. Includes a jigsaw and time zone explanation. Grasp The USA

Animated States and Capitals game
A long-established, award-winning software to teach states and capitals in a fun and colorful way.

"A full screen clickable map of the U.S. is used in the software to teach names and locations of states and capitals in a variety of ways. When the student completes ten problems they are rewarded with a silly animation using 3D graphics."

Various other sections teach and reinforce knowledge of the states geography.
Flix Productions Educational Software.
Animated States and Capitals"

Online Games

Name That State Game - This is a colorful flash animation game where you drag and drop the name onto the state map. The state changes color when you are correct.Name that State Game

Name that State
The screen shows the map of the US with one of the states colored pink. You have a choice of state names and you click on the one you think is correct. Simple but fun.
Name that State

Test Your Geography Knowledge- USA. An outline map of the states of the USA with a series of questions. You click on the state map to answer. Helpful test to check and reinforce what you know.
Test Geography


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US States Postal abbreviations list

The postal authorities in the USA have given every state an abbreviation of two letters for example Delaware, (DE); New York, (NY).

Unfortunately it is not all as simple as this because many states have similar spelling Mississippi, (MS) Missouri, (MO) so it is necessary for these to be studied and memorized. If you are looking for a list you will find one here with states capitals and postal abbreviations in alphabetical order.USA Postal Abbreviations

The list can be very helpful for students and those who like to compete in quizzes with questions about US postal districts cropping up regularly.


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The 50 states song!

A pretty teenager sings The 50 states song! she learned when young. She has a nice sense of fun and anyone trying to learn the states and capitals of the USA will enjoy this.



"The 50 states song" lists all the states of the US alphabetically and should be worth learning as it will be easier to recall than simple rote learning. It is quite funny at the end when she does the states song backwards!


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Are their 52 States in US?

USA states are 50 in number; there are not 52 states as some people mistakenly
believe. You can see the list here: List of 50 States Alphabetical Order.

States facts tell us that the extra territories are the District of Columbia i.e. Washington DC and Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. Facts are facts; do not lose out in a quiz with this frequent error.

Unkind people are inclined to laugh at you for this blunder so don't give them a chance.

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Wakko's 50 State Capitols

Wakko's 50 State Capitols is a really enjoyable short video of a cartoon character singing about the 50 states of the US. If you are studying the states and their capitals this is a little light relief.




The video is professionally done and the singing easy to follow though done at a fast pace. Wakko's 50 State Capitols is worth watching.

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Learn the 50 States and their Capitals with word association

This is a much more sophisticated technique that the mnemonic. It works by having a numbered list of objects and uses rhyme to jog your memory.

For example 1, gun; 2, shoe. You then associated the object with the name of the state and or capital you want to learn in an interesting way. Humor and shock works well. You go through each number and its rhyme brings back the object and you see in your imagination the little scene you have link them to.

Because the states list is so long it can be broken down into sections with color coding added to further aid recall. It can be seen in action at this URL: Learn states and capitals

Learn 50 States USA with a mnemonic

If you would like to learn the states and their capitals by heart you will no doubt
know that it is a difficult task unless you are blessed with a great memory.

Never fear, help is near. A mnemonic is a memory aid that gives you a word or phrase where each letter is the first letter of the list of objects you wish to recall. Commit the phrase to memory and you will have a prompt for every state. You can use the mnemonic memory aid for the 50 states of America located here: Learn States' Mnemonic . This is a recommended way of shortening the learning curve and enabling you to shine in tests or quizzes. Well worth the time and effort.

The United States of America.

On July 4, 1776, The United States Declaration of Independence announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states. Gradually, other territories joined until they numbered fifty in all. Thus the United States of America was formed via struggle and adversity to become a world leader.

The 50 states and capitals of America are of interest to all Americans and need to be learned. This can be a daunting task but there are ways to speed up the learning and retention process Intelligent people all over the globe also wish to learn, not only the relative location of each state, but also its capital and many matters of associated interest.

This blog concerns itself with everything relating to the study and enjoyment of this vast continent and how it is organized.

"The Fifty States that Rhyme" by RAGGS Kids Club

This is a lively rendition of "The Fifty States that Rhyme" by RAGGS Kids Club and a good way to let off steam if you have been studying your states and capitals and like to sing.





"The Fifty States that Rhyme" by RAGGS Kids Club is well worth watching and listening to as it is well done and a treat to hear.