During Washington's lifetime, people in Great Britain and America switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (something most of Europe had done in 1582). As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add one year to be in sync with the new calendar. By the time Washington became president in 1789, he celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his year of birth as 1732. Upon entering office, Washington was not convinced that he was the right man for the job. He wrote, “My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execution.”
India- USA some similarities
India and the USA are among the two largest countries in the world. Both countries are in two different continents but still both countries have a few similarities.
Both countries are democracies. They both were British colonies before their independence. Both these nations have population, which are multi-ethnic but even so strong national patriotic pride has been established among its citizens. Both these countries are federations between the states and the center. The capitals of these countries, New Delhi and Washington, are not the main cultural and financial centers of their countries.
In both these countries the religion has strong holds within the country population. The majorities of the populations in these countries are conservative and respect their religion. Most of the Americans are Christians and they often visit their churches. Most of India's citizens are Hindus and they respect their religion's rituals. Both these countries also had some bizarre cults in which the cult leader completely dominated his followers.
In both these countries there was the same form of harsh manner. They had no rights and were treated in a very ill manner and with no respect. They had to sit at a distance from the upper castes. They were not allowed to enter the quarters and temples of the upper castes. They were also barred from entering restaurants, which served the upper castes.
The terms in which these communities are named are always changing. The Afro-Americans were first slaves, then they were coined Negro and Niger, then they were called blacks and now they are referred to as Afro-Americans. The untouchables were called Neech meaning low class, Mahatma Gandhi gave them the title Harijan, meaning children of God, now they are called Dalit meaning oppressed. Both these communities are raising their status through affirmative actions by the government. These affirmative actions have raised some tensions against the oppressed classes.
In both these countries some important political figures were assassinated. In USA, Abraham Lincoln, JF Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King were assassinated. In India, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandi and Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated. (see Gandhi murders and Indian nationalism).
Both these countries have a big film industry with lots of film stars. Watching movies in both the countries is a very popular pastime. Citizens in both these countries have a lot of admiration for their movie stars and they imitate their film stars fashion. It is a normal feature in these countries when new movies are released that there are large queues to get tickets for the first shows.
Being the largest democratic countries in the world, both United States and India are based on federalism in their political structure. US became a Federal Republic State by promulgating its constitution in the year1789; whereas India became a Socialist, Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic by formally launching its constitution only in the year 1950.Thereby both countries had attained dominion status in which a number of smaller states had got affiliated forming a union with a strong central government that came to be called as Federal Government in the US and Central Government in India. Thus both states became Federal Republics.
While framing the Indian constitution, its drafting committee headed by Dr.Ambedkar, had borrowed many salient features from various constitutions in the world including US but adopted them in the Indian context. Hence, both U.S and India, despite being federal in structure have many similarities and differences between them.
Similarities between US and India:-
1) Written constitution
2) Bill of Rights and Fundamental Rights
3) Supremacy of the Federal or Union Government
4) Division of Labor and Separation of Powers
5)Powers of Checks and Balances
Differences between the federalisms of US and India:-
1) The Constitution of US is very rigid than the Indian Constitution
2) While US has the Presidential form of Government, India has the Parliamentary form of Government
3) Differences between the legislatures of US and India
4) Differences in the judicial system between US and India
https://www.whitehouse.gov/
http://www.almanac.com
https://general-law.knoji.com
