united states history

Descendants of the American Indians Descendants of the American Indians arrived in North America perhaps 10,000 arrived in North America perhaps 10,000 years ago from Asia. By 1500, there were years ago from Asia. By 1500, there were some 1.5 million of them in North some 1.5 million of them in North America. They were divided into hundreds America. They were divided into hundreds of tribes, spoke many different languages, of tribes, spoke many different languages, and kept no written records.and kept no written records.

UNITED STATES HISTORYUNITED STATES HISTORY

Explorers and colonies

In the late 1400’s the kingdoms of Europe In the late 1400’s the kingdoms of Europe were seeking to expand. They explored were seeking to expand. They explored both land and sea in search of treasure, both land and sea in search of treasure, trade, and new possessions. In seeking a trade, and new possessions. In seeking a better route to the Orient, they discovered better route to the Orient, they discovered the Americas. But for 100 years, they sent the Americas. But for 100 years, they sent only explorers to North America.only explorers to North America.



Then, beginning in 1587, the Then, beginning in 1587, the English began serious English began serious attempts to send colonists to attempts to send colonists to the new lands. Within 200 the new lands. Within 200 years, there were nearly 4 years, there were nearly 4 million Europeans along the million Europeans along the Atlantic coast, forming the Atlantic coast, forming the nucleus of what was soon to nucleus of what was soon to become the United States.become the United States.




Beginnings Beginnings to 1700to 1700

Colonial Era Colonial Era 1700 to 17631700 to 1763

A New NationA New Nation

Explorers and colonies web links

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-early.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-col.htm

http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/UsaHistoryIndex.htm

Disagreements between the British Disagreements between the British government and the colonies in government and the colonies in America grew serious in the 1760's. America grew serious in the 1760's.


A nation is bornA nation is born

The British saw the colonies as The British saw the colonies as possessions. The colonists, however, possessions. The colonists, however, sought to govern themselves.sought to govern themselves.

The arguments led to war in 1775, and on July 4, The arguments led to war in 1775, and on July 4, 1776, the colonies declared their independence. 1776, the colonies declared their independence. Five years later, the British were defeated and Five years later, the British were defeated and soon recognized the United States. soon recognized the United States.

The new nation then turned its The new nation then turned its attention to its two major jobs. The first attention to its two major jobs. The first was to form a lasting government. In was to form a lasting government. In 1787, a new Constitution was drawn 1787, a new Constitution was drawn up, providing a stronger central up, providing a stronger central government. government.



The second job was to develop the vast American The second job was to develop the vast American lands. By 1814, the United States con-trolled lands. By 1814, the United States con-trolled more than half the continent and had gained new more than half the continent and had gained new respect among world nations.respect among world nations.



Revolution PreludeRevolution Prelude1763 - 17151763 - 1715

The RevolutionThe Revolution17751775

1784 - 17901784 - 1790

The DeclarationThe Declaration

The RevolutionThe Revolution1777 - 17831777 - 1783

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-prel.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/revwar-75.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/revwar-77.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-nation.htm

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/decindep.htm

The period from 1815 to 1880 was one of The period from 1815 to 1880 was one of amazing growth for the United States. Huge amazing growth for the United States. Huge parts of the continent were settled; millions parts of the continent were settled; millions of new immigrants arrived from Ireland, of new immigrants arrived from Ireland, Germany, and many other countries. Germany, and many other countries.


Expansion and the civil warExpansion and the civil war

The nation became increasingly The nation became increasingly connected by new roads, canals, connected by new roads, canals, railroads, and telegraph wires. By 1880, railroads, and telegraph wires. By 1880, the United States had acquired all its the United States had acquired all its present territory except Hawaii.present territory except Hawaii.

At the same time, the country suffered its At the same time, the country suffered its most disastrous war. The great Civil War most disastrous war. The great Civil War was fought over the issue of black slavery was fought over the issue of black slavery and over many political and economic and over many political and economic disagreements between North and South. disagreements between North and South.



For four years, the nation For four years, the nation was divided, and brother was divided, and brother fought against brother. fought against brother. Finally the North won, and Finally the North won, and the country was reunited, but the country was reunited, but scars of the war took scars of the war took decades to heal. decades to heal.



Between 1890 and 1920, the United States Between 1890 and 1920, the United States changed from a pioneer nation to a world changed from a pioneer nation to a world power. Huge industrial empires produced power. Huge industrial empires produced coal, steel, and oil. Inventors perfected coal, steel, and oil. Inventors perfected the use of electricity, and such the use of electricity, and such conveniences as the telephone, the conveniences as the telephone, the phonograph, the automobile, and the phonograph, the automobile, and the airplane. The government began airplane. The government began assembling an empire of possessions in assembling an empire of possessions in Asia and the Caribbean. Asia and the Caribbean.


Growing and changingGrowing and changing

At the same time, these changes mused At the same time, these changes mused serious growing pains. Labor unions serious growing pains. Labor unions were organized to demand fair pay and were organized to demand fair pay and better working conditions. Farmers better working conditions. Farmers protested low prices. And the United protested low prices. And the United States was reluctantly drawn into world States was reluctantly drawn into world politics. In 1917, millions of American politics. In 1917, millions of American troops fought in Europe for the first troops fought in Europe for the first time, helping to bring victory to the time, helping to bring victory to the Allied powers. Allied powers.


Growing and changingGrowing and changing

Between 1920 and 1954, the United States Between 1920 and 1954, the United States grew into the most prosperous land on grew into the most prosperous land on Earth. During the 1920’s the country Earth. During the 1920’s the country turned away from world affairs and found turned away from world affairs and found excitement at home the popular excitement at home the popular entertainment of radio and the movies, entertainment of radio and the movies, jazz, and the promise of ever greater jazz, and the promise of ever greater prosperity.prosperity.


Boom, bust warBoom, bust war

The excitement ended suddenly in the The excitement ended suddenly in the early 1930's, however. A Great early 1930's, however. A Great Depression wrecked the economy and Depression wrecked the economy and millions lost their jobs. Even before millions lost their jobs. Even before recovery was complete, the country faced recovery was complete, the country faced another world war, successfully another world war, successfully defending against the aggression of defending against the aggression of Germany and Japan.Germany and Japan.


Boom, bust, warBoom, bust, war

Peace was short lived, however. The United Peace was short lived, however. The United States was soon competing with the Soviet States was soon competing with the Soviet Union for world dominance, and still another Union for world dominance, and still another war broke out in Korea within five years.war broke out in Korea within five years.


Boom, bust, warBoom, bust, war

The Korean WarThe Korean War

http://www.korean-war.com/

From From 1954 to the present, the United States has remained a world power. At the same time, it has struggled to solve many serious problems of its own. The civil rights campaigns of the 1950's and 1960's sought to follow through on promises made to black Americans after the Civil War.


Modern AmericaModern America

http://dept.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/home.html

http://www.joesherlock.com/fifties.html

In the 1960's and 1970's, citizens debated In the 1960's and 1970's, citizens debated how best to help the poor; how far the how best to help the poor; how far the country should involve itself in the long war country should involve itself in the long war in Vietnam; and just what a country could in Vietnam; and just what a country could expect of its leaders.expect of its leaders.



Vietnam WarVietnam War

The Cold War with the Soviet Union The Cold War with the Soviet Union continued with confrontations in Berlin and continued with confrontations in Berlin and in Cuba. But gradually attention shifted to in Cuba. But gradually attention shifted to crises brought on by smaller countries, such crises brought on by smaller countries, such as the oil crisis brought on by Arab nations in as the oil crisis brought on by Arab nations in the Middle East and the painful hostage crisis the Middle East and the painful hostage crisis in Iran. in Iran.



united states history

Documents

united states history

world war

bust war

long war

korean war

disastrous war

great civil war

new nation explorers