The USA - The Formation of a Nation

This section provides an overview of key landmarks in American history from the colonial period through the 20th century Civil Rights Movement. It traces the development of the United States from British colonies to an independent nation and global superpower.

Colonial Period (16th-17th Centuries)

European colonization of North America began in the 16th and 17th centuries, driven by the search for natural resources.

Highlight: In 1620, the Mayflower ship transported English families escaping religious persecution to the "New World."

The Mayflower Compact, signed aboard the ship, was the first political agreement for self-governing in America and laid the foundations for American democracy.

Definition: The Mayflower Compact was an important early American document that established self-governance and is considered one of the roots of American democracy.

Colonists viewed America as their "promised land," a concept that became essential to America's self-perception and the American Dream. However, this period also saw the arrival of African slaves and the oppression of Native Americans by European colonists.

Fight for Independence (18th Century)

Tensions between the American colonies and Britain grew in the mid-18th century, culminating in the American Revolution.

Example: The 1773 Boston Tea Party was a political protest against British taxation that helped spark the American Revolution.

Key events included:

• The Declaration of Independence in 1776, which established the legal foundation of American democracy
• The American Constitution in 1789, which established the federal system and separation of powers
• The Bill of Rights in 1791, which guaranteed basic rights and liberties

Quote: "We the people..." - The opening words of the Constitution emphasize that government exists to serve its citizens.

19th Century: Westward Expansion and Civil War

The 19th century saw significant territorial expansion and internal conflict:

• The concept of Manifest Destiny justified westward expansion as America's divine right
• The Civil War (1861-1865) resulted in the abolition of slavery but was followed by continued segregation and discrimination

Vocabulary: Jim Crow Laws were state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation in the Southern United States from 1865 to 1965.

20th Century: Global Engagement and Civil Rights

The 20th century saw America's emergence as a global power and internal struggles for civil rights:

• Participation in World War I and World War II
• The Great Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal
• The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s

Highlight: The 1963 March on Washington, featuring Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, was a pivotal moment in the fight for racial equality.

These events shaped modern America's democratic ideals and ongoing struggles for equality.

Page 1: Colonial Roots and the Path to Independence

This page covers the early colonial period of American history and the beginnings of the fight for independence. It highlights key events from the discovery of America to the Declaration of Independence.

The colonial period began with the arrival of European settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries. A significant event was the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, carrying English families seeking religious freedom. The Mayflower Compact, signed aboard the ship, laid the groundwork for self-governance in the colonies.

Highlight: The Mayflower Compact was a crucial early document in American democracy, establishing the principle of self-governance.

The concept of America as a "promised land" for these settlers became fundamental to the American self-image and the idea of the American Dream. However, this period also saw the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade and the oppression of Native Americans.

Vocabulary: The transatlantic triangular trade involved the transport of African slaves to America, American raw materials to Europe, and European manufactured goods to Africa.

By 1733, Britain had established 13 separate colonies in North America. Tensions between the colonists and Britain grew, leading to conflicts such as the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and eventually the American Revolution.

The page concludes with the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, which marked the birth of the United States as an independent nation. This document, drafted by the Founding Fathers, served as the legal foundation for American democracy and continues to be celebrated annually on Independence Day.

Quote: "All men are created equal" - A fundamental principle expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

Page 2: Establishing the Nation and Westward Expansion

This page covers the period from the establishment of the United States Constitution to the Civil War and its aftermath. It highlights key developments in American governance and the challenges faced by the young nation.

The American Constitution, ratified in 1789, established the federal system of government and the principle of separation of powers. The Bill of Rights, added in 1791, enshrined fundamental liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

Definition: The system of checks and balances, established by the Constitution, ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

The concept of Manifest Destiny, which emerged in 1839, played a significant role in American expansion and self-perception. This belief held that it was America's divine right and destiny to spread across the North American continent.

Highlight: Manifest Destiny was used to justify westward expansion and became an ideological basis for America's self-perception as a chosen nation.

The page then discusses the Civil War (1861-1865), a pivotal conflict fought primarily over the issue of slavery. While the war resulted in the abolition of slavery under President Abraham Lincoln, it was followed by a period of continued segregation and discrimination, particularly in the Southern states.

Vocabulary: Jim Crow Laws were state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation in the Southern United States from 1865 to 1965.

The page concludes with a brief mention of the Ku Klux Klan, founded in 1866, which promoted white supremacy through intimidation and violence against Black Americans.