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 3: 20th Century America - Global Engagement and Civil Rights

This page focuses on key events in 20th century American history, particularly the nation's increased global engagement and the struggle for civil rights.

The early 20th century saw a peak in immigration, with about 16 million people entering the United States between 1900 and 1920. This period also marked America's entry into World War I in 1917, with President Wilson declaring war on Germany "to make the world safe for democracy."

The Great Depression, beginning with the Wall Street Crash in October 1929, led to significant economic reforms under President Roosevelt's New Deal policy. This program aimed to support the unemployed, reform the financial system, and prevent future depressions.

Definition: The New Deal was a series of programs, financial reforms, public works projects, and economic policies enacted in the United States between 1933 and 1939 in response to the Great Depression.

A significant portion of the page is devoted to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. This organized social movement sought equality and justice for Black Americans, particularly in the Southern United States.

Example: The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 was a pivotal protest against racial segregation on city buses, sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger.

Key events and legislation of the Civil Rights era included:

• The Civil Rights Act of 1957, which outlawed discrimination based on race or skin color
• The March on Washington in 1963, where 200,000 people demonstrated for freedom and job equality
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the March on Washington
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned unequal voting practices

Quote: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" - Martin Luther King Jr.

The Civil Rights Movement employed non-violent protest strategies to challenge and ultimately dismantle many forms of legalized racial discrimination and segregation.