American History I.

American history I.

• Christopher Columbus in 1492 – “official discovery”

• 1584 – 1st colonisation wave

– by Sir Walter Raleigh (pirate, hired by queen Elisabeth I. – virgin queen)

– Virginia (failure)

• South – Jamestown (king James I.)

– not permanent at first, then permanent agriculture, first plantations

• North – group of puritans (1620)

– Plymouth

– Ship Mayflower industrial

– Pilgrim Fathers

– first permanent settlement

• colonies!!!

• 1st ½ 18th century – Wars in America

• New York (former Dutch, now English colony)

- 1763 France defeated

- England needed money because the war was expensive => more laws

1. English colonies couldn’t trade with France or Spain colonies

2. laws against US industry –> industry prohibited, just raw materials for England

3. US colonies had to pay for English army

4. special tax on things of everyday use (tea, paper) –> people really angry

→ 16th December 1773 Boston Tea Party

- 50 Americans dressed as Indians threw tea from English ships into water, which is the first act of violence against England –> triggered war

• 1774 – first Continental Congress in Philadelphia

– forms unofficial government

– decides to start buying weapons

• 1775 – first shots

– English army wanted to confiscate US weapons

• 2nd Continental Congress

– US army established

– George Washington

• 4th July 1776 Declaration of Independence (T. Jefferson)

– war between England and US

US ARMY ENGLISH ARMY

+ their own land + highly trained proffesionals

+ revolutionary army (motivation) + good officers

- poor officers - expensive (transport 3000 mil)

- poor training

- no navy

- shortage of supplies

- desertion

– at first England winning

– 1777 Battle of Saratoga

• turning point of the war

• US army won

• support from France, Spain, Holland

• North under US control

– 1781 England surrendered (lord Cornwallis)

– 1785 Peace Treaty

– 1789 US constitution (the most democratic)

• 1789 – 1850 US spread

• 1860 Lincoln – new US president (slavery abolished)

• North

- Union

- 23 mil people
- industry

• South

- confederation

- 5 mil people + 4 mil slaves

- agriculture

– USA divided – CIVIL WAR 1861 – 1865

– North not very successful at first (south supported by England)

– 1863 Battle of Gettisburg

- turning point of the war

- South defeated

- g. Grant, g. Lee

• 1st April 1865 – Richmond (South capital) conquered

• 14th April Lincoln shot at theatre

• all people equal, slaves free – > KKK (Kukluxklan)

• 1867 USA buys Alaska

• 1869 USA buys Hawaii