A Survey of Major English Speaking Countries 10.ppt

A Survey of Major English Speaking Countries 10. American History American Life from 1607 to the Civil War Life before the arrival of the European settlers Life in the colonial America Life after the War of Independence Life before the arrival of the European settlers The original inhabitants – Indians Columbus journey of 1492 The 16th century– scattered settlements by Spanish explorers In 1607, Jamestown -- Virginia In 1620, Mayflower landed near Boston – New England Thanksgiving Day Indians: The “first Americans” Life in the colonial America 13 colonists in the East Coast area People of English descent and continental Europeans Diversity of American society Conflicts between the privileged and the underprivileged, the merchant class and the farmer class, and between the clergymen and the laymen. Conflicts between the colonies and the mother country The Puritans The Puritans were wealthy, well-educated gentlemen. They wanted to purify the Church of England and threatened with religious persecution, the Puritans leaders saw the New world as the a refuge provided by God for those He meant to save. The War of Independence Clashing interests The Stamp Act The Tea Act Declaration of Independence in 1776 1783, winning the independence George Washington (1732-99) George Washington was appointed (1775) commander in chief of the Continental army. After victory (1783), he presided over the council which drafted (1787) the U.S. constitution, and was unanimously elected president. Declaration of Independence On July 4, 1776, the Congress formally declared the independence The Declaration states: “We hold these truths to self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government beco