chapter_9_American_history.ppt

Chapter 9 American History Introduction The history of the United States is the story of a great nation that was carved out of a wilderness by a brave and freedom-loving people. The men and women who built the United States came from almost every part of the world. They represented many different nationalities, races and religions. Through the years, the people and their descendants have learned to live and work together in a multi-ethnic society and take pride in being Americans. The history of the United States tells us how a people survived numerous challenges and hardships, including dangers in the wilderness, wars, social turmoil and economic depressions. America in the Colonial Era The War of Independence The Civil War America in the 20th Century America in the 21st Century America in the Colonial Era 1. Native Americans The very first Americans were Indians, who were the descendants of the Mongoloid people in Asia. About 25,000 years ago, they traveled to the North American continent through Bering Land Bridge. From that time on, they made their homes and lived there. 2. Discovery of America Christopher Columbus’ discovery in 1492 Amerigo Vespucci, also under the Spanish flag, discovered the continent of South America (1499). The newly-found continent was later named after him and became known as America. The consequences of Columbus Discovery -- earliest Spanish settlement in North America -- the Europeans were drawn to the New World in search of wealth. After Columbus’ discovery, European countries established settlements in the New World to claim as much as territory as possible., -- some European religious and political dissenters search for refuge from persecution in their homeland. 3. Colonization of North America American history is generally agreed to have began in 1607 when the first group of the British colonists went to America and started to build their settlement there. The period of colonization covered the years from 1607 to 1776, tha