2. History and
Government of the
United States
• The United States is a “nation of
immigrants,” settled by people from all over
the world.
• The United States is the most diverse and
highly industrialized and urbanized nation
in the world.

3. Creating a Nation
Room to Move
• The United States:
- occupies two-fifths of North America
- world’s fourth largest country in land area, third in population
• Rich resources and moderate climate have always attracted
immigrants
- constant migration—movement—of peoples
within the country

4. Creating a Nation
Many Peoples Settle the Land
• Asian nomads crossed the Bering Strait
(Beringia) and into the Americas
• By 11,000 B.C. they had spread out,
develop different cultures
• Spaniards are first Europeans to arrive
in the “New World”… (Vikings?)
- St. Augustine (Florida) is oldest
permanent European settlement (1565)
• In the early 1600s French settlers arrive
- settle northern Atlantic Coast along St.
Lawrence River (Canada)
- interested in fisheries and fur trade

6.  Early explorations were
conducted by Ponce de
Leon.
 Famous for being the first
continuously occupied
settlement in the current
United States.
 The colony was founded 42
years before Jamestown and
55 years before the Pilgrims
landed at Plymouth Rock.

7.  Fort Caroline was a colony established by
French explorer Jean Ribault in Jacksonville in
1562, making it older than the colony of
St. Augustine.
 Feeling the French had trespassed on Spanish
territory and posed a threat to their fleets, the
experienced Admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles
was sent by Spain to destroy the French colony.
 Following the destruction of Fort Caroline,
Pedro Menendez founded the colony of St.
Augustine and became the first governor of
Florida in 1565.

8. Creating a Nation
Many Peoples Settle the Land
• About the same time English settlers
land
- settle Atlantic Coast from present-
day Maine to Georgia
- first permanent English settlement
Jamestown, Virginia (1607)
• Displace Native Americans, bring
African slaves to work plantations
• Columbian Exchange between Old,
New Worlds: plants, animals,
disease

10.  At the time of the Columbian
Exchange the estimated
population of North and South
America was at least 40
million. Due to imported
pathogens, in a few centuries
these populations fell to just
a few million. This
demographic catastrophe had
some obvious ramifications,
such as paving the way for
easy conquest of the
America's by European
settlers.

11.  The Virginia Company was given approval by King
James to establish a colony in the New World.
 Life in Jamestown was pretty rough. There was
constant threat of attack from the natives, a lack
of drinkable water and very harsh winters, all of
which nearly destroyed the colony.
 80 % of the 214 settlers died within the first
year.

12.  Known for a being a
troublemaker, John Smith
was supposed to be
executed upon arrival to
the colony.
 Once arrived, sealed
orders from the king were
opened by the captain and
to his dismay, John Smith
was to be one of the
appointed leaders for the
colony.

13.  While out foraging for
food, Captain John Smith
was captured by the
native Powhatan tribe.
 According to Smith’s
account, he was to be
executed but the chief’s
own daughter,
Pocahontas, threw
herself across his body to
protect him. (1607)

14.  John Smith was 28 years
old at the time of his
capture while Pocahontas
was roughly 10-11 years
old. A relationship
developing between the
two is highly doubtful.
Smith would go back to
England soon after the
encounter and would not
return to the New World
for another 6 years.

15. Control of America
French and English fight over trade and
territory in North America
• This conflict is commonly known as the
French and Indian War fought between
the French and English.
• The French had smaller colonies and
trading posts throughout North America
while the British had larger, successful
colonies.
• The French allied themselves with the
Native Americans whom they had good
relations with.
• The British settlers (Americans) fought
the along side the British against the
French.
• English gain control of everything east of

16. Control of America
 Despite the victory over the French, Britain is in
severe debt.
 They then seek ways of revenue to pay off the debt.
 Britain starts severely taxing it’s American colonies.
This angers the colonists and they revolt.

17. Creating a Nation
• 13 colonies join together and declare independence on July 4 th, 1776
• The Revolutionary War lasts from 1775-1783
• Following the colonists victory , the United States is formed.

19. The Nation Grows
• 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France doubles size of U.S.
- includes plains between Mississippi and Rockies

20. Creating a Nation
Establishing and Maintaining the
Union
• In early 1800s Western European
immigrants arrive in large numbers
- settle in Northeast industrial
cities, Midwest farmlands
• Sectionalism—loyalty to region
over nation—grows, creates
tension
- industrial North versus
agricultural South and its slave
labor
- Civil War fought between North
and South from 1861 to 1865

22. Westward Movement
• Pioneers venture west over rugged terrain during mid- to late 1800s
- Oregon Trail—2,000 miles, 6 months over prairie, desert, mountains
• Government moved Native Americans off land by treaty, force
• Transcontinental railroad completed 1869
- “golden spike” in Promontory, Utah marked completion
- U.S. now linked from coast to coast

23. An Industrial and Urban Society
• Frontier—free, open land between the
Mississippi and the Pacific
- fully settled with about 17 million people by
1890s

25. An Industrial and Urban Society
Industrialization and
Urbanization
• 14 million European
immigrants enter U.S.
between 1860 and 1900
- go west or to urban centers
like New York, Boston,
Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago
• Rather than farm, many work
in textile, steel, oil, food
processing

26. World Power and Domestic Change
Looking Beyond Its Borders
• U.S. avoided involvement in
foreign affairs during its growth
period, isolationism
- had own resources, food,
factories; separated from
conflicts by oceans
• This changes after Great
Depression and being involved
in two World Wars
• Following WWII, United States
has a very strong economy
and becomes a super power.

29.  Korean War
 Vietnam War
 Civil Rights Movement
 Feminist Movement
 9/11/01
 War on Terrorism

34. Is this just another Vietnam?