The USA: Legacy of the past
1 America’s early history
1.1 Explorers and conquerors
In 1492, Christopher Columbus, seeking a shorter sea route to India, discovered the New World. Within a short time, soldiers, explorers and settlers came from Europe to take over control of the land from the Indians -
The Spanish: conquered Mexico, Peru and other South American areas
The Portuguese: were establishing themselves in Brazil. -
They had come in search of gold and other riches, but at the beginning of the 17th century they controlled between them the most part of South America.
The British and French, together with the Dutch and the Swedes, began to establish permanent settlements along the eastern seaboard, in the 16th century. They did not come in search of riches; they went to America to conquer the land itself.
1.2 The colonial period
The first successful settlements were established at Jamestown, Virginia (1607) and Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts (1620).
Jamestown 1607: The earliest permanent settlers went to Virginia in search of treasures. They found no treasures, only great hardships. After a few years, though, they began to grow tobacco, which became profitable, so new farms were established there.
Plymouth Bay 1620: Puritans, fleeing from persecution in England, founded this settlement, in accord with their Calvinist beliefs. They became known as the “Pilgrim Fathers”.
Thanksgiving was invented in the spring of 1621, when, after a hard first winter, they were able to catch turkeys.
Many groups gradually settled in New England and the Mid-Atlantic States. In 1664, however, the British, being far better established, took over control of the Dutch and the Sweden areas.
Reasons for becoming a colonist: religious freedom, economic reasons, no choice (prisoners, Irish-men captured, black Africans caught and sold to traders), escaping from oppressive government.
The first colonists had to make almost everything using only a few simple tools. They built their own
1.1 Explorers and conquerors
In 1492, Christopher Columbus, seeking a shorter sea route to India, discovered the New World. Within a short time, soldiers, explorers and settlers came from Europe to take over control of the land from the Indians -
The Spanish: conquered Mexico, Peru and other South American areas
The Portuguese: were establishing themselves in Brazil. -
They had come in search of gold and other riches, but at the beginning of the 17th century they controlled between them the most part of South America.
The British and French, together with the Dutch and the Swedes, began to establish permanent settlements along the eastern seaboard, in the 16th century. They did not come in search of riches; they went to America to conquer the land itself.
1.2 The colonial period
The first successful settlements were established at Jamestown, Virginia (1607) and Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts (1620).
Jamestown 1607: The earliest permanent settlers went to Virginia in search of treasures. They found no treasures, only great hardships. After a few years, though, they began to grow tobacco, which became profitable, so new farms were established there.
Plymouth Bay 1620: Puritans, fleeing from persecution in England, founded this settlement, in accord with their Calvinist beliefs. They became known as the “Pilgrim Fathers”.
Thanksgiving was invented in the spring of 1621, when, after a hard first winter, they were able to catch turkeys.
Many groups gradually settled in New England and the Mid-Atlantic States. In 1664, however, the British, being far better established, took over control of the Dutch and the Sweden areas.
Reasons for becoming a colonist: religious freedom, economic reasons, no choice (prisoners, Irish-men captured, black Africans caught and sold to traders), escaping from oppressive government.
The first colonists had to make almost everything using only a few simple tools. They built their own