Beringia to the Revolution
The United States, today, knew as a melting pot of people, traditions, and cultures. America could not be what it is today without its past and its history. From a land bridge, to a war, America has been shaped, molded, and formed.
It is believed that human occupation of North America began perhaps as long ago as 50,000 BC. The first people are thought to have migrated to the continent from Asia across Beringia, a land bridge which we now call the Bering Strait. From these beginnings human habitation is thought to have slowly spread south and eastward. Native Americans are believed to be the earliest ancestors of North America. Grouped together, they had tribes and their own society. However, these early peoples lives changed forever with the invasion of the Europeans.
Portugal, Spain, France and England, are the main countries that invaded North America in the early 1000's. Portugal wanted one and wealth. Spain financed Christopher Colurabus, credited for discovering America in 1492. France started a fur trade with the Indians, and England came in search of land and founded Jamestown, the first permanent colony.
The English started colonies all along the coast. Not long after they were established, it became evident that two very different lifestyles were developing in the Northern and Southern colonies. Indentured servants soon became obsolete. Instead people were beginning to turn towarRAB slavery. Slavery existed in all the colonies, but it was vital to the South. Indians were first used as slaves. However, the Indians were clever and more familiar with the surroundings. The English eventually turned towarRAB African slaves.
While the south was preoccupied with slavery, the north developed commerce. A triangle of trade was established. Shipping, work, and taxes became important. However, the English colonists were not independent. Great Britain was keeping a hold on the colonists. At first England paid little attention to the colonists. When England started to clamp down, the colonists rebelled and revolted. As a result of the colonists protesting, the Glorious Revolution, the Massachutes Revolt, and the New York Revolt occurred.
By the 1700's, the colonists began to consider new ideas. The Enlightment hit and people began to question religious authority. The Charter of 1691 allowed religious toleration. Witchcraft became an issue too. Education grew, but the north remained more educated than the South.
As settlers sought more land, a clash of interests between Indians and colonists sometimes led to armed conflicts. In 1754 a major war broke out between the French and the British. The War is known as the French and Indian War and its purpose was for domination in the new world. In 1763, the English won the war and the Treaty of Paris was signed. Effectively the English gained all land east of the Mississippi from the French, except for New Orleans. The colonists were not in the clear yet. The British government began to tighten control. They issued several Acts including the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. The colonists were angered. Showing their disapproval, they engaged in the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
British officials tried again to tighten control, but colonists were not going to give up. They formed the First Continental Congress to elect a governor and a military head. In 1775 a Second Continental Congress was formed and George Washington was elected commander of chief of the army. Next, the American colonists and the British government found themselves in a major war, The American Revolution.
The American Revolution lasted for eight years. France later intervened as an ally of the independent states. The war resulted in the colonies becoming a separate nation, the United States of America. It is also known as the American War of Independence.
Without that first step across Beringia, to the last gunshot of the Revolution, and also every movement in between, America would not be what it is today; a free nation, a home to many, and a proud hard fought home of independence.
The United States, today, knew as a melting pot of people, traditions, and cultures. America could not be what it is today without its past and its history. From a land bridge, to a war, America has been shaped, molded, and formed.
It is believed that human occupation of North America began perhaps as long ago as 50,000 BC. The first people are thought to have migrated to the continent from Asia across Beringia, a land bridge which we now call the Bering Strait. From these beginnings human habitation is thought to have slowly spread south and eastward. Native Americans are believed to be the earliest ancestors of North America. Grouped together, they had tribes and their own society. However, these early peoples lives changed forever with the invasion of the Europeans.
Portugal, Spain, France and England, are the main countries that invaded North America in the early 1000's. Portugal wanted one and wealth. Spain financed Christopher Colurabus, credited for discovering America in 1492. France started a fur trade with the Indians, and England came in search of land and founded Jamestown, the first permanent colony.
The English started colonies all along the coast. Not long after they were established, it became evident that two very different lifestyles were developing in the Northern and Southern colonies. Indentured servants soon became obsolete. Instead people were beginning to turn towarRAB slavery. Slavery existed in all the colonies, but it was vital to the South. Indians were first used as slaves. However, the Indians were clever and more familiar with the surroundings. The English eventually turned towarRAB African slaves.
While the south was preoccupied with slavery, the north developed commerce. A triangle of trade was established. Shipping, work, and taxes became important. However, the English colonists were not independent. Great Britain was keeping a hold on the colonists. At first England paid little attention to the colonists. When England started to clamp down, the colonists rebelled and revolted. As a result of the colonists protesting, the Glorious Revolution, the Massachutes Revolt, and the New York Revolt occurred.
By the 1700's, the colonists began to consider new ideas. The Enlightment hit and people began to question religious authority. The Charter of 1691 allowed religious toleration. Witchcraft became an issue too. Education grew, but the north remained more educated than the South.
As settlers sought more land, a clash of interests between Indians and colonists sometimes led to armed conflicts. In 1754 a major war broke out between the French and the British. The War is known as the French and Indian War and its purpose was for domination in the new world. In 1763, the English won the war and the Treaty of Paris was signed. Effectively the English gained all land east of the Mississippi from the French, except for New Orleans. The colonists were not in the clear yet. The British government began to tighten control. They issued several Acts including the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. The colonists were angered. Showing their disapproval, they engaged in the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
British officials tried again to tighten control, but colonists were not going to give up. They formed the First Continental Congress to elect a governor and a military head. In 1775 a Second Continental Congress was formed and George Washington was elected commander of chief of the army. Next, the American colonists and the British government found themselves in a major war, The American Revolution.
The American Revolution lasted for eight years. France later intervened as an ally of the independent states. The war resulted in the colonies becoming a separate nation, the United States of America. It is also known as the American War of Independence.
Without that first step across Beringia, to the last gunshot of the Revolution, and also every movement in between, America would not be what it is today; a free nation, a home to many, and a proud hard fought home of independence.