American History I Unit 1 Overview

Native Americans arrive from Asia 15-30,000 years ago

Who came next? Vikings? reached Nova Scotia around 1000 AD Vikings? reached Nova Scotia around 1000 AD Chinese? May have reached Virginia in 1450 Chinese? May have reached Virginia in 1450 Japanese? May have arrived in South America Japanese? May have arrived in South America Polynesians? May have reached S. America Polynesians? May have reached S. America Africans? May have reached Caribbean, S.Amer Africans? May have reached Caribbean, S.Amer

Cristoforo Colombo Better known as Christopher Columbus Better known as Christopher Columbus 1451 – – 1506 Italian hired by Spain Italian hired by Spain “Discovered” America, Oct. 12, 1492 “Discovered” America, Oct. 12, 1492 Commanded 4 trips to New World, later Spain’s governor there Commanded 4 trips to New World, later Spain’s governor there

Gold or your hand!

Natives were enslaved by the Spanish and forced to mine for gold All natives were forced into slavery and made to mine for gold All natives were forced into slavery and made to mine for gold Problem – there was no gold on Caribbean islands Problem – there was no gold on Caribbean islands

European diseases killed 90% of the Native population

African slaves 1530s – first Africans imported by Spanish (38 years after Columbus) 1530s – first Africans imported by Spanish (38 years after Columbus) 1619 – first Africans imported by English to Jamestown (12 years after settlement) 1619 – first Africans imported by English to Jamestown (12 years after settlement)

French Canada & Louisiana First settled in 1608 in Quebec First settled in 1608 in Quebec French claimed a huge area, but found few colonists willing to settle French claimed a huge area, but found few colonists willing to settle Catholic missionaries Catholic missionaries Exports: furs and cod Exports: furs and cod

Roanoke Island, North Carolina 1585 – – 1587 First English settlement First English settlement Colonized by Sir Walter Raleigh Colonized by Sir Walter Raleigh Disappeared without a trace Disappeared without a trace

First SUCCESSFUL English colony was at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607

John Smith, Powhatan, & Pocahontas?

John Smith & Pocahontas?

The REAL Pocahontas, John Smith, & Powhatan

Tobacco

English settlers sought wealth … Common myth: America was covered in gold, just lying around waiting to be picked up. Colonists believed that they would be able to get off the ship, gather up gold and go back home! Common myth: America was covered in gold, just lying around waiting to be picked up. Colonists believed that they would be able to get off the ship, gather up gold and go back home!

… and religious freedom

Dutch New Amsterdam

13 British colonies

The Triangular Trade

Slaves from Africa to the Americas

Cotton, tobacco, sugar, and other raw materials from the Americas to Europe

Finished goods like rum, guns, & cloth from Europe to Africa

The Middle Passage was …

…the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic on slave ships 50% mortality rate for slaves on ships crossing Atlantic 50% mortality rate for slaves on ships crossing Atlantic As many as 10 million Africans may have been cast into watery graves in the Atlantic As many as 10 million Africans may have been cast into watery graves in the Atlantic Hundreds packed in on each ship Hundreds packed in on each ship

A typical slave ship

About 15,000,000 Africans sold into slavery between

French & Indian War ( ) a.k.a. The Seven Years War

North America after 1763 French forced out of North America, British take over Canada (French would later get back a big chunk of Louisiana from Spain) French forced out of North America, British take over Canada (French would later get back a big chunk of Louisiana from Spain) French gained some small islands in Caribbean French gained some small islands in Caribbean French forced to leave India French forced to leave India French gained control of African slave ports French gained control of African slave ports

King George III expected Americans to pay for cost of war and their defense

He also refused to allow American colonists representation in Parliament

Mercantilism colonies provided England with raw materials and served as a market for finished goods colonies provided England with raw materials and served as a market for finished goods This results in a “bleeding” of wealth away from the colonies and towards England This results in a “bleeding” of wealth away from the colonies and towards England

Stamp Act & Townshend Acts Stamp Act of 1765 Stamp Act of 1765 Required that all documents, permits, contracts, wills, newspapers, and even playing cards have a stamp on them showing that a tax had been paid Required that all documents, permits, contracts, wills, newspapers, and even playing cards have a stamp on them showing that a tax had been paid Designed to pay for defense of colonies Designed to pay for defense of colonies Colonists reaction was so strong that it was repealed in 1766 Colonists reaction was so strong that it was repealed in 1766 Townshend Acts of 1767 Townshend Acts of 1767 Taxed all goods imported into the colonies Taxed all goods imported into the colonies Empowered tax collectors to root out smugglers Empowered tax collectors to root out smugglers Colonists responded by boycotting imported goods and assisting smugglers Colonists responded by boycotting imported goods and assisting smugglers Repealed in 1770 (except on tea) Repealed in 1770 (except on tea)

The Boston Massacre March 5, 1770 March 5, 1770 Colonists resented the number of British troops stationed in Boston Colonists resented the number of British troops stationed in Boston Started as a small argument, but an angry mob soon formed Started as a small argument, but an angry mob soon formed British troops opened fire, probably in self- defense British troops opened fire, probably in self- defense 5 colonists killed 5 colonists killed Soldiers were tried for murder and defended by John Adams: all but 2 were acquitted, and the other 2 were found guilty of manslaughter Soldiers were tried for murder and defended by John Adams: all but 2 were acquitted, and the other 2 were found guilty of manslaughter

The Tea Act Passed May 10, 1773 Passed May 10, 1773 Actually lowered the cost of tea to colonists by removing the tax on tea sold by the East India Company Actually lowered the cost of tea to colonists by removing the tax on tea sold by the East India Company Colonists, however, were boycotting all British goods to protest taxation Colonists, however, were boycotting all British goods to protest taxation

The Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773 December 16, 1773 Afterwards, British closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for Afterwards, British closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for

Continental Congress

Battle of Lexington & Concord “Shot heard ‘round the world” “Shot heard ‘round the world” April 19, 1775 April 19, 1775 First battles of Revolution First battles of Revolution British were trying to seize gunpowder stored by the colonial militias British were trying to seize gunpowder stored by the colonial militias Colonists won, but were stunned that fighting had actually broken out Colonists won, but were stunned that fighting had actually broken out

Battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 in Boston June 17, 1775 in Boston Actually took place on Breed’s Hill! Actually took place on Breed’s Hill! British won, but suffered over 1000 casualties, 100+ of them officers British won, but suffered over 1000 casualties, 100+ of them officers “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

George Washington 1732 – – 1799 Worked as a surveyor Worked as a surveyor Served in French & Indian War Served in French & Indian War Planter, lived at Mount Vernon Planter, lived at Mount Vernon Appointed as commander of the Continental Army due to his social position and military experience Appointed as commander of the Continental Army due to his social position and military experience

The Declaration of Independence July 2 – 4, 1776 July 2 – 4, 1776 “all men are created equal” “all men are created equal” “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” Famous signers: Samuel Adams, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin Famous signers: Samuel Adams, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson 1743 – – 1826 Author of Declaration of Independence Author of Declaration of Independence Founded U. of Va. Founded U. of Va. Inventor, architect, philosopher Inventor, architect, philosopher Sec. of State, VP, & 3 rd President of U.S. Sec. of State, VP, & 3 rd President of U.S. Opium addict, slave owner Opium addict, slave owner

The Battle of Trenton December 26, 1776 December 26, 1776 Washington’s first major victory, restored confidence and morale Washington’s first major victory, restored confidence and morale Sneak attack by crossing Delaware River in the night Sneak attack by crossing Delaware River in the night Americans captured about 1000 Hessian soldiers Americans captured about 1000 Hessian soldiers

Articles of Confederation 1781 – – 1788 First basis of the American government First basis of the American government Left the central government too weak and the individual states too strong Left the central government too weak and the individual states too strong Central government only exists to manage foreign relations Central government only exists to manage foreign relations

Valley Forge Americans’ winter camp Americans’ winter camp About 1 in 6 soldiers died of disease due to the poor nutrition and living conditions About 1 in 6 soldiers died of disease due to the poor nutrition and living conditions Nearly broke Washington’s army, but he also used this time to retrain his troops Nearly broke Washington’s army, but he also used this time to retrain his troops

The Battle of Yorktown September 28 – October 17, 1781 September 28 – October 17, 1781 Cornwallis had been cut off from escape by the arrival of the French navy Cornwallis had been cut off from escape by the arrival of the French navy First time a British army had unconditionally surrendered during the war First time a British army had unconditionally surrendered during the war Broke public morale in England Broke public morale in England

Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation Treaty of Paris (1783) Treaty of Paris (1783) Set border between the United States and British Canada Set border between the United States and British Canada Made Mississippi River a free river to be used by Americans, British, and Spanish Made Mississippi River a free river to be used by Americans, British, and Spanish

The Philadelphia Convention Met in 1786 to amend the Articles of Confederation and strengthen the central government of the United States Met in 1786 to amend the Articles of Confederation and strengthen the central government of the United States

The Constitution Adopted 9/17/1787 Adopted 9/17/1787 Oldest constitution in use in the world today Oldest constitution in use in the world today Amended 27 times, most recently in 1992 Amended 27 times, most recently in 1992 Created checks and balances between 3 branches of government Created checks and balances between 3 branches of government

President George Washington First President (1789 – 1797) First President (1789 – 1797) Only president to win 100% of electoral votes Only president to win 100% of electoral votes Warned against foreign entanglements Warned against foreign entanglements Died in 1799 Died in 1799