HISTORY OF THE USA EXPANSION & SECESSION (1776 – 1860s) Ms Isabella Marinaro

1783 Treaty of Paris: Britain recognizes the independence of the 13 former British colonies from now on those pieces of lands will be known as the United States of America Britain also cedes Florida back to Spain Ms Isabella Marinaro

each of the 13 new states of the confederation has got its own form of government => no national government yet the lack of organization was huge and perceived as a weak point of the new USA 1787: thirty-nine delegates from each state met in Philadelphia to draft the American Constitution, the oldest in the world Ms Isabella Marinaro

The US constitution put all the legislative power in the hands of an elected Congress (= parliament) Senate House of Representatives The PRESIDENT has considerable powers 3oth Apr George Washington was elected as the 1 st president of the USA Ms Isabella Marinaro

1790: two political parties emerge: the Republicans (more conservative) the Federalists led by Thomas Jefferson (will be the 3r d pres.) Ms Isabella Marinaro

XIX century: Americans’ expansion westwards for new and better lands detriment of natives = Indians Ms Isabella Marinaro

XIX century: worsening of the relations with Britain for a sort of embargo against France and its allies British ships stop US ships and US sailors are forced to serve with the Royal Navy on the pretext any American born in Britain is a British subject Ms Isabella Marinaro

The USA declare war to Britain The war ends shortly after a decisive American victory in New Orleans in 1815 Ms Isabella Marinaro

From 1790 to 1830 the US population rises from 4 to 13 million people In 1823 the USA assert its newly acquired status as an international power when president Monroe (5th president) declares any attempt by a European country to extend its influence on the American continent would be regarded as dangerous to USA’s peace and security (=the Monroe doctrine) Ms Isabella Marinaro

beginning of 19 th century: in Europe the USA are seen as a land of: opportunities for anyone innovation democracy social freedom religious freedom economic freedom and more and more people emigrated to the US Ms Isabella Marinaro

the Americans reacted with the pursuit of a racist search of “purity of American blood” W.A.S.P. white Anglo-saxon protestant only a “Wasp” can be considered as an American citizen, the one with the right dignity of being respected as a human being Ms Isabella Marinaro

at the same time the Americans are quickly enlarging their lands westward 1830: president Jackson (7 th president) signs the Indian Removal Act by which all the remaining Indian Natives are closed inside reservations. Those who refuse are killed. Ms Isabella Marinaro

1840: the Gold Rush: thousands of Americans invade California and Texas in search of gold California and Texas belong to Mexico, but a lot of Americans settle down there they fight against Mexico to proclaim California & Texas’s independence in 1845 the two states agree to join the USA Ms Isabella Marinaro

1850s: the difference between North and South US’s kinds of economy and cultural systems is deep North: industrial / no more need for slaves South: agricultural / strong need for slaves President Lincoln (16 th pres.) from the North proposes the abolition of slavery Ms Isabella Marinaro

South Carolina secedes from the rest of the US it is followed by other six states of the South = “Confederacy”, with its own Constitution 1861: The Civil War (= Secession) is inevitable Ms Isabella Marinaro

1863: President Lincoln proposes the Emancipation Proclamation by which all the slaves of the Confederation are free 1865: the secessionist states give up to the Northern states. 500,000 people have died in five years of Civil War six days after the official ending of the war president Lincoln is murdered Ms Isabella Marinaro

1866: the Civil Right Act is approved anyone born in the USA has the full right to be an American citizen Ms Isabella Marinaro

in order to better understand the plot of Indian Killer, it is necessary to know some facts & people related to the Natives’ history: Little Big Horn Wounded Knee massacre Sand Creek Big Foot Crazy Horse Ms Isabella Marinaro