Chapter 4, Section 3 Notes

The Americans 1) Who were the first people to come to the Americas? When did they get here and where did they come from and how did they get here? * The first people to come to the Americas were the Native Americans. They crossed the land bridge from Asia about 15,000 years ago.

The Americans 2) What three European groups arrived in the Americas in the 1500s? Where did they settle and what were they looking for? * The three European groups that arrived in the Americas in the 1500s were the French, Spanish, and British. The French built trading posts around the Great Lakes and interior river valleys. The Spanish built towns and missions in Florida and Georgia and from Texas to California. The British settled along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Georgia. They were all looking for raw materials such as forest, animal furs and rich soils.

The Americans 3) What happened to the British colonies in the mid-1700s, and what was the end result? * The British colonies no longer saw themselves as British but American. They rebelled against the British rule, and the 13 colonies broke away to become the United States of America. In 1776 they declared their independence, and with the help of the French and Spanish they won the American Revolution.

The Americans 4) What is the United States Constitution? When did it go into effect, and what changes did it see in 1791? * The United States Constitution is the basis for all the laws of the United States. It also explains how our national or central government is set up and works. The Constitution went into effect in 1789, and in 1791 the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution.

The Americans 5) What kind of government does the United States have? What are the different ruling powers, and what are the three branches of our government? * The United States Government is a representative democracy, in which voters choose leaders who make and enforce the laws. The different ruling powers are the national (federal) and state governments. The three branches of our federal government are the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

The Americans 6) Discuss the different changes that the United States experienced during the period of growth between 1800 and 1900. * These are the different changes that the United States experienced during the period of growth between 1800 and 1900. Expansion = The United States changed from 13 states to 45 states. The population grew and expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Cotton plantations were created, the gold rush was on, and Native Americans were being pushed out of the way.

The Americans 6) Continued Industrial Revolution = During the Industrial Revolution many new things were created: factories, roads, canals, and steamboats. Crisis = In the mid1800s, the United States faced the issue of slavery and states’ rights. The southern states seceded, and the Civil War was fought. In the end, the states came back to the union and slavery was abolished. Economic Expansion = After the Civil War, the economy if the United States grew. New factories were built in the Northeast and Midwest, and many new immigrants were attracted to the US.

The Americans 7) List three events that caused the United States to become A World Leader. * The three event that caused the United States to become A World Leader were World War I, World War II, and the Equal Rights Movement (not specific in the text).

The Americans 8) What is the Department of Homeland Security? * The Department of Homeland Security is a new cabinet department which was established to coordinate government agencies charged with protecting the nation from terrorist attacks.