American History

1. American History

2. Early settlers • Christopher Columbus was dispatched from Spain to find a route to Asia through the Pacific. • In 1493 he came to Puerto Rico • The new continent was named 'America' after Amerigo Vespucci, another explorer with a claim to the discovery of North America

3. The first settlers 1492-1600 • The Spanish explores after Columbus were the first to settle in the US. • Mainly along the Californian coast or the Santa Fe River in New Mexico

4. French Colonies • New France (French colonization 1534 - 1712) extended from The Gulf of Mexico to Canada. Divided into five colonies: • Canada • Acadia • Hudson Bay • New Foundland • Louisiana

5. First English colonies • The East coast became occupied with British settlers during the 17th century • First colony: James Town Virginia 1607 • New England colonies 1620s (today New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware) • The thirteen colonies (British America) were established in 1733

8. Formation ofthe United States of America • Boston Tea party 1773 - a direct action to protest against British colonization • 1775 the 13 colonies began a rebellion against British rule • 1783 the acknowledgement of the United States as an independent nation John Trumbull: ”The death of General Warren at The Battle of Bunker Hill” 1786

9. Independence of America • 4th of July 1776, Declaration of Independence • 1789, first American president, George Washington • 1791 Bill of rights ratified to guarantee the individual rights such as freedom of speech and religious practice, as well as the first ten amendments ofThe Constitution • The American Dream in its essence: equality of opportunity

10. John Trumbull (1756-1843) ”The Declaration of Independence”

11. American Government

12. The Frontier 1800-1850 The peoplewhocame to America believed it wastheirdestiny to control the land and get a new beginning – unfortunatelythismeant killing and marginalising the indigenous Indians

13. The Civil War • During the 1840s and 1850s 4.5 million immigrants came to America. • The nation underwent several economic and cultural changes as industrialization and the transportation revolution changed the economics of the north and west • 1861-1865 the Civil War, dispute over long and bitter issues of slavery and states rights • The North won and in 1865 slavery was abolished in all states • the 13th Amendment , "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude... shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

15. After the Civil War • United States remained divided as reconstruction failed despite a “colorblind Constitution” • Southern whites despite the treaty denied the black population their civil rights -keeping them in economic, social, and political second class status. E.g. school segregation.

17. ”In the land of Promise”

18. Industrial growth and white collar economy • 37 million people immigrated to America between 1840-1920 • Natives were forced onto reservations • White farmers and ranchers took their lands • By the late nineteenth century, the United States had become a leading global industrial power building on new technologies and transportation (telephone, telegraph, iron, steel, oil, rail work etc)

19. Lily Furedi ”Subway” 1934

20. Charles L. Goeller ”Third Avenue” 1934

21. Corporate America and the entrepeneur • ”The business of America is business” • Freedom for the individual is more importantthangovernment • The ideal is competition • Daniel Celentano ”Festival” 1934

22. Land of opportunities and abundance“an ever expanding pie” PicturesThomas Hart Benton

23. Post World War I • In 1920, the manufacture, sale, import and export of alcohol was prohibited. • During most of the 1920s, the United States enjoyed a period of sustained prosperity. • The Immigration Act of 1924 restricting the Southern and Eastern Europeans, especially Jews and Italians

24. The Great Depression • In 1929, The Wall street crash - the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States. • Recovery was slow and the 1930s were poor years for the Americans • With “New Deal” Roosewelt introduced economic reforms and security - a kind of “welfare state” • 1941, Attack on Pearl Harbor - the US entered the Second World War. • Italy surrendered 1943, Japan and Germany in 1945. • USA stood as winners and rescuer of Europe

25. Edward Hopper ”Nighthawks” 1942

27. The Civil Rights • Discrimination remained widespread in the South through the 1950s • From 1955 to 1965, "direct action" was the strategy - primarily bus boycotts, sit-ins, freedom rides, and social movements to obtain assimilation • The modern civil rights movement was designed, led, organized, and manned by African Americans, who placed themselves and their families on the front lines in the struggle for freedom

28. Martin Luther King • Malcolm X advocated black power and black separatism • Martin Luther King, Jr, American activist andprominent leader in the African- American civil rights movement advocated non-violent methods. • Delivered his” I have a Dream Speech” in 1963, raising consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest public speakers in U.S. history. • King was killed in 1968 Edward Burra “Harlem” 1934

29. Vietnam War and Cold War • Fear of communismlead to involvement in Vietnam. In 1975 North Vietnam conquered South Vietnam and the US lost itsfirstwar • During the 70’s the USA suffered from economic recession ad oilcrisis • Reagan 1981-1989: greatestincrease in militaryweapons in history

31. USA TODAY • End of the Cold War; the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. • 9/11 2001; The waragainst terror • Global economiccrisis from 2008 and onwards