A BRIEF HISTORY

OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA (PART 1)
Etienne Coursimault

Program Matrikulasi
De La Salle/Manado
February 11th, 2011
Let us
remember
that we are
in the holy
presence of
God…
“Where do…”
“…American people come from?”
…Asia!
…& Africa!
Hunters from Asia walked to America
around12,000 B.C.

 In search of large animals to hunt, they walked

across Bering Strait
 They arrived at the Great Plains
 They colonize North America
America discovered by European
navigators in 1492

 Christopher Colombus arrives in America on

October 12th, 1492
 He calls local people “Indians” because he thinks he
is in India!
America becomes part of Spain‟s Empire

 Local people (“Indians”) dominated by European

military superiority
 Many conflicts, and diseases
 Spanish looking for gold in America
The Terrible Story of the „New World‟

 Before colonization: 10 million people, 200 tribes

 In 1865: only 300,000 remained…
After the Protestant Reformation, England begins
to explore America

 1587: Spanish military power declining, England

begins to explore and colonize America
 First British “settlements” (=SP in Papua)
Then they were religious conflicts in Great Britain

 Conflicts between Puritans and Presbyterians

 Some Puritans left England on a ship, the Mayflower
 They reached America and established a new
settlement there
French and Dutch also begin
to establish colonies in America

 Relationships are not always good with local people

„American Society‟ in the Making
What is an American?
„American Spirit‟ is composed of values of…

 Entrepreneurship (settlers…)
 Diversity (different origins)
 Religion (believers)

 American people believe that

anyone can be successful
 They are ready to take risk and try new things
1776-1849
The Formation of the USA &
The Westward Expansion
A Rebellion Against British Rule

 1775: 13 colonies begin a rebellion

 1776: They proclaim their independence
as the United States of America
George Washington became the first President

 Have you ever seen one dollar?

Then the U.S.A. continued its expansion…

 1788: 13 colonies
Then the U.S.A. continued its expansion…

 1796: A few more states

Then the U.S.A. continued its expansion…

 1803: America buys Louisiana from France

Then the U.S.A. continued its expansion…

 1837: New states created around Mississippi

Then the U.S.A. continued its expansion…

 1850: Oregon, Texas and California added

Then the U.S.A. continued its expansion…

 1912: All states created (except Alaska & Hawaii)

But before there were many conflicts…

 States from The North and states from the South

disagreed on the question of slavery
What is slavery?

 African slaves were sold to European, who

transported slaves to America…
The Civil War (1849–1865)

 States from the South used slaves to work in the

fields
 States from the North refused it
 They started a terrible war
The Civil War (1849–1865)
The Civil War (1849–1865)

 The North States were the winner

 Slavery was abolished
The Reconstruction (1865–1918)

 After the war ended, the United

States of America began to
reconstruct the country
 It quickly became a country of
wealth and prosperity, as well
as a military power
We will see the rest next time!
 THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION!
And see you next week!

Program Matrikulasi
De La Salle/Manado
February 11th, 2011