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First Settlers
The first colony was established in 1607, at Jamestown, Virginia. A lot of settlers from the New World came here to escape from religious persecutions. Then, in 1620, the Pilgrims, founders of Plymouth and Massachusetts arrived. The colonists from Virginia and Massachusetts got help from the native americans. By 1770, more than 2 million people lived in Great Britain's 13 North American colonies. -
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The French-Indian war
The French-Indian war, also known as The seven years' war:
France's expansion brought conflicts with the British colonies. The numerous battles led to an official British declaration of war in 1756. Finally, the British won. -
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American Revolution
The American revolution occurred in British America in 1765. The Americans in the Thirteen colonies formed independent states and defeated the British in the American Revolutionary war (1775-1783). Then, they established the United States of America. -
Declaration of independence
The declaration of independence was signed on July 4,1776. It explained why the Thirteen colonies at war with Great Britain are now independent states, and no longer under British rule. This declaration made the states take a step toward forming The United States of America. This is why Americans celebrate the 4th of July. -
The Constitution and The Bill of Rights
The United States Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. It guarantees personal freedom and rights, clear limitations on the government and more. -
Expansion
The first great expansion was with the Louisiana purchase from the french government in 1803. The Spanish ceded Florida to the United States in 1819. In 1845, the USA obtained the northern half of Mexico, which is Texas. Great Britain ceded Oregon in 1846. After all these acquisitions, the United States territories became so much bigger. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
On November 6, 1860., Abraham Lincoln was elected president with a Republican party. Being the first republican to win the presidency. Lincoln only received 40% of the popular vote but it was enough to beat the other three candidates. He has been so important as a president because he abolished slavery and modernized the U.S. economy. -
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Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought between the United States (northern states/the Union) and the Confederate States of America (southern states). The main cause of the war was slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America. The states that were loyal to the federal government were known as the Union. It all ended withThe Union’s victory and 620,000 out of 2.4 million soldiers killed. -
The 13th Amendment, ending of slavery
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary slavery, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was approved by Congress on January 31, 1865. It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted after the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln declared that the enslaved in Confederate-controlled areas in the south were free. This finally took effect in December of the same year, ending slavery in the United States.
