US History: From Pilgrims to the Civil War
The Pilgrim Fathers (Mayflower)
Religious English group formed in the 16th century, were dissatisfied with the religious-politic environment of their country, decided to emigrate, first to Leiden and after to the New World. They left from Plymouth’s port in the Mayflower ship on August 15th, 1620. Traversing the Atlantic Ocean, they intended to go to the Jamestown colony, but a storm prevented it, and they arrived at Cape Cod. Shortly after, they founded Plymouth. They were gathered by the Puritan Church and took refuge from religious persecution and political instability in Europe. Their name comes from a biblical passage.
Declaration of Independence
A statement adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress at the Pennsylvania State House (known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. It announced that the 13 American colonies, at war with Great Britain (GB), would no longer be under British rule. They formed a new nation – the United States of America (USA). The Declaration of Independence states that the authority to govern belongs to the people, all people are created equal, and have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is without a doubt one of the most important documents in American history. Fifty-six men, representatives from different states, signed it. The committee included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote the draft for the Declaration of Independence, working on it from June 11 to June 28.
War of Independence
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a global war that began as a conflict between Great Britain and its 13 Colonies, which declared independence as the United States of America. After 1765, growing philosophical and political differences strained the relationship between Great Britain and the colonies. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence, and the declaration was made on July 4.
Constitution
It was clear that for the United States, there would have to be changes in the Articles of Confederation. In February 1787, Congress asked each state to send delegates to a meeting or “convention” in Philadelphia to talk about changes. Rhode Island refused, but the other 12 agreed. The meeting, known as the Constitutional Convention, began in May 1787, and 55 men attended. They chose George Washington to lead their discussions. The delegates disagreed about the changes. They worked out a completely new system of government for the United States. They set out the plan in the Constitution of the United States.
The Bill of Rights (Ten Amendments)
The Constitution went into effect in March 1789. It was still not really complete. In 1791, ten amendments, or additions, were made to it. Together, these amendments are the Bill of Rights. The reason for the Bill of Rights was that the original Constitution had said nothing about rights and freedoms. The Bill of Rights altered this. It promised all Americans freedom of religion, a free press and speech, the right to carry arms, the right to a fair trial by jury, and protection against cruel and unusual punishments.
The Civil War
A four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Confederate states (Jefferson Davis) vs. Union soldiers (Abraham Lincoln).
Causes
- Industry vs. Farming
- State’s rights: Since the Constitution was first written, there had been arguments about how much power the states should have versus how much power the federal government should have.
- Expansion
- Slavery
- Bleeding Kansas: The first fighting over the slavery issue took place in Kansas.
Main Events and Characters
The contest was marked by the ferocity and frequency of battle. One of the main events was the Battle of Fredericksburg, in which General Burnside experienced a disastrous defeat when attacking Confederate forces. The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to July 3, 1863, was the most important engagement of the American Civil War. Another remarkable fight was caused by the bombardment of Fort Sumter.