W9 History of America #1 (DM1401).ppt

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * History of America #1 .....to 1799 Alex Olah Course on Western Culture China University of Petroleum 7 November 2015 Contents PART 1: Discovery of the ‘New World’ PART 2: British colonies; growing tensions PART 3: The American War of Independence PART 4: Building the new nation PART 5: A hero; a traitor; and a genius PART 1: Discovery of the ‘New World’ In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the ‘New World’ Main European powers: Spain; Portugal; France; Great Britain. Christopher Columbus Born Italy 1451; died Spain 1506 4 voyages between 1492 and 1503 Sponsored by King Queen of Spain First landing 12 October 1492, in the Bahamas America named after Amerigo Vespucci Spanish and Portuguese colonies PART 2: British colonies Serious migration started in 1620 with the ship ‘Mayflower’, Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution 32m, 4 decks; 102+30 crew Qing Dynasty 1644 Over next 100 years groups from Britain founded 13 colonies along the East Coast Life was hard, as the immigrants had to build a new life from nothing The Mayflower Growing tensions [By 1770 population of 13 colonies about 2 million] 1760s Britain tried to impose new taxes 1770 ‘Boston Massacre’ “Snowballs to bullets”; 5 killed – first bloodshed 1772 ‘Committees of Correspondence’ formed 1773 ‘Boston Tea Party’ Colonists disguised as Indians destroyed 342 cases of tea; Britain imposed ‘Intolerable Acts’ on colonies 1774 ‘Continental Congress’ met for first time ‘Boston Tea Party’, 16 December 1773 Fighting starts April 1775 fighting at Lexington Concord May 1775 Continental Congress met 2nd time Decided to create the Continental Army (from militia); George Washington appointed Commander June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill near Boston Killed / wounded: Colonists 115 / 305; British 226 / 828 Negotiations ended when British King denounced the rebels as traitors, and sent more soldiers 4 July 1