U.S.A. [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION Five liundred years ago North America was an unl^nown land inhabited only by Red Indians and wild animals. In vast forests bears and moose, foxes and wolves roamed and the rivers, lakes and coastal waters teemed with salmon and cod. In the centre of the continent immense grassy plains, the Prairies, supported enormous bison herds that stretched for many miles. To the east and west stood rugged mountain chains such as the Rockies and the Appalachians, so imposing, yet to become such barriers in the years that followed. In the south and south-west lay what is still some of the most desolate country in the world, a wilderness of sand and rock, spectacular scenery and scorching temperatures. The Red Indians dwelt in all these areas, their way of life influenced by their surroundings-mountains or plains, forest or desert. Each tribe had its own language and customs; some were fierce, others peace-loving. They lived by hunting, fishing and farming, travelling everywhere on foot or by canoe. Horses at that time were unknown to them and so too were guns which, when they were later introduced by Europeans, resulted in the virtual extinction of the bison and many bloody battles. The Red Indians' settled lives were changed and their numbers drastically reduced following one very significant event. In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed at San Salvador, near the Florida coast and in so doing the 'New World' was discovered. The early exploration, settlement and development, mainly by English, French and Spanish invaders, was the start of what is now one of the greatest and most powerful nations of the 20th century. The Spanish concentrated on the western and south-western parts of the continent. The French explored the area around the Great Lakes and along the Mississippi River, forming one of their colonies around the town of New Orleans, near the mouth of this great waterway Many of the first English immigrants had left their country to escape religious persecution and they settled chiefly on or near the Atlantic coast. Amongst them were the Pilgrim Fathers, who chose to live at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620, and the Quakers, led by William Penn, founded the State of Pennsylvania. Many other reasons, however, prevailed for inhabiting this unknown land. Fur-bearing animals were prolific and fm-s were in great demand in fashion-conscious Europe. The promise of gold encouraged some, timber from the huge forests and the sale of land attracted others. Later, the commercial production of crops like sugar-cane, tobacco and indigo made many settlers rich beyond their wildest dreams. By 1750, the original thirteen English Colonies were taken over by the British Crown under the rule of King George III. His autocratic policy, however, was largely responsible for the loss of these valuable colonies. He introduced certain laws and taxes which incurred the resentment of the settlers. One of these was the infamous tea tax. In Boston, feeling was so strong against it that citizens of the town, disguised as Red Indians, boarded the ships of the East India Company and, as a protest, threw the tea into the harbour; an event now famous in history, known as the Boston Tea Party. This conflict between England and her colonies culminated in the American War of Independence and the establishment of the United States of America. The first shots of the war were fired at Lexington and the opening battle was fought at Bunker Hill, near Charlestown, in 1775. George Washington, later to be President, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the ill-armed and undisciplined forces. On July 4th 1776 Congress issued its Declaration of Independence, renouncing all allegiance to the British Crown and stating: "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states". The war, however, continued for another seven years during which time Spain and France joined in as America's allies. Towards the end only New York remained in British hands and eventually peace negotiations were opened which resulted in the recognition of American Independence through the Treaty of Paris of 1783. Encouraged by the Mexican Government to trade and settle in Texas, the Americans gradually outnumbered the Mexicans living there. Conditions were unsatisfactory and the Texas Revolution resulted. One of the famous battles was that of the Alamo, in which many frontiersmen, including the legendary Davy Crockett, died. Later confrontations were more successful and Texas became annexed to America in 1844. Meanwhile, many settlers were attracted to the far west, with its fine climate, good farming land and mineral deposits. Westward migration by thousands of pioneer farmers in wagon trains were a familiar sight along the California and Oregon Trails. They faced enormous hardships, shortage of food and water, attacks by Indians and lawless whites, extreme weather conditions and, eventually, the barrier posed by the Rocky Mountains. Between 1783 and 1848, however, American expansion was at its greatest. America quadrupled its size and, with the rich resources it had acquired became, by 1900, the world's largest industrial and agricultural nation. Vast fortunes were made from coal, oil, steel, timber, railways, milling and meat packaging - to mention just a few of the boom industries of the time. Cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit and New York grew rapidly as a result, and the influx of millions of immigrants from Europe, many of them highly skilled, have made America into not only a prosperous country but also a fascinating melting-pot of races and a land of great opportunity.