Civilisation S2 2

1.
USA, an overview:
 The United States of America is a federal democracy.
 It consists of 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
 District: district of Colombia (D.C) -only one-.
 Capital: Washington.
 size: the third-largest country after Russia and China.
 population: the third-largest after China and India.
 Situation: north America.
 Borders: Atlantic Ocean(east), Pacific Ocean(west), Canada(north),
Mexico(south).
 Largest state: Alaska.
 Smallest state: Rhode Island.
 Insular states: Virgin Islands, American Samoa…
 Inhabitations: Native Indians than the Europeans establish a colony
at the expense of Amerindians.
 The first settlement in the new world: Jamestown, Virginia, 1607.
 In 1620, the pilgrims left America for Plymouth to worship God
freely.
 By 1773, there were 13 colonies: Virginia, New York, Massachusetts,
Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware,
North/South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
 New England colonies: Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Connecticut, Rhode Island.
 Middle colonies: New Jersey, New York, Delaware,
Pennsylvania.
 Southern colonies: Virginia, Maryland, North/South
Carolina, Georgia.
 On July 04, 1774; the 13 original colonies became independent.
 They declared their independence with “The American Declaration of
Independence” by “Thomas Jefferson”.
 America became independent and governed by “George Washington”,
the first US president.
 37 states were gradually added to the original colonies.
2. The Discovery of America:
The Vikings were in America centuries before Cristopher
Columbus, and there is disputed evidence that Polynesian explorers
visited the continent before the Spaniards.
Nomadic Asian tribes discovered America 15000 years ago.
New theories based on archaeological findings tend to point out that
Muslims arrived in the Americas before Columbus, which means
Columbus is not the discoverer.
Barry fell from Harvard university gave solid scientific evidence
through archaeological findings in his book proving that Muslims
from the north and west of Africa arrive in America centuries before
Christopher.
There is also historical evidence that proves that there was a contact
between Muslims and Native Americans in the mid-tenth century;
Muslims of African origins travelled through the ocean of darkness
and fogs and they returned carrying much booty from a “strange and
curious land”. Also, Al-Mas’udi drew a map in which referred to a
large area in the sea of darkness and fog as the unknown territory.
 The First Americans: crossed the land bridge from Asia, historians
believe that they lived in what is known as Alaska.
 Early groups: aka Hohokams, Adenans, Hopewilliams, and
Anasazi. Their lives were connected to the land. They worshiped
family and community. They shared information by talking but not
writing. Some used a form of picture writing called
“Hieroglyphics”.
 Hopi and Zuni: these groups disappeared without an obvious
reason. Later other groups like them appeared and prospered. About
two million native people of them had lived in USA when
Europeans came.
 The first Europeans that inhabited the new world were the Norse
from Greenland.
 Other Europeans: reached the new world 500 years later. The first
explorers did not know about America, they were trying to reach
Asia.
So who discovered America? Christopher Columbus never reached
America, he landed on lands in the Caribbean Sea.
In 1497, a British explorer landed in Canada, his arrival established a
British claim to land in North America.
 Spain: throughout the 1500s, Spain claimed more lands in the
Americas than any other country. Spain conquered Mexico in
1522. In 1540, Francisco wanted to find the mythical seven cities
of Cibola
Where does the name America come from? Other explorers
explored the further north; it was named after one of them, Amerigo
Vespucci.
 Early settlement: the first European permanent settlement was
Spanish. The 13 colonies would later come from the USA to the
north.
It was not just explorers who settled, people came for religious
freedom, adventure…. etc
3. Settlements in the New World:
 Jamestown, Virginia:
In the late 16th century, many countries tried to settle Roanoke, but
they all disappeared, it was called “the lost colony”. Still, there were
many successful settlements.
Europeans who followed Columbus’ paths thought they were
exploring Asia, as both explorers were sent by Spain, which claimed
the colonies to be theirs; also, England did the same in the early 16th
century.
In 1607, Jamestown was the first permanent settlement in the New
World. Many people believed it would disappear soon because of the
economic philosophy of Britain.
Virginia was named after the Virgin Queen Elizabeth 1.
The first wave of Jamestown settlers was sent from Virginia
Compony of London to find gold and silver. The settlers were only
men, the first woman joined only in 1619.
The first settlers called it Jamestown after the king James 1, and
the settlement was unpleased because of mosquitos, and Indian
attacks… so many people died in the first year.
In 1608, Virginia became under the command of Captain John
Smith who asked the settlers to cultivate the land. He had a good
relationship with the natives, but when he got sick and moved to
England, the settlers and the natives had conflicts, and the starving
returned, and 90% of them died.
In 1622, Indians killed and injured huge numbers of settlers;
fortunately, they were pacified. In 1612, John Dolfe developed
tobacco planting and it become the most profitable crop.
Virginia was declared a royal colony in 1624.
 Plymouth, Massachusetts:
 Reasons for early settlement:

 The 3G’s (God, Gold, Glory).
 The hard economic conditions.
 The richness of the country.
 The need for raw materials.
 The increasing King’s need for money.
 The New World was the shortest way to Asia.
 To escape religious persecution.
 Plymouth colony:
In November 1620, pilgrims landed in what is now Massachusetts
after sailing from England on the Mayflower
 Pilgrims: aka the separatists, the name of the group who left
England because of religious persecution, sailed on the mayflower
led by William Bradford.
 Mayflower compact: drafted by William Bradford, signed by 41
pilgrims on November 21, 1621 to affirm their rights in the new
world. It helped establish the “majority rule” and it was the very
first form of democracy in America.
 The Suzan Constant: The British crown decided to send 3 ships
to the New World, the ships that Columbus sailed on. The Suzan
Constant was the top among the three (discovery and Godspeed). It
carried the first English setters on Jamestown.
 Pennsylvania:
 It is one of the middle 13 colonies.
 It was already populated by the native Indians whom most of them
died of different illnesses.
 The first European settlers were the Dutch and the Swedish.
 The Dutch were the first who brought slaves to it.
 King Charles 2 gave Pennsylvania to Penn’s father to pay his debt
back.
 Pennsylvania: Penn, his family name / Sylvania, woods in Latin.
 William Penn established the colony based on religious tolerance.
 He was a member of the society of friends (the Quakers) who
believed in religious tolerance and peace.
 Pennsylvania was settled by the Quakers.
 Philadelphia was known as the city of brotherly love as he had
good relations with the natives.
 Georgia:
 Georgia was called after King George 2of England.
 It is one of the southern 13 colonies.
 It was found for indigent and persecuted people in Britain.
 It was the last established colony in North America, founded
because the English crown wanted to protect South Carolina from
invasion.
 Conclusion:
The earliest settlers would thus become Americans that cherished
many values and lived by on daily basis. Since they grew self-reliant,
they broke up with the mother country.
4. Slavery in the New World:
Slavery is a system of human servitude in America in which people

are treated as goods and commodities. They were forced to work hard
without being paid, and they were not allowed to start a family.
 Different kinds of slavery:

 Chattel slavery: aka traditional slavery, it is called as such
since people are treated as chattel (goods).
 Bonded labor (debt bondage): is a type in which one pledges
themselves against a loan. The duration and services are undefined
until debts are repaid.
Forced labor: slaves work against their choice mainly under
violence, and threat…human trafficking is especially for
prostitution.
 Forced marriage: one or both sides are married against their
will., under physical or emotional abuse, or threats….
 Atlantic travel trade:

Slavery appeared ages before the Atlantic travel trade. African
slaves were transported to Europe and Asia than the Americas, they
worked for Europeans and Muslims as well. It started after
commercial contact between old continents and the new world.
 The first Atlantic system: African slaves were transported to
South European. This slave trade constituted 3% of all Atlantic
slave trade.
 The second Atlantic system: African slaves were transported
to the Caribbean colonies and Brazil.
 Triangular slave trade:
 First, Europe exported the manufactured goods to Africa.
 Second, African slaves were sold and transported to
Caribbean islands and the Americas through the Atlantic
Ocean.
 Third, the African slaves worked hard and the goods they
produced were sold to the European markets.

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1.

 Reasons for early settlement:

Slavery is a system of human servitude in America in which people

 Different kinds of slavery:

 Atlantic travel trade:

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