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maturitní otázka

History of the USA

The first civilization of America migrated from Asia during the Ice Age. The
first Native Americans were Maya, Toltec, Inca, Aztec and others. In 1492
Italian sailor Christopher Columbus rediscovered America with reached
Bahamas and the European colonization of America began including the
genocide of its inhabitants. Spanish conquerors conquered empires of Aztec and
Inca, whose land then passed to Spain. South America was divided into Spanish
and Portuguese parts. Colonization of South America began about 1650. That
cause long conflict between British and French. The Seven Years War (1754 –
1763) was in America between France and Britain both supported by Indians.
Britain took control of New France in result.
Amerigo Vespucci described America and the continent take over his name.

FIRST COLONIES
The first colony was established by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1607. English puritans
left England because they were persecuted. They used ship called May flower.
They reached Massachusetts River and the colony was named English colony.
Because of first harvest they started to celebrate Thanksgiving Day (in
November). Later it was renamed in “Virginia” in honor of the queen
Elizabeth I. The first settlement was called Jamestown in honor of the king
James I.

The second successful colony was Plymouth, the settlement of Massachusetts,

established by the Pilgrims (English puritans) in 1620. The colony developed
friendly relations with Native Americans.

Pilgrims were soon followed by more Puritans who established the

Massachusetts Bay Colony (Boston at present) in 1630. They came for
religious freedom.

The next settlements were New Hampshire in 1630, Connecticut and Rhode
Island in 1636. All of the colonizers came for religious freedom.

THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

In 1773 the Americans dressed as Indians threw a cargo of tea in Boston harbor
as a protest against duties, taxes and whole British rule. This protest, called
Boston Tea Party and its cause Boston Massacre began the War of
Independence (1775-1781). This war lasted 6 years. The commander of soldiers
of 13 American colonies was appointed George Washington. He built the
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Union together with Spain, France and Dutch. On the 4th July 1776 was claimed
Declaration of Independence made by Thomas Jefferson. The Union defeated
the Britain at Saratoga in 1777 and the war finished in 1781 but the peace
settlement was signed in Paris 1783 and it cause independence of 13 colonies.
The 13 stripes on American flag represent 13 colonies. George Washington was
elected as the first American president.

THE CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

Sometimes is called the war between South and North. The main problem was
in different political system. In the South was slavery, agriculture production,
and autonomy of states were preferred. Slaves were sold to the owners of mainly
cotton plantations and didn’t have any rights. In the North was capitalist system
mainly with industry and centralistic policy. President Abraham Lincoln was
against slavery. Soon after his election (1860) was founded the Union with 26
states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. During the
war, Nevada and West Virginia joined as new states of the Union. Tennessee and Louisiana
were returned to Union military control early in the war.) and generals were Lee and
Johnson. In the South was president Jefferson Davis and here was founded the
Confederation with 11 states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, Texas. Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee) and generals were
Grant and Sherman. Slavery definitely ended in the spring of 1865 when the
Confederate armies surrounded. About 4 million black slaves were freed in 1861
– 65 with many rights f.e. right for education, right for work and other
movements. But it was really bloody victory. This war had about 970000
victims. Soon after the end of the war Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in
cause of revenge in 1865. New transcontinental railway was built between South
and North America. Around beginning of 20 century has appeared organization
Ku –Klux - Klan, which has been created against black people.

USA TODAY
The 44th president is Barack Obama who is the first black president.
The capital is Washington D.C.
There are 50 states, 5 territories, 1 district (District of Columbia) and other
lands. The states are divided into smaller counties.
There is capitalist economy, low unemployment and inflation, large trade.
80% of people in USA descend from European immigrants. Native Americans
are about 1%.
Official language is English with 11 dialects. Spanish has increased.
Dominate religions are protestant and catholic.
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VOCABULARY

Native American původní obyvatelé Ameriky

conqueror dobyvatel
pass to připadnout
establish založit
persecute pronásledovat
in honor of na počest
settlement osada
cargo náklad
harbor přístav
duties, taxes cla, daně
rule vláda, nadvláda
claim prohlásit
defeat porazit
elect zvolit
slave, slavery otrok, otroctví
victim oběť
assassinate spáchat atentát, zavraždit
revenge pomsta
county okres