History of USA

Early years
The first inhabitants came across The Bering Straight 30,000 years ago. These were Indians and Inuits. Vikings landed in America in 1000AD, but according to tradition Ch. Colunbus is believed to discover America on 12th October 1492.
In 17th century America started to be populated, in 1607 first English lasting setlement called Virginia was estabilished with capital Jamestown.

Plymouth Colony
In November 1620 Pilgrim Fathers anchored at Cape Cod, they were mostly English Puritans who wanted worship freelly. Half of them diedduring the first winter.
By 1733 there were 13 colonies in America (Virginia, Massachutchas, Pensylvania, Georgia, Conecticut, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delawere, Northern and Southern Carolina). They were divided into New England, Middle Colonies and Southern Colonies.

American Revolution
There were some problems in colonies over taxes and government (--Boston Tea Party 1773) which led to war of Independence. It started at Lexington in April 1775. France, Spain and Holland joinmed in the war to help colonies. They finally won when Britain surrendered and peace was signed in April 1783. New system of government by G. Washington was estabilished in 1787.
In 18th century Texas was populated and became a part of Mexico, but Texans wanted to be independent, so the war started. In the end in 1848 Texas joined US.

Civil war
In the North of US slavery was abolished by 1861, but in the South there were still slaves – Fugivite Slave Act was an agreement which ensured return of fugitive slaves back to their holders. There was also a revolt against slavery at Harpers Ferry led by John Brown. He was not succesfull, he was hanged.
When Lincoln became president in 1861 11 southern colonies formed their own state – Confederation (president J. Davis) – and Civil war could break out in April 1861. In April 1865 general Lee surrendered in Appomatox and North won and slavery was abolished in 1865. A few days later Lincoln was assissinated in Washington.

20th century
During the WWI US entered war as an allie of GB, Russia and France. It ended in 1918. In 1920´s there was a prohibition – alcohol was banned. In 1929 there was another shock for the world – Wall street crasch on Black Thursday. In December 1941 Japan attacked US´s Pearl Harbor and USA entered WWII. They avenged themself when they dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. A few days later Japan surrendered – end of WWII.
In 1960´s J. F. Kenedy became president, he was assissinated 1963 in Dallas.
M. L. King was a black vicar who was fighting for black people´s rights. He was also assissinated in 1968. In 1970´s president Nixon had to resign because of the Watergate, he wanted to descrede his political opponents.

Vietnam war
Vietnam was a part of French empire but Vietnameese wanted to drive the French out. France hanged on to S. Vietnam, but they couldn´t defeat the North led by president Ho Chi Minh. In 1954 Vietnam was divided along the 17th paralel of latitude. In 1960 NLF was estabilished to unite North and South and war broke out. In the beginning US sent advisers to help Vietnam fight comunism. In 1965 USA entered war, but they couldn´t defeat NLF´s army – Vietcong – and started to pull out. By 1973 an armistice was agreed, but in 1975 S. Vietnam fell to the comunists.