United States of America: From 13 to 50 States

MODULE ONE: United States of America: From 13 to 50 States

Table of Contents

(A) MODULE OBJECTIVES

(B) MODULE OVERVIEW

(1) Introduction

(2) The Settlers in Colonial America

(3) The Early Settlements: 13 colonies

(4) Expansion into 50 states  

            (5) Conclusion

(C) Additional Readings      

(D) Recommended Websites

(E) Students Assessment

Selected Maps: 13 colonies to 50 states

      U.S. Map Test

Module Objectives

At the conclusion of the module, students should be able to:

1)      Explain how the thirteen states in Colonial America developed differently in terms of the  economic and cultural outlook.

2)      Evaluate the impact of the acquisitions and the incorporation of other states.

3)      Identify the different characteristics of the 50 states in America.

4)      Determine the issues and challenges from Colonial America to the founding of the United States.

Module Overview

Module One is an exercise in learning principally about American early modern history and only secondarily about late modern history, which starts from the first English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia and traces the development of the settlements in Colonial America right through to the emergence of the statehood and its expansion until the inclusion of Hawaii as the fiftieth state. The focus and highlights are on the development and early stages of the expansion of the United States so that students will get a glimpse and understand better how this nation became what it is today.

A chronology of key historical events provided here aims to assist the students in their conceptualisation of the founding of the Colonial America and later on the United States. Additional references are given so as to enable students to better grasp the situation in the early days of Colonial America. As the online materials and resources for Colonial America is immense, this module also takes the opportunity to offer students major sites for exploration and sourcing of information.

This module begins with an introduction with the early voyages of the “Old Europe” bringing European explorers to the New World. This is followed in the second section on the influence of early English settlers who later formed the majority in Colonial America. These English settlers founded or acquired the original thirteen colonies as explained in section three. Section four discusses the westward expansion, the various purchases from European nations, acquisitions, annexations and the War with Mexico which led to the expansion of the new nation into 50 states as it is today. Section Five concludes.

Introduction

Spanish explorers were among the earliest settlers in the New World – which the Americas were then known - followed by the French, English, Portuguese and Dutch explorers. They came to expand their empires, and to exploit the natural wealth as well as spreading Christianity. The coming of the Europeans follows closely the economic and religious developments, in particular, the innovations of shipping technologies. By the year 1620, Spain, France and England became dominant European powers on the American continent. Between 1620 until 1763, thousands of Europeans mainly from England came to Colonial America. The three large rivers, Hudson, Delaware, and Susquehanna, which flowed from North to South served as trade routes which led to a large number of immigrants settling in the new colony for example, the Dutch in Hudson Valley, the Germans in Pennsylvania, and Scotch-Irish in Pennsylvania. These new settlers faced many challenges including lack of food, the spread of diseases and at times, there were confrontations with the American Natives or Indians (a term used interchangeably in this module). The rivalries between these European powers to conquer and exploit the continent had marginalised the American Indians. Despite the challenges, the total population of Colonial America increased. And by 1760, there were 1.5 million people. [1] In contrast to the Spanish and Portuguese pioneers, the British settlers became the largest immigrant group in Colonial America.

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[1] Charles M. Dollar and Gary W. Reichard (eds.), American Issues: A Documentary Reader, New York: McMillan, 1994, pg. 19.