History and GovernmentsUnited States and Canada

History of the United States

• First Americans– Hunters from Asia and

their herds– 15,000 years ago– Across a land bridge

between Siberia and Alaska

– Their descendants are called Native Americans today

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Colonial Era• Columbus found the Americas in 1492• Spain then started colonies in Southeast U.S.

– Overseas settlements tied the parent country

• France and Britain established colonies in U.S.– Frances controlled eastern Canada, Great Lakes

region and Mississippi River valley– British settled along the east coast– 1763 Britain defeated France and won their

colonies

Colonial Era• After the war British colonies

got upset with Britain because of high taxes and trade

• 1776 United States declared Independence

• 1783: Britain recognized colonies independence and United States of America was formed

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Expansion and Growth• During the 1800s the U.S.A

expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean– Through treaties with other countries

or annexation • Declared owner ship of land

– Native American cultures suffered by losing their lands, culture and way of life

• Population of U.S. also increase during 1800– High birthrates, advances in medicine,

immigration increased the population

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Expansion and Growth

• Growth in U.S. economy in the 1800s– South based on agriculture and slavery– North on industry

• Differences in economies and society caused tensions

– 1861 several Southern States seceded from the Union, thus starting the Civil War

• 1861-1865• Northern Forces won and slavery was ended• Thousands of American lost their lives during this

bloody civil war

World Leader• WWI and WWII help push the U.S. into a world leadership

position– U.S.A pushed other countries for freedom, factories produced

military equipment and soldiers found all around the world.– After WWII the U.S. and Soviet Union faced off in the Cold War

• Both countries competed for world leadership.• Tensions ran high because of threat of nuclear war• Cold War ended in 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union

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Equal Rights• During the 1900s many groups fought

for equality• These groups lead peaceful protests

that lead to social change– African American: Civil Rights Movement

1950s-1960s• Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr.

– Women’s Right to Vote: 19th amendment – Nation American– Latino Americans

• Cesar Chavez

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Terrorism• Since 2000 the U.S. has faced a new challenge:

growth of terrorism– Terrorism: Use of violence against civilians, by

individuals or groups, to reach political goals– September 11, 2001

• Around 3000 people died at the World Trade Centers, Pentagon, and rural Pennsylvania field

– U.S. troops went into Afghanistan to overthrown the Taliban, the government who protected al-Qaeda

– 2003-2011 Iraqi War

Government of the United States and Canada

• Both are representative democracies– Voters choose leaders who make and enforce laws

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U.S. Democracy

• Constitution is our basic plan – The constitution explains how

our national government is set up and how it works

– Written in the late 1880s– Founding fathers wanted a

strong national government that could lead, but protected citizens rights

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Separation of Powers• Constitution centers the idea of

separation of powers• This means they divided the

power of the national government among three branches:• Executive• Legislative• Judicial• Each branch has unique powers as a

way to prevent other branches from abusing their power– This idea is called checks and balances

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Federalism

• Federalism: U.S. government also divided power between that national government and states governments– National government makes treaties, coins money, has

power to make laws between states– State governments deal with issues like health care and

education– U.S. citizens are both citizens of the country and their state– This gives them the right to vote for national and state

leaders• Citizens must also follow both national and state laws

Bill of Rights/Amendments

• 1791 the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in order to protect citizens rights– Freedom of speech, religion etc– Throughout the years other amendments have

been added to the Constitution to protect freedom and equality

• 13th amendment abolished slavery• 19th amendment gave women the right to vote

History of Canada

Canada and the United States share similar backgrounds. But the two countries traveled different paths to becoming nations

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Early Settlement• Canadian was originally settled

by Native Americans groups• First Europeans to arrive in

Canada were the Vikings around A.D. 1000

• 1500s and 1600s England and France claimed areas of Canada– French settlers created cities such

as Quebec and Montreal.– France ruled the areas by the St.

Lawrence River and Great Lakes (New France) for 230 years

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Early Settlement• The French hoped to find gold and riches in the Canada, like

the Spanish had found in South America– Didn’t find gold, but traded with Native Americans for beaver fur

that was sold in Europe

• During 1600 and 1700s English and French fought each other for territory– By 1760s British had won control over much of France’s Canadian

Colony– Many British and American settlers set-up farms along the Atlantic

Coast– French speaking Canadians lived mostly in present day Quebec– Tragically during this time many Native Americans died from

warfare and disease

An Independent Nation

• For the next 75 years, Great Britain held various colonies in Canada

• By 1867 most colonies become one nation known as the Dominion of Canada– Dominion: Canada had its own government to run

local affairs, but Great Britain still controlled Canada’s relations with other countries.

– Canada is made up of provinces, similar to states• 10 provinces and 3 territories

An Independent Nation• Canada is a bilingual country

– Two official languages: English and French

• During the 1900s many immigrants arrived in Canada

• Canada fought with the Americans in WWI and WWII– This lead to Canada receiving full

independence – 1982 Canadians won the right to

change their constitution without British approval

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Canadian Democracy• Canada has a parliamentary

democracy– Voters elect representatives to

a lawmaking body call Parliament

– These elected officials choose the prime minister (head of the government)

– British monarch serves as the king or queen of Canada (head of state)

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harpertopnews.in

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Federalism• Canada also has a federal

system• Power is divided between the

national government and the provinces/ territories

• Canada has a Charter of Rights and Freedom– This is similar to our Bill of

Rights– It protects the liberties of

Canadian citizens

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