HISTORY AND

GOVERNMENT OF THE US AND CANADA

Chapter 6 Section 2

History

First Immigrants

1st immigrants to US and Canada were from Asia.

They came across the Bering Land Bridge millions of years ago.

They are known as Native Americans.

Europeans

In the late 1500’s, Europeans started migrating to North America.

They were the British, French, and Spanish

They came in search of land, minerals, and freedom (political and religious)

Where did they settle?

Spanish settled in the southwestern and southern US

British settled along the Atlantic coast

French settled along northern areas

United States Independence

From 1775-83, the 13 British colonies fought a successful war for independence.

They created the United States of America.

Canadian Independence

In 1867 other British colonies formed the Dominion of Canada.

Canada became a self-governing nation within the British Empire.

From sea to shining sea

By the mid-1800’s, the US had expanded westward across the continent to the Pacific.

Canada carried out its own westward expansion during the 1800’s.

Industrialization Canada and the US were

transformed by industrialization in the 1800’s.

Waterfalls of NE US were good sources of power.

Coal from the Midwestern states powered steam engines.

Rivers and lakes made it easy to transport goods.

Industrialization Continued

Cotton in the South became very profitable.

The demand for cotton increased and so did the need for slaves.

Disputes over slavery led to the US Civil War (1861-1865)

Technological and Social Change

The completion of transcontinental railroads in the late 1800’s in both Canada and the US.

Thousands of immigrants were hired to build these railroads.

Government

US Government

US is a democratic republic set by the Constitution (1787).

Over the years, amendments to the Constitution have been made to meet the country’s changing needs.

The national govt is made of 3 branches- Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

Canadian Government

Canada has a Parliamentary Democracy.

Monarch is Queen Elizabeth II

Governor General is a representative for the Queen

Prime Minister, who heads the majority party in Parliament, is the actual head of govt.

Canada became completely free from the UK in 1931.