George Washington died in 1799 in his Mount Vernon home

Out of the 13 states which in 1776 federated to form a union, 7 were free but in 6 others slavery was legal. By the Constitution the issue about slavery was left in the hands of the State legislature and the Federal Government had no right to abolish it. There was a growing opinion that slavery would die of itself. However, after Eli Whitney in 1793 invented the machine cleaning cotton of its seeds, the productivity of slave-labour in cotton-growing increased by 50 times and slavery came to be regarded as the mainstay of southern economics. In 1820 by the Missouri Compromise slavery was prohibited north of 36˚30′. But in 1854 a special Bill virtually repealed the Missouri Compromise.

The new Republican Party which sprang up in 1854, with Abraham Lincoln as one of its chief founders, demanded that slavery should be kept within old boundaries set out in 1820. Tremendously important in awakening the nation’s consciousness as to the evil of slavery was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1852), 300,000 copies of which were sold within the first year. The abolitionist movement was gaining ground. By 1860 the nation was on the brink of disunion.

A few days after Lincoln was elected President of the USA, the South Carolina convention voted for secession. By February 1861 several other southern states also seceded and soon a provincial government of the Confederate States of America was established at Montgomery, Alabama. In April, 1861 civil war between the North and the South actually began. Although abolition of slavery was to be one of its major results, the war was fought to preserve the union, not to destroy slavery.

When the Civil War broke out, the North could expect an easy victory. It had more than double the population of the South and better material resources. On the other hand, the Southerners were more experienced in military actions and better trained and their army was headed by two men of great military talent – generals Jackson and Lee.

The first major battle of the war (at Bull Run on July 21, 1861) was won by the Confederacy. After this no really heavy fighting took place until 1863 when, as a result of a series of bloody battles, Lee had to retreat to Richmond and start rebuilding his army. Because of the shortage of manufacturing facilities and naval blockade by the North forces, the Confederate army suffered severe privations.

After the Emancipation Proclamation declared all slaves in rebellious areas free beginning with January 1, 1863, the Northern army was joined by a great number of slaves from the South.

On April 3, 1865, General Grant, the commander-in-chief of the Union armies, took Richmond and Lee had to recognize the futility of further resistance. The confederate soldiers laid down their arms and were allowed to return to their homes in peace.

The war lasted four years and cost the nation 600,000 lives but the concept of an unbreakable union had won universal acceptance. Negro slavery was dead. A more technically advanced and productive economic system resulted from the war.

9. Put the following historic events in chronological order and supply them with dates:

American colonies proclaimed their independence from Britain

Boston “Tea Party”

Foundation of Jamestown, the first permanent British colony in America

George Washington was elected the first president of the United States

The Constitution of the USA was adopted in Philadelphia

The first battles of American Revolution

The Pilgrims reached America on board the Mayflower and founded Plymouth

General Grant took Richmond. The confederate army laid down arms

The first Thanksgiving celebration

Boston Massacre

The Civil War between the North and the South began

The First Continental Congress was convened in Philadelphia

Britain officially recognized the independence of American colonies

The colonial armies defeated the British troops at Yorktown

10. Check your knowledge:

1. When and how did the first British colonies in America appear?

2. What hardships did the colonists face in the New World? Who helped them cope with those hardships?

3. How did northern and southern colonies differ in their development?

4. What policy did Britain pursue as regards her colonies in America?

5. Which economic factors caused the colonists’ opposition to Britain?

6. What are the main events of American Revolution?

7. What was the background of Boston “Tea Party”?

8. What was the historic role of the First Continental Congress?

9. How can you interpret the famous words pronounced by Patrick Henry at the Virginia Assembly “Give me liberty or give me death”?

10. Why was the first part of the War of Independence not successful for the colonists? How did the situation change as the war went on?

11. What are the basic principles of the Declaration of Independence?

12. What were the causes which led to the Civil War in the United States?

13. Who won the Civil War and how long did it last? What was the major outcome of the war?