Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

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united states, history of

548

ImmIgratIon

During the 19th century, many Europeans crossed the atlantic

in search of new freedoms and opportunities. the United

States welcomed Irish people escaping famine,

eastern European Jews fleeing persecution,

and countless others. By 1890, half a million

immigrants were arriving each year in the United

States. as a result, the country became a mixture

of many different cultures and religions.

InDUStry

the United States

offered an endless

supply of raw materials

to 19th-century

industrialists, who soon

took advantage of

these resources.

manufacturers

such as ransom

olds pioneered mass

production of cars and

many other goods. In the olds motor

Works, cars moved along a production

line, with workers at intervals each

performing a single task. this technique

made assembly faster, and Henry Ford and

other manufacturers quickly adopted it.

united states

1783 the 13 colonies

win their freedom

from Britain.

1787 Constitution

is drafted.

1789 george

Washington becomes

the first president.

1790-1800 a new

capital, Washington,

D.C., is built on the

Potomac river.

1803 Louisiana

Purchase doubles size

of the country.

1845 texas joins the

Union.

1848 US defeats

mexico and acquires

California and other

territories.

1861-65 Civil War

ends slavery.

1869 First

transcontinental

railroad is completed.

1917-1918 US fights

in World War I.

1929 Economic

depression.

1941 United States

enters World War II.

1963 President

Kennedy assassinated.

1969 neil armstrong

walks on the moon.

1991 US leads United

nations forces against

Iraq in the gulf War.

2001 Islamic terrorists

destroy the World

trade Center.

2003 US invades Iraq.

2005 Barack obama

elected President.

tHE UnItED StatES at War

Until the United States entered

World War I in 1917, its armed

forces had rarely fought overseas.

after the war ended, the United

States tried once again to stay out

of conflicts abroad. But in 1941

the Japanese attacked Pearl

Harbor naval base in Hawaii,

bringing the US into World

War II. Since 1945, the US

has fought in several

overseas wars, notably in

Korea (1950-53) and

Vietnam (1961-73).

Immigrants arriving in

the United States were

examined at a reception

center on Ellis Island,

New York.

EqUaL oPPortUnItIES

Since 1789, the US Constitution has guaranteed every

citizen equal rights. In reality, many minority groups are only

now starting to achieve equality. the photograph shows Barack

obama, the United States’ first african-american president.

Find out more

american revolution

Civil war

Cold war

Immigration

Kennedy, john f.

Pilgrims

United states of america

Washington, george

In 1960 John F. Kennedy (1917-63)

became the youngest man ever

elected president. In 1961, Kennedy

approved the invasion of Communist

Cuba by US-backed Cuban exiles.

the invasion, at the Bay of Pigs, was

a disaster, and Kennedy was severely

criticized. In 1962, the Soviets stationed

nuclear missiles on the island. For one

week, nuclear war seemed unavoidable,

but Kennedy persuaded the Soviet

Union to remove the missiles and

averted the war. Kennedy’s presidency

ended tragically

on november 22,

1963, when he

was assassinated

during a visit

to Dallas,

texas, after

serving for

exactly

1,000 days

in office.

john f. Kennedy

The Iwo Jima monument in

Arlington National Cemetery

is a memorial to Americans

who died in World War II.

It shows Marines raising

the flag on Iwo Jima

Island in the Pacific.

Many US soldiers

died in the battle

for the island.

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