First, Native Americans originally migrated to North America across the Bering Land Bridge millions of years ago. Europeans then began arriving in the late 1500s from Britain, France, and Spain to settle along the Atlantic coast and in the southern and southwestern US and northern areas for land, minerals, and freedom. The 13 British colonies gained independence from Britain through the Revolutionary War between 1775-1783, forming the United States. Other British colonies in Canada became the self-governing Dominion of Canada in 1867. Both countries expanded westward in the 1800s, transformed by industrialization powered by waterfalls and coal, and the growth of cotton agriculture and railroads.

1. History and Government of THE US AND Canada Chapter 6 Section 2

2. History

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. Where did they settle? Spanish settled in the southwestern and southern US British settled along the Atlantic coast French settled along northern areas

6. United States Independence From 1775-83, the 13 British colonies fought a successful war for independence. They created the United States of America.

7. Canadian Independence In 1867 other British colonies formed the Dominion of Canada. Canada became a self-governing nation within the British Empire.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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)

11. 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.

12. Government

13. 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.

14. 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.