The beginning of the United States by Margarita Glinskaya

The size of the United States is practically the same as the whole of Europe.

At the begiёnning of the nineteenth century the biggest part of America was a wilderness and in the end of the century it already had forty-five of the present fifteen states. The urban population had grown from six to forty-four  million between the years 1860-1910. The speed with which America was settled is amazing. How did it all happened?

Between 1620 and 1630 the Founding Fathers (the Pilgrims and Puritans) settled on the northeast coast of North America. Both the Pilgrims and Puritans were part of the Protestant religious group and went to the New World from Great Britain to practice their religion freely. The religious options were strict and influenced every part of their lives: social, political and economic. They were honest, thrifty and believed in hard work and a good education for everyone. Success at work and making money were considered as a sign of God’s favor.

Soon after their arrival the Founding Fathers set up the first British colonies and started successful business: the fish, fur, salt and timber trades. Business and factories developed in and around Boston which soon became an important city and seaport.

At this time the life and economy of the South Atlantic area were agricultural. Towards the end of the 1800s the South became more industrial, in particular Texas with its cotton, cattle and oil industries.

After the American Revolution the thirteen English colonies became the first thirteen states of America.

In 1803 the Fort Dearborn, a US military fort, was built where the city of Chicago stands today. Soon Chicago became an important industrial city of the Midwest.