immigration

immigrants to the United States may be divided into two distinct periods. They had distinctive reasons for emigrating from their native lands, and for choosing North America. Before the civil war: mostly Native Americans, Spainards,French, and English. Post Civil: mostly Eastern Europeans.

The United States Civil War

The epic battle pitting North against the south, industrial against agricultural, slave states against those against slavery.

Westward Expansion

As the colonies matured, asdventuresome folks sought new opportunities across the vast lands of America.

American Revolution

"Taxation without representation" became a major issue, precipitating conflict between the colonists and Great Britain. 13 colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to create the United States of America. They first rejected the authority of the parliament of great Britain to govern them from over seas without representation.


From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution