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Germans and Scots-Irish settle in the "backcountry"
During the 1700-1760s, the Germans and Scots-Irish begin to settle in the backcountry of the western side of Pennsylvania and Georgia.1 The Germans arrived to America due to war in their country.2 They also strived to keep their culture alive in language and religion.3 The Scots-Irish were pushed out of Ireland to the US due to conflict as well.
1. UTA History Department, “The American Melting Pot Lecture”
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
pic: https://www.landofthebrave.info/the-backcountry.htm -
The Spanish expands in response to French settlements
In 1718, New Orleans was found as the capital of Louisiana being at the mouth of the Mississippi River.1 The Spanish were threatened by this establishment and in return, found San Antonio that same year to inhibit French expansion down towards Mexico.2 Here, the Spanish are shown to be moving their culture westward.
1. UTA History Department, “The American Melting Pot Lecture”
2. Ibid.
pic: http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/adp/history/mission_period/valero/valero.html -
Russia claims Alaska
Vitus Bering explores North America by crossing the Bering straight. In 1741, he founds Alaska and starts the fur trade.1 In this situation, they make their cultural imprint when the Russian Orthodox priests arrive. They were successful in converting many Alaskan natives to Russian Orthodox.2
1. UTA History Department, “The American Melting Pot Lecture”
2. Ibid.
Primary Source: Tetenkin. Bancroft Library. 18--. https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/tf9c60122b/ -
Spanish found settlements among the California coast
In response to the downward Russian expansion, the Spanish began building settlements during the 1760s spreading their cultural diversity throughout this area with the construction of missions and forts throughout the coast of California.1
1. UTA History Department, “The American Melting Pot Lecture”
Primary Source: Cardero, Jose. Bancroft Library, 1786. https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/tf509nb5m2/ -
English and Spanish take over French territory
In 1763, the French defeat expanded British and Spanish culture. The British received land enabling westward expansion and the Spanish received Louisiana.1 Influence continues to spread in North America. This diversity shows in architecture as when the French Quarter burned down in Louisiana, the Spanish rebuilt the area Spanish style.2
1. UTA History Department, “The American Melting Pot Lecture”
2. Ibid.
pic: http://callais.net/NO_spnshfrt.html -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was initiated when the US lost the ability to use the Mississippi River to transport goods after Spain ceded the colony back to France.1 It was bought cheap as this amount of land greatly expanded the size of the United States and allowed further western settlement of the colonial people, expanding US culture even more.2
1. Corbett, U.S. History, Chapter 8 p 230.
2. Ibid.
Primary Source: Monroe, James, 1803.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/mss33217.002/?sp=931 -
Russians expand into Northern California
By 1812, Russia expanded down towards Northern California to further their trade.1 They spread their cultural diversity in the northern pacific coast. Many men were forced to take Natives for wives and made a generation of creoles, mixed Russian Indian children.2
1. UTA History Department, “The American Melting Pot Lecture”
2. Gibson, James R. "Russian Expansion in Siberia and America." Geographical Review 70, no. 2 (1980): 127-36.
pic: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Fort_Ross,_California
