The Pilgrim leaders knew that in order to organize

their lives in the new land they had to establish rules of behaviour. So 41 men

aboard the Mayflower signed a special document known as the Mayflower Compact to abide by "just and equal laws" drafted by leaders of their own choosing, which was the first agreement for self-government in America. They also chose their first governor. That winter more than half of them died of cold and disease, but neighbouring Indians provided information that would sustain them: how to grow crops.

The next summer they raised good crops, and in the fall a ship brought new settlers. Their resolution never faltered and the colony continued to expand. Then in rapid succession other

English colonies emerged.

The Puritans hoped to build "a city upon a hill " — an ideal society and were very intolerant to those who disagreed. One Puritan who disagreed was Roger Williams. Forced to leave Massachusetts Bay in 1635 he set up the neighbouring Rhode Island colony where complete separation of church and state as well as freedom of religion was practiced.

In 1634 Maryland was settled as a refuge for Catholics and in 1681 William Penn, a wealthy Quaker received a large tract of land which became known as Pennsylvania. Here religious tolerance was practiced attracting German, Swedish and Dutch settlers. It was here he founded Philadelphia the "City of Brotherly Love". In 1626 Dutch settlers bought Manhattan Island from local Indian chiefs and built the town of New Amsterdam which in 1664 was seized by the English and renamed New York after the brother of the English

king — the Duke of York. Georgia was settled in 1732, the last of the 13 colonies to be established along the Atlantic shore. The French controlled Canada and Louisiana, which included the entire Mississippi basin. The Spaniards controlled Florida.

Few colonists could pay the cost of the passage to America; therefore most

migrants arrived as indentured servants, or contract labourers agreeing to work for the agencies, usually for four to seven years. Another source of labour for the plantations in the southern colonies was slavery when Africans were brought to America in shackles to serve for a lifetime. The colonies shared a tradition of representative government.

The king of England appointed the governors, but they had to rule in cooperation with an elected assembly. Voting was restricted to landowning white males. Quite often the governors ignored the opinion of the assembly, especially on matters of taxation which led to conflicts and confrontation leading to a growing rift between the colonies and Britain.

During this time Britain and France were major rivals, and their interests clashed arply in North America. By 1756 England and France were involved in the Seven Years war (1756 — 1763). In this war Spain took the side of France. England's superior strategic position and her competent leadership ultimately brought victory. In the peace of Paris, signed in 1763, France relinquished all of Canada and all the territory of Louisiana east of the Mississippi, except New Orleans. Spain lost Florida. Thus as a result of the war Britain's rule in North America became much stronger, and France's dream of an empire North America was actually over. However Britain's victory led directly to a growing conflict with its American colonies.

5) Describe the role of immigration in the making of the American nation - a "melting pot" of nations. Characterize the main ethnic groups. Give a brief survey of the present population of the USA: density, distribution and other characteristics.