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Welcome! Today we will explore how historians divide U.S. history into major eras to see how our nation changed over time.
Historians group past events into time periods called eras. Each era has a major theme, such as building colonies, fighting for freedom, or expanding the nation. Grouping events helps us compare different time periods easily.
The Colonial Era began in the 1600s as colonies grew along the Atlantic coast. By 1776, thirteen colonies united to fight the Revolutionary War and create an independent nation.
During the 1800s and 1900s, the United States expanded west and faced critical turning points. The nation ended slavery, protected civil rights, and built modern industries that connected cities across the country.
You find two historical artifacts: a quill pen document from 1776 and a photograph of an assembly line from 1920. How do you analyze which era each belongs to?
- Identify the details for Artifact 1: a handwritten document signed in 1776.
- Match 1776 to the Revolutionary Era, when the American colonies declared independence.
- Identify the details for Artifact 2: a factory photograph taken in 1920.
- Match 1920 to the Modern Industrial Era, when factories changed how goods were made.
- Compare the two eras to see how technology changed life from hand writing in 1776 to factory work in 1920.
