The
East Coast is the part of the USA that borders the Atlantic Ocean.
During the last Ice Age the area north of New York City
was covered by thick glaciers. The lands are still recovering, with the north rising and poor Florida sinking.
Native Americans
ived here 5000 years ago. Around 1000 AD they were forcefully replaced by the Iroquois that moved in from the south. The
Five Nations League was
formed around 1570 and made the Iroquois the dominant force controlling the
beaver fur business with Europeans traders.
Early
in the 17th century Swedes, Dutchmen and Brits started settlements but the Brits prevailed and over time created 13 colonies.
The
Revolutionary War from 1773 - 1783 resulted in independence and the creation of the United States.
Slavery in the southern
states was one of the reasons for the
Civil War of 1861-65 which was won by the North.
Around the turn of the 19th century millions
of European immigrants flocked to the USA. They were processed at New York's
Ellis Island, about 2% were rejected.
Finance, banking, Wallstreet
and government build the East Coast's strong economy.
