The course will explore the origins of the US by looking at the formation of American society, politics and culture. We will start with the first English settlement in the New World; continue with the American Revolution and the process toward independent and the formation of the Federal Constitution at the end of the 18^th century. Then we will deal with major historical events in the history of the US during the first half of the 19^th century. The course will end with the Civil War, its origins, major characteristics and consequences