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The Europeans started to try to find a water route to Asia. With the invention of the caravel, sailing became much easier. Bartholomeu Dias was the first to reach the southern tip of Africa. Vasco da Gama followed Dias' route and continued to India.
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On this day a lookout on the Pinta spotted land. Columbus would later claim that he was the first to see land. He landed and named the island San Salvador. The natives that he encountered were friendly.
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The Native Americans had spread all over North America and divided into hundreds of tribes. They adapted to their varied environments, hunting the local animals and gathering wild plants. They also built homes using any available materials. The environment also modified their religion.
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In 1532 Francisco Pizarro came to Peru. In the Battle of Cajamarca, Pizarro defeated Atahualpa and took him prisoner. He asked for a room full of gold for a ransom. He recieved his ransom, but asked for more. He eventually executed Atahualpa. With Atahualpa's death, the Incan Empire crumbled.
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At the small port of Gravelines, The British fleet attacked the larger Spanish Armada. The British defeated the Armada by dancing in and out of range with their small, nimble flyboats. There was great loss of life on both sides.
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By the 1600s slavery was common in the Americas. Most masters were cruel to their slaves, but some were nice. Slaves were first brought to the West Indies to work on the sugar plantations. Slavery continued to grow through out early colonial history.
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Jamestown was founded on this date on the mouth of the James River. By January 1608 only 38 colonists were alive. John Smith arrived later that year. He made a famous line. "He who does not work shall not eat".
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On this date he sailed from Amsterdam for America. He arrived on the coast of present-day New York and sailed up the Hudson River. He lead another expedition in 1610 to Canada. He wintered in Hudson Bay and his crew rebelled. They put Hudson, his son, and some loyal crew in a boat san set them adrift. They were never heard from again.
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On this date the Mayflower arrived in Plymouth Harbor. The men realized that the charter didn't apply to their location. They then made the Mayflower Charter which were laws for the good of the colony. The Pilgrims had to endure a harsh winter in which half of the people died.
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On this date Nathaniel Bacon released the Declaration of the People of Virginia. In this he insulted Berkely. Bacon marched on Jamestown and burned the House of Burgesses. Bacon died of dysentry soon after.
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The Salem witchcraft trials were a series of trials in which many were accused of witchcraft. The accused were often forced to accuse others to save themselves. Over 100 people were imprisoned. 20 people were executed.
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By this date the Spanish controlled most of the Americas. They devided South America into two viceroyalties. Each was ruled by a viceroy. The Spanish dominated over the Native Americans. They forced them to be slaves.
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The Enlightenment was a period that stressed reason and science. Benjamin Franklin was one of the biggest figures in the Enlightenment. This movement appealed mostly to the wealthy people of the colonies. Many important inventions were invented in the Enlightenment period.
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The Great Awakening was a religious movement across the colonies. In it ministers preached that inner religious emotion was more important than outward religious behavior. It lasted for years and changed colonial culture.The churches swelled as a result.
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The French and Indian War was a nine year war between the French and their Native American allies and the British.
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On this date the first Treaty of Paris was signed. This treaty ended the French and Indian War. It gave Britain all of North America east of the Mississippi River. The treaty ended France's power in North America.
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This act made a tax on many common products including sugar. It also made harsh punishments for smuggling. The colonial merchants, who traded in smuggled goods, were very angry. Other colonists protested this tax.
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On this date the British Parliament passed the stamp act. This act said that all documents or paper products required a official stamp showing that the tax had been paid. Even worse, the tax had to be paid with a silver coin which was very scarce in the colonies. Many colonists protested.
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In June of 1775, George Washington became commander of the Continental Army. He faced many hardships in the beginning, most of them related to supplies. Congress was mostly useless about supplies. Many women helped out the army any way they could.
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In 1776 France began giving aid to the Americans. They sent supplies, troops, and training. In 1779, France convinced Spain to give help to the Americans. The Spanish in Florida attacked British strongholds.
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On this date Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. This defeat was the end of the Revolutionary War. America made several treaties with France, Spain, and Britain. The one with Britain was the second Treaty of Paris.
