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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
1492-1733
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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas
Christopher Columbus sailed with his crew in the ships named the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. His expedition was funded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty between Spain and Portugal which stated that anything west of the Tordesillas line went to Spain while Portugal received land in Africa and Asia and what would now be known as Brazil. -
Sep 1, 1513
Balboa claims land for Spain
Vasco Nunez de Balboa claims all of the land touched by the Pacific Ocean to be owned and operated by Spain. -
Jan 1, 1521
Ponce de Leon exploration
Juan Ponce de Leon explores Florida in 1513 and 1521 seeking gold although it has been said he was looking for the fountain of youth. -
Aug 13, 1521
Cortes takes over Mexico
Hernando Cortes spends about three years tricking the Aztec people into giving him gold and finally defeats them in 1521 with battle and diseases. -
May 8, 1541
De Soto's discovery
Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River and his troops build flatboats to sail over the river and hide from the Native Americans guarding the area. -
Jan 1, 1542
Coronado finds more than just land
Francisco Coronado traveled through Arizona, Kansas, and New Mexico. He also discovered huge amounts of bison as well as the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. -
Jan 1, 1577
Drake circles the globe
Frances Drake is one of the English "sea dogs" who circles the globe in a ship and came back in 1580 with Spanish "booty." He was secretly funded by Queen Elizabeth and was knighted by her on the deck of his ship. -
England defeats Spanish Armada
130 Spanishmen tried to invade English land by ships and was taken out by a fire sent by the English. -
Virginia Colony Founded
Three ships of the Virginia Company get washed up onto the Chesapeake Bay land and settle there and name it Jamestown (Virginia) after King James I. -
Tobacco becomes staple crop
In the southern colonies, especially in Virginia, tobacco becomes the number one crop. Most of the land is taken over by tobacco which ruined the soil but allowed Virginia to export their goods. Tobacco became addicting and needed slaves to harvest the enormous amount of tobacco needed to distribute and export, -
First Anglo-Pawhatan War Ends
The war is ended with a peace settlement which is sealed with the marraige of John Rolfe and Pocahontas (Powhatan cheif's daughter). -
Virginia Colony is Royal
Virginia becomes known as a royal colony and focuses on exportng tobacco and creating "mini Parliaments." -
Maryland Founded
The colony of Maryland was founded by Lord Baltimore who wanted to collect funds and create a "safe haven" for Catholics to live. Religious tolerance was evident for Christians, but the Jewish and Athiestic people were executed for crimes. -
Second Anglo-Powhatan War
The Indians tried to drive out the Virginians and were defeatd again. The peace treaty of 1646 eliminatinated any sign of the Indians and Virginians to co-exist. -
Barbados Slave Code is adopted
The Barbados slave code gave the masters' almost full rights to discipline their slaves for no real reason and gave slaves no true rights. -
Carolinas Founded
Named after Charles II, the Carolinas became known for exporting wine, silk, and olive oil. They also were known for their ties with the sugar plantations in the English West Indies. -
Pope's Rebellion
The Pope's Rebellion took place in New Mexico when the Pueblo rebels destroyed the Catholic churches and killed many of preists and Spanish settelers. -
North Carolina becomes seperated
North Carolina officially became seperated from South Carolina in 1712 and became known as the most democratic and least aristocratic colony of the 13. -
Georgia Colony is Added
Georgia is founded as the last of the 13 original colonies in 1733. It is used as a "buffer" to protect the Carolinas from the French in Louisiana and the Spanish in Florida.
