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Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America, is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia.
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In 1608, John Smith became the leader of the 38 original remaining colonists!
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The House of Burgesses, the first representative assembly in America, meets for the first time in Virginia. The first African slaves are brought to Jamestown.
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The Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts is established by Pilgrims from England.
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The Winthrop Fleet, 11 ships with over 800 English colonists led by John Winthrop, leave England to settle in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This is the first great wave of immigration from England.
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Due to political unrest in England, King Charles I was executed. This resulted in American colonies being forced to define their position regarding British affairs. Most colonies hoped to remain neutral in the political conflict, but other colonies pledged allegiance to the monarch's son. A conflict arose between Parliament and the monarch-supporting colonies, resulting in the first discussion of English authority in America.
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In Virginia, the first law was passed to help define the nature of slavery in the colonies. The law stated that the children of a slave mother inherited her 'condition.' In other words, children of a slave mother were now slaves for life, regardless of their father's condition. This law was the beginning of the American legal system which defended slavery by legalizing the growing slave population
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Another Native conflict arose in new England when Wampanoags, led by a native called Metacom, attacked British colonists in Swansea. What began as a singular act of retaliation escalated into a war involving the military forces of several colonies and originally neutral Natives. The war resulted in the deaths of thousands of natives and opened the door to future colonies in the area. Furthermore, both groups maintained a standing hatred of each other by the war's conclusion.
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Further political unrest in Britain resulted in another change in monarchs. James II was replaced by Protestant William and his wife Mary. The Revolution was peaceful and bloodless, resulting in it being called 'glorious.' The colonies rejoiced because the new monarch cemented Protestantism as the main British religion.