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Jamestown
The first permanent English settlement in America, Jamestown, is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia. -
The First African Slaves Arrive at Jamestown
The first African slaves arrive at Jamestown. The first enslaved Africans to arrive in Virginia disembarked at Point Comfort, in what is today known as Fort Monroe. Most of their names, as well as the exact number who remained at Point Comfort, have been lost to history, but much is known about their journey. -
Mayflower Compact
An agreement to establish a government, entered into by the Pilgrims in the cabin of the Mayflower on November 11, 1620. -
The Winthrop Fleet
The first vessels of Winthrop's eleven ship fleet, eventually totaling seven hundred aboard, leaves England for the Puritan colony already established in Salem, establishing the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. -
First Book Printed
The first book is printed in North America, the Bay Psalm Book. -
Peach Tree War
Peach Tree War begins with attack on New Amsterdam and Pavonia along Hudson (North) River by Susquehannock Indians and their allies as retaliation for the loss of New Sweden to the Dutch. Indian victory forced many Dutch settlers back to Fort Amsterdam. -
Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company founded as English firm to combat New France in Canadian fur trade. Company would eventually flourish as dominant commercial enterprise from the colonies of the East Coast of America to the Pacific Northwest territories of Washington and Oregon, as well as British Columbia. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion, fought from 1676 to 1677, began with a local dispute with the Doeg Indians on the Potomac River. Chased north by Virginia militiamen, who also attacked the otherwise uninvolved Susquehannocks, the Indians began raiding the Virginia frontier. The governor, Sir William Berkeley, persauded the General Assembly to adopt a plan that isolated the Susquehannocks while bringing in Indian allies on Virginia’s side. -
The First Newspaper
The first newspaper issue in the United States publishes in Boston, the Public Occurrences. It was suppressed after its initial issue and the publication of a regular newspaper would not begin again until 1704. -
Jamestown is abandoned
Jamestown is abandoned after the statehouse is burned in 1698 with the colonial government moving to Middle Plantation, renamed soon after as Williamsburg.