1600-1700s

  • Founding of Jamestown

    The first colony from England. If it were not for the natives this colony would have failed.
  • Colonists learn to grow Tobacco

    Until the discovery of tobacco, the colonies were a waste of resources. There was little to no value for the investors. Growing tobacco changed this however because its popularity grew in Britain.
  • Plymouth colony

    This was the first colony in Massachusetts. It had the first constitution of any place in the "New World" in the Mayflower Compact.
  • Founding of Maryland

    Following the success of the Southern colonies, the King allowed the founding of another colony that came to be known as Maryland.
  • Roger Williams banished from Massachusetts

    In 1635 Williams was banished from Massachusetts based on differences in theology. Williams believed in a separation of church and state while the colony of Massachusetts did not.
  • Founding of Carolinas

    In 1663 the King gave a lot of land to the south of Virginia to a group of nobles. They named it Carolina. In the north of the colony, they grew tobacco while in the south they grew rice.
  • New York's beginnings

    In 1664 King Charles granted land to his brother the Duke of York. Renaming this area New York it became one of the most diverse colonies, with dutch, Frenchmen and others staying put once the land changed hands.
  • Pennsylvania

    In 1680 the King gave land to William Penn in order to satisfy the Quakers. This land was accepting of all beliefs because of the Quaker's beliefs on violence.