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Jan 1, 1580
Roanoke Island
The English tried to colonize Roanoke Island in present day North Carolina but failed. -
Juan de Ornate
Led 130 indian and mestizo soldiers and their families along with some 20 missionaries north into New Mexico with the intent of mining both gold and souls. -
Jamestown
a group of London investors known as the Virginia Company sent ships to the Chesapeake Bay region where 100 men built a fort named Jamestown which became the first permanent English settlement in North America -
Pocahontas
The daughter of Powhatan that was sent on a diplomatic mission to Jamestown where she was converted to christianity and married the leading settler John Rolfe. -
House of Burgresses
The first elected lower house in the legeslative assembly in the new world. Established in the colony of Virginia in 1619 -
William Bradford
A pilgrim that led 102people to North America from Plymouth, England, on the Mayflower -
Mayflower Compact
Was the first document of self government in North America.
Stated that all men of the expedition did "covenantand combine themselves together into a civil body politic." -
French Fur Traders
Fur traders lived on the great lakes as early as the 1620's. By the 1670's traders were exploring the reaches of the upper Mississippi River. -
Calverts
King Charles I granted the Calvert family 10 million acres at the north end of Chesapeake Bay because they were important supporters of the monarchy. The Calverts named their colony Maryland. -
"The Bay of Psalm Book"
The first American-English publicaton printed in 1640. -
Roger Williams
In 1644 he recieved a charter creating the colony of Rhode Island which provided a refuge for religious minorities. -
The Bloody Tenent of Persecution
A book written in 1644 by Roger Williams that caused one of the first formal arguments for religious toleration. -
Navigation Acts
Created the legal and institutional structure of Britain's eighteenth century colonial system. -
Half-way Covenant
An agreement of 1662 people who had not been converted could join as "half-way" members restricted only from practicing communion. -
King Phillip's War
Puritan colonies and indians of southern New England faught for control of the land. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Backcountry settlers attacked indians and colonial authorities attempted to supress these attacks. -
Culpepper's Rebellion
Backcountry men in the Albemarle region of North Carolina overthrew the proprietary government in an episode of violence. -
Sovereightnty and Goodness of God
A book written in 1682 by Mary Rawlandson, was the first "captivity narrative" ever written. -
Glorious Revolution
Colonists in Massachusets, New York, and Maryland rose up against the colonial governments of King James II. -
"Letter on Tolerance"
Written by John Locke, argued that churches were voluntary societies and could only work through persuasion. -
Constitutional Monarchy
England's government became a constitutional monarchy in 1689. -
King William's War
Was the first of a series of colonial struggles between England and France. These conflicts mainly occured in northern New England and New York. -
Salem Witch Trials
A series of hearings to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in Essex, Suffold, and Middlesex counties of Massachusets. -
Wool Act of 1699
Forbade american production of wool because England was afraid that they would compete with those at home. -
Florida slave policy
Spanish declared Florida a refuge for escaped slaves from the English colonies, offering free land to any fugitives who would help defend the colony and convert to catholicism. -
Enlightenment
Enlightenment thinkers in Britain and on the continent argued that the universe was governed by natural laws that people could understand and apply to their own advantage. -
Iroquois Five Nations
Battled the French and their Indian allies in King William's War, but in 1701 they signed a treaty of neutrality with France that kept them out of the next round of conflicts. -
Harvard and Yale
Puritans in Conneticut, believing that Harvard was too liberal, founded Yale College in 1701. -
Queen Anne's War
England fights France and Spain in the Caribbean and on the northern frontier of New France. Part of the European conflict known as the war of the Spanish Succession. -
Saybrook Platform
Churches of Conneticut agreed in 1708 and enacted a system of goverance by councils of ministers and elders rather than the congregation. -
Peace of Utrecht
Great Britain won the exclusive right to supply slaves to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. A result of Queen Anne's War. -
Robert Walpole
In 1721 he was considered to be the first Prime Minister of England -
Great Awakining
A huge religious movement that challenged the rationalist approach to religion. -
Hat Act of 1732
Forbade american production of hats because England was afraid that they would compete with those at home. -
James Oglethorpe
English Parliment created the colony of Georgia and under Oglethorpe's influence, Parliment agreed to prohibit slavery in Georgia. -
Poor Richard's Almanac
An almanac written by Ben Frankiln from 1732 to 1757. The author used this new literary form to promote enlightenment. -
Molasses Act of 1733
West indian planters placed a prohibitive duty on sugar products brought from foreign colonies to North America. -
George Whitefield
A evangelical minister that made a tour of the colonies in 1738 and was the source of the local revivals that became an intercolonial phenomenon -
Stono Rebellion
A group of 20 Angolans overtook the armory in Stono, North Carolina and began marching towards Florida and freedom. However, they were overtaken by the militia and destroyed. -
War of Jenkin's Era
Great Britain vs. Spain in the Caribbean and Georgia. Part of the European war of the Austrian Succession. -
King George's War
Greab Britain and France fight in Acadia and Nova Scotia. The second American round of the European War of the Austrian Succession. -
Log College
A school in Pennsylvania to train like-minded men for the ministry. It ultimately evolved into Princeton University. -
Iron Act of 1750
Forbade american production of iron because England was afraid that they would compete with those at home. -
Georgia
In 1752 James Ogelthorpe and Georgia's trustees abandoned their experiment, and the colony was opened to slavery. -
French and Indian War
Last of the great colonial wars. Pitted Great Britain against France and Spain. Known as the 7 years war in Europe.