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Oct 11, 1492
Christopher Columbus lands in West Indies
After leaving Palos, Spain on August 3, 1492, Columbus landed on a Carribean island he called Guanahani, which he renamed San Salvador. Columbus and his men were met by the local Taino Indians, which they captured and later sold to slavery. Columbus thought he was in India so he called the inhabitants of the island Indians. -
Sep 25, 1493
Columbus's second expedition
Columbus made a second expedition to the Carribean in search of gold and indian slaves. Healso spotted and named the island of Dominica on November 3, 1493. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portugal that aimed at settling conflicts over lands explored by voyagers of the late 15th century. It let Spain claim land in present day U.S. and allowed Portugal to claim Brazil. This event encouraged many explorers, or "conquistadors", to start exploring the New World. -
Aug 13, 1521
Hernan Cortez captures Aztec city
Hernan Cortez and his men attack and capture the city of Tenochtitlan. -
Nov 17, 1558
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth becomes the queen of England, which plays a major role in British exploration of the New World. -
Nov 15, 1577
Sir Francis Drake Circumnavigation
Sir Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to start his journey of world circumnavigation. -
Spanish Armada is defeated
On this date the British deafeated the Spanish Army in a battle. This event marks the end of Spanish hopes of conquering the New World. -
King James I
King James I became the king of England on this date. This king did not favor the Virginia Company And the Virginia settlements. -
Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower
On this date the Pilgrims set sail from England to the New World. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony is found
A group of puritans traveled from England to Salem in pursuit of religious freedom. Here is where the Massachusetts Bay Colony was formed. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were adopted
First written constitution adopted in America.The orders describe the government set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting its structure and powers. -
Maryland Act of Toleration
The Maryland Act of Toleration was passed on April 21, 1649. This act created the first limitations on hate speech in the world. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon and his army issued the "Declaration of the People of Virginia". This declaration listed the issues of Berkeley's administration in detail. This was the initiator in Bacon's Rebellion. -
Pope's Rebellion
Pueblos became tired of the Catholic Church taking over their land, so they rebelled against them and caused many deaths. -
New York City slave revolt
Slaves gathered and set a building on fire on Maiden Lane near Broadway. White colonists tried to put out the fire, but the slaves attacked them, preventing any success. -
The Great Awakening
Jonathan Edwards gave his first harsh speech on religion, which began The Great Awakening, one the most important religious movements of the 18th century. -
Treaty of Paris
Ended the French and Indian War. Marked the beginning of an extensive period of british dominance outside Europe. -
Royal Proclamation of 1763
The purpose of the proclamation was to organize Great Britain's new North American empire and to stabilize relations with Native North Americans through regulation of trade, settlement, and land purchases on the western frontier. -
Paxton Boys kill fourteen Conestogas
The Paxton Boys broke in, killed, and mutilated six adults and eight children on December 27, 1763. The result was that just two members of the Conestoga tribe survived. This event also leads to the march of the Paxton Boys in January of 1764. -
Sugar Act passed
The Sugar Act was passed to collect taxes from sugar out of the colonies to improve the British economy. -
Quartering Act of 1765
The Quartering Act was passed so that Great Britain could house its soldiers in the American colonies. -
Boston Massacre
Also known as Boston riot. Led to the death of 5 American civilians. This event caused more tension between the colonists and Britain. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense published
This pamphlet told many reasons why England should not be ruling the colonists any more after so many years. -
Declaration of Independence signed
The Declaration of Independence being signed was one of the main reasons of how the Revolutionary War started. -
Rutgers University formed
Queen's College, now known as Rutgers University, was formed. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles were signed on this date, which provided America with a starting place in their yearn for a strong government. -
Battle of Yorktown
French and American troops surround Cornwallis and his army, forcing him to surrender. -
Treaty of Paris is signed
This was the treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Seperated the land west of the Appalachains from the eastern land. -
U.S. Constitution is signed
The Constitution is signed in the end of the Constitutional Convention.