American colonial history, 1492-1763

By ardenfarrow
  • Aug 3, 1492

    Columbus' first voyage to America, 1492

    -Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to America
    - 3 ships of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria set sail after being given money from the monarchy
    - 12th October, 1492, found the Bahamas
    -Initially gave gifts to islands of Cuba and West Indies, claimed the territory for Spain
    - Called native people Indians as mistakenly thought he'd arrived in "the Indies" (Asia)
    - Europeans started to travel over to make colonies and enforce Christianity, made the natives slaves
  • Jun 7, 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494

    -The Treaty of Tordesillas divides the New World (The Americas) between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal
    - Created line of demarcation that allowed Spain to claim territory west of imaginary line through the Atlantic (North & South America)
    - Allowed Portugal to claim West African coast and trade routes to India
  • 1496

    Santo Domingo settled, 1496

    • Southeast coast of the island Hispaniola (discovered by Columbus)
    • The oldest permanent city established by Europeans in the Western Hemisphere
  • 1497

    John Cabot's voyage, 1497

    • John Cabot's voyage helped establish claim to Canada
    • shows the ability of a short route across the North Atlantic, which would later prove important in the establishment of British colonies in North America

  • Jamestown, Virginia, 1607

    • First settlement established

  • House of Burgess, 1619

    • First assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America.
      • Created by the Virginia company to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America.

  • Plymouth colony, 1620

    -2nd permanent English colony
    -Pilgrims
    -First Thanksgiving
    -Intended to be settled at the mouth of the Hudson River
    -102 colonists, fewer than half survived the winter

  • Mayflower compact, 1620

    • drawn in response to "mutinous speeches"
    • temporarily established government

  • Fundamental Orders of Conneticut, 1639

    • basic law of the Connecticut colony
    • main concern of the Fundamental Orders was the welfare of the community

  • Navigation Acts strengthened, 1660

    In 1660 Charles II approved a stronger version of a previous law called the Navigation Act. Together with other legislation, the Navigation Act tightened control over colonial trade

  • Virginia establishes first slave code,1680

    Law restricting slaves from travel and contact.

  • Dominion of New England Established, 1686

    When King James II attempted to direct control over New York and New England Colonies by creating the Dominion of New England. This action abolished colonial legislatures within the Dominion and replaced them with governor and a council by King James II

  • Rebellion in Boston against the Dominion of New England, 1686

    New England citizens promptly held their own mini-rebellion against the Andros Governor and his associates.

  • The Glorious Revolution, 1688

    • The overthrow of the King James II of England
    • Replaced by William and Mary

  • English bill of rights, 1689

    -ensures certain freedoms and a protestant political supremacy

  • Salem Witch Trails, 1692

    -Salem, Mass.
    -Many people hanged for being accused of witchery
    -false accusations started by a group of girls
    -hysteria broke out
    -many people were hanged, and later found innocent

  • The Great Awakening, 1730

    • Enthusiastic religious renewal

  • French and Indian War, 1756

    • English and French battled for colonial domination of North America.

  • Pntiac's Rebellion, 1763

    -to prevent the incursion of whites, chief Pontiac urged the Ottawa Indians to rebel
    -Other Indian tribes attacked English settlements as well
    -English military took offensive in the fall of 17674