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Roanoke
Roanoke was the first English colony, founded by Sir Walter Raleigh in August 1585. The governor of the colony, John White, left to get supplies but when he returned three years later Roanoke was deserted. The only trace they left was the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree. Researches have went back to the coast of North Carolina but still don't know what happened to the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke.
https://www.history.com/news/what-happened-to-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke -
Jamestown
A joint stock company, the Virginia Company of London, established a colony in Virginia in 1607. During the first winter, many of the settlers died- only 38 of 150 survived. Many died due to the settlement being in a swamp, the men refused to work, and the winter was extremely harsh. On top of this, the Native Americans were hostile and didn't want anyone on their land. Indentured servants were used in Jamestown to work the fields and later the first African slaves were used. -notes- -
House of Burgesses
The first legislature in the English colonies, the House of Burgesses, was established in Virginia in 1619. The Virginia Company, which was responsible for the Jamestown settlement, established a legislative body under Governor George Yeardly to strengthen their hold over the colonies. White men who owned land were able to vote on taxation and local laws at least once a year. https://historyplex.com/virginia-house-of-burgesses-purpose-facts-significance -
The Great Puritan Migration
The Puritans left England for the New World in 1620 due to religious persecution and economic reasons. The puritans split into two different types- separatist and non-separatists. The separatists left England because they believed the church was too corrupt to reform and they wanted to distance themselves from it.
https://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-great-puritan-migration/ -
Plymouth (+Mayflower and Mayflower Compact)
The Pilgrims, or separatists, settled the Plymouth Colony in 1620. They set sail for a location near the Hudson River, but after 65 days at sea the Mayflower anchored at Cape Cod. The Mayflower Compact was established for foundation of the colony's government. It pledged that decisions would be made by the majority of the colony's men. -notes- -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect was the policy of British government from 1621 to 1750. The supervision of internal colonial affairs remained loose if the colonies were loyal to the British government. During this period governors had the power to assemble and dismiss the legislature, and they served as commander in chief for the military forces. https://www.britannica.com/topic/salutary-neglect -
New York
The colony of New York was founded by the Duke of York along with other colonists in 1624. After getting control of New Netherland they made it the colony of New York and also changed New Amsterdam into New York. The Dutch landowners rented out land to tenant farmers. The Dutch and British fought in three naval wars between 1652 and 1674, but still managed to keep control of their land.
https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/NY1.html -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Puritans settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. About 1,000 Puritans settled there with a charter from King Charles I. Their governor was John Winthrop. The Puritans were governed by laws tied to the beliefs of the Puritan Church. Eventually it became the most influential New England colony and overtook the Plymouth colony. In 1691 Massachusetts became a royal colony after the king gained control over the colony's government. -notes- -
Maryland
King Charles I granted a charter to George Calvert, or Lord Baltimore, in 1632. Maryland was a Proprietary colony which means instead of the king and queen having ownership, the ruler owns the colony. After Baltimore died, his son Cecil Calvert took over and granted 100 acres to every married couple. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-settlement-of-maryland -
Rhode Island
Rhode Island was a New England colony founded by Roger William and his supporters in 1635. Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for speaking out against government authorities. There was no religious persecution of Christians in Rhode Island. -notes- -
Connecticut
Thomas Hooker and other colonists founded Connecticut in 1636. Connecticut's name originates from a Native American phrase meaning "river whose water is driven by tides or winds." One of the first democratic constitutions that established a representative government was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut," inspired by Hooker. In Connecticut their way of life was determined by religion, wealth and status.
https://www.landofthebrave.info/colonial-connecticut.htm -
Maryland Toleration Act
The Maryland Toleration Act gave religious freedom to all Christian colonists. The act was made by the assembly of the Maryland colony. Blaspheming God and speaking poorly of others' religion was made illegal. The Maryland Toleration Act lead to and mirrors the First Amendment. It was the first act in America to refer to the "free exercise" of religion.
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/868/maryland-toleration-act-of-1649 -
Carolina
Carolina was a southern colony and was settled by King Charles II and his supporters in 1663. Carolina was heavily revolved around cash crops like tobacco, indigo and rice. These crops all require much land and labor, which lead to African slaves outnumbering the Carolina colonists 2:1. Later, Carolina became a royal colony and split into North and South Carolina. -notes- -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon put together a group of unauthorized militia of indentured servants, slaves, and poor farmers to go against gov. Berkeley's refusal to retaliate against the Native Americans. Bacon and the people who followed him set fire to Jamestown and destroyed it in 1676. This was the first colonial rebellion against royal control, and eventually led to laws being passed for making Africans hereditary slaves. -notes- -
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was founded as a middle colony by William Penn in 1682. The colony was supposed to be a "Holy Experiment," which is a place without a landowning aristocracy where every male settler received 50 acres and the right to vote. Pennsylvania became a safe haven for Quakers. -notes- -
Salem Witch Trials
When a group of young girls claimed to be attacked by villagers who practiced "the Devil's magic," it caused hysteria throughout Salem, Massachusetts. The first convicted witch was Bridget Bishop, who was hanged in June. For the next several months, over 150 people were accused of witch craft. The trials finally ended in 1692 due to the public turning against them. https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials -
Great Awakening/Enlightenment
The Great Awakening was a religious revival that impacted the English colonies during the 1730s and 1740s. This revival renewed the dedication to religion. Often Christian leaders would go from town to town preaching about the gospel. Some of the major themes of the Great Awakening are everyone is born a sinner, all who aren't saved are going to hell, and everyone can have a direct connection with God. https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/great-awakening -
Albany Plan
Representatives from seven of the colonies came together on July 10th, 1754 to place the British colonies under a more centralized government. This plan was suggested by Benjamin Franklin and took place in Albany, New York. The Albany Plan called for the union of the British colonies besides Delaware and Georgia. The plan was not carried out because the colonial government thought it would curb their authority.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan -
French-Indian War
The French and Indian War lasted seven years. (1756-1763) France was expanding into the New World, which caused conflict with the British colonies. The British declared war, however they had little success against the French. The French also had Indian allies to assist them. When Britain got a new leader in 1757, he saw the conflict as a key to build an empire. The War ended with the signing of The Treaty of Paris in 1763. www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/french-and-indian-war -
Proclamation of 1763
At the end of the French and Indian war, the Proclamation of 1763 was established. It divided the land between the Native Americans and the colonists. Dividing the land helped lower the hostility and fights between the two groups. However this proclamation ended up being unsuccessful because the colonists moved west into Native American land for farming. https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history
