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Jamestown
The first permenant English colony in the New World. Soon after its founding, Polish and Dutch colonists were brought into the settlement to help improve it. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The first legislature in the English colonies. First met at a church in Jamestown. The first order of business was to set a minimum price for the sale of tobacco. -
Mayflower Compact
Signed on November 11, 1620 by 41 English colonists. The Mayflower compact was the first of any form of established government in the United States. The compact was made to prevent dissent between the Puritans and non-separatist Pilgrims. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Armed rebellion by VIrginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley. Bacon believed that all Indians were enemies and Berkeley wasn't opposed to fighting Indians considered to be enemies but was opposed to attacking friendly Indians. Berkeley denied Bacon the authority to lead soldiers and this cause Bacon to lead his followers in a crusade. -
Salem Witch Trials
A series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Resulted in the execution of twenty people, most were women. By September public opinion turned against the trials. -
Trial of John Peter Zenger
Zenger was a German immigrant who became a New York printer of the New York Weekly Journal. He was accused of libel, meaning he was accused of publishing information that was opposed to the government. The jury returned after 10 minutes and gave a verdict of not guilty. -
French and Indian War
Also called the Seven Years War. Lasted until 1763. A series of battles over French claims of British colonies caused official British declaration of War. -
Proclamation of 1763
Forbid settlers to settle past a line drawn along the Appalachain mountains. It was made by King George III after the French and Indian War. The declaration also established four new colonies, Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada. -
Stamp Act
Required that many printed products be produced on stamped paper made in London that had an embossed revenue stamp. Designed to raise revenue from American Colonies. -
Quartering Act
Said that colonists would have to provide housing for the British soldiers. Outlines the locations and conditions in which British soldiers were to find room and board in the American colonies. If there was no more room left for soldiers, colonists were to make uninhabited houses, outhouses, barns, or other buildings fit for the soldiers to live in. -
Declaratory Act
An act that secured the dependency of colonies upon Parliament and crown of Great Britain. Stated that Parliament's authority was the same in Birtain and America. Provided British with an ability to impose laws and taxes on American colonies. -
Boston Massacre
British Army soldiers killed 5 men and injured 6. The soldiers were sent there to enforce unpopular Parliamentary legislation -
Tea Act
The purpose for the Tea Act was to reduce the surplus of tea that the British East India Company had. Later led to the Boston Tea Party -
Boston Tea Party
Political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston. They disguised themselves as American Indians and went onto the ships with the tea shipments and dumped all of the tea into the Boston Harbor. -
1st Continental Congress
Made up of delegates from 12 states. They met in response to the passage of the Intolerable Acts. 56 members attended. All of the colonies except Georgia sent delgates. Colonel George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Edmund Pendleton, Colonel Benjamin Harrison, Richard Bland, and Peyton Randolph were in attendance. -
2nd Continental Congress
John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were new attendees. Most of the delegates in attendance were also in the 1st Continental Congress. They established a militia called the Continental Army to represent the colonies. George Washington was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. -
Declaration on Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and approved at the 2nd Continental Congress. John Hancock was the President of the Congress and Charles Thomson was the secretary. Both men signed the document. July 4th 1776 is officially recognized as the birth of America.
