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Jamestown
Jamestown was colonized Captain John Smith under the order of King James I. The first settlement included a fort for protection and a community of houses and churches within the fort. Disease and famine hit the colony and left the remaining colonists starving. John Smith returned to England for supplies to help the remaining colonists. During that time, Jamestown was repeatedly attacked by Algonquian Indians and made the capital until it was burned down in 1698. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The House was the first symbol and representation of government in the colonies. The first meet in the house was over the minumum sale for tobacoo. There were 22 members of the house and came together to discuss laws that were appropriate for the state or were to be vetoed by the governor. This helped the colonies gain their independence by making their own government. -
Plymouth Rock
In oral tradition this is where the pilgrims had landed, however according to records the place of Plymouth Rock was said almost a 100 years later. The rock was being moved into town from a beach, but broke before bein moved and was left as it was. In 1880, the rocks was cememted together, but parts of it is chipped as a souvenir. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was written by Seperatist and signed by 41 of the members on the ship. It was written to establish a temporary self-government until they could get formal permission. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon held the belief that all Indian's were enemies and tried to drive them out of Virginia. Bacon was also upset about wealthy colonists and tried to rebel against them too. The Governor of Virginia, Berkeley, disagreed and tried to stop this rebellion. -
Glorious Revolution
This revolution was an overthrow of King James II and the country's religion of Roman Catholic to William III and Mary II with Protestant as the country's new religion. -
English Bill of Rights
After the Glorious Revolution, Great Britain passed The English Bill of Rights declaring the rights and liberties of the people and settling colonies. -
Toleration Act
The Toleration Act was an act that allowed other faiths of Christianity to be practiced. It allowed these faiths to practice and have their own preachers worship the way they wanted to. It still held political and social restrictions. -
Toleration Act
This act granted freedom to practice whatever Christian religion and tolerate it in Maryland. It was the basis of the first admendment giving freedom of speech. -
Salem Witch Trials
More than 200 people were executed during this time for the belief they practiced witchcraft. -
John Peter Zenger
John Peter Zenger is responsible today for our country having the right, Freedom of Speech. He was held on trial for writing an article against the goverment and later being held as not guilty. This case helped build independence and liberty of the colonies. -
French and Indian War
It was a war over land for Canada and interior east of the Mississippi fought by England and the French with the Indians. England won the war and all the land. It started in 1754 and ended in 1763. The Indian allied with the French because they French and Dutch did not plan to stay forever, but temporary and only trade and hunt. -
Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation forbade the settlers to go past the Applachain mountains and to stabalize relations with Indians and trade. -
Stamp Act
The British government required that American Colonists pay tax on every printed paper they used, such as legal documents, newspapers and even playing cards. -
Quartering Act
This was a tax and act upon the American colonists stating they should house and give any of their acommodations they may need. -
Declatory Act
This was an act to repeal the Stamp Act of 1765. This was also to show the colonies that the British had power over the colonies and were in charge. New trade laws were imposed and other acts followed this one. -
Tea Act
Tea could not be bought during this time than anyone else other than to the East India Company. The colonists saw it as another taxation without representation and didn't want to pay so much for tea any more and started a boycott. -
Boston Tea Party
This was a protest by the colonies against the British government. They staged the protest by boarding three trade ships in Boston Harbor and throwing the ships' cargo of tea overboard into the ocean. They threw 342 chests of tea into the water. Some of the colonists were disguised as Mohawk Indians, but the costumes didn't fool anyone. -
Boston Massacre
British Army soldiers killed five men and injured six other men. It started as a small arguement, but more colonists started to gather and harass the soldiers. Captain Thomas Preston ordered a fire and shots were fired at the colonists. This started patriotism in the colonies and made them think different of British rule. -
1st Continental Congress
This was the first meeting of the colonies with representation of each colony, except Georgia, to discuss the British's Intolerable Acts. They wanted to assert their rights, the British violation of their rights, and to have the British restore their rights. If the British did not hear, they agreed to boycott their products. -
2nd Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was aimed towards gaining independence from Britian. The Congress decided to make an army with George Washington. John Hancock was the President of the Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
Five men were to write a Declaration of Independence from British Rule. Those five men were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Jefferson wrote the first draft. The committee declared it to be almost perfect. The committee presented the document to the Congress after making a few corrections. Following a few more changes, Thomas Jefferson's work was approved. -
Treaty of Paris
It was signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America. Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation. The treaty also set new borders for the United States, including all land from the Great Lakes on the north to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
