Early America to the Revolutionary War

  • Period: Jan 1, 1000 to

    Early America to the Revolutionary War

  • Vikings land in North America
    Aug 22, 1000

    Vikings land in North America

  • William of Normandy Conquers England
    Sep 28, 1066

    William of Normandy Conquers England

    William invaded England to become King and claim the throne from Harold.
  • The Magna Carta
    Jun 15, 1215

    The Magna Carta

    The Magna Carta was granted by the king of England to a group of rebellious barons and signed on the plain at Runnymede. Gave land rights to the nobles, kept taxes reasonable, but must be voted on, and protected some rights of free people
  • Christopher Columbus discovers America
    Aug 3, 1492

    Christopher Columbus discovers America

    Columbus led three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, out of the Spanish port of Palos. His objective was to sail west until he reached Asia.
  • John Cabot explores North America
    Aug 22, 1497

    John Cabot explores North America

    Cabot traveled by sea to Canada, where he made a claim to land for England, mistaking the North American land for Asia.
  • Protestant Reformation
    Aug 22, 1500

    Protestant Reformation

    Protestants broke from the Catholic Church
  • Jamestown, VA

    Jamestown, VA

    The first permanent English settlement in North America founded by a group of roughly 100 members of the Virginia Company
  • House of Burgesses

    House of Burgesses

    The first colonial legislature in North America
  • Pilgrims come on the Mayflower

    Pilgrims come on the Mayflower

    The Mayflower set sail in July but had to turn back twice because the boat they were traveling with leaked. After the second time they went back, it was decided they would go without the second boat
  • Puritan Migration

    Puritan Migration

    Between 1630-1640 more than 40,000 people moved to the new Colonies
  • Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion

    Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion

    A group of indentured servants attacked Indians as well as Jamestown and burned it to the ground
  • The Enlightenment

    The Enlightenment

    European movement of the 1600-1700's emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition
  • The Great Awakening

    The Great Awakening

    A movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, and especially the American colonies, leaving a permanent impact on American Protestantism.
  • Salutary Neglect

    Salutary Neglect

    From 1689-1754, England fought 4 major wars, which diverted her attention from the Colonies
  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War

    Comprised the North American theater of the worldwide Seven Years' War, was ended by the Treaty of Paris in 1763
  • Proclamation of 1763

    Proclamation of 1763

    Issued by King George III which closed off the frontier to colonial expansion
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act

    Required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used, newspapers, legal documents, etc. Those who refused were jailed
  • Townshend Acts

    Townshend Acts

    Taxes on imported glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea
  • Boston "Massacre"

    Boston "Massacre"

    Known as the Incident on King Street by the British when British Army soldiers killed five male civilians and injured six others
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party

    A protest of the British Parliament's Tea Act, they wanted to make a statement to the British that they were not going to take the taxes lying down
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress

    Had 55 delegates from 12 colonies, they decided to keep boycotting British goods, they prepared Colonial Militia in case of a fight, wrote a list of 10 resolutions to King George III, and agreed to meet again if the king did not agree
  • The Second Continental Congress

    The Second Continental Congress

    Delegates met again in Philadelphia. Congress tried to make peace one more time before using force, established a Continental Army with Washington as their leader, rallied American's support, and set a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence

    Written by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Independence was formally declared on July 2 and Congress approved the final text of the Declaration on July 4. It wasn't signed until August 2
  • Treaty of Paris 1783

    Treaty of Paris 1783

    British recognized the independent United States of America, set new borders, France kept Canada and trade increased