European Nations Settle in North America

New York Harbor

Mar 30, 1524

Verrazzano, sailing for France discovers New York Harbor

River Montreal

Mar 30, 1534

Frenchman Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River named and island along the River Montreal

Jamestown

Mar 30, 1607

Jamestown is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers

Quebec

Mar 30, 1608

French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founds the colony Quebec

New Netherland

Mar 30, 1609

Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland

Smallpox

Mar 30, 1616

An epidemic of smallpox, brought by the Europeans, kills many native Americans on the New England coast

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Mar 30, 1620

Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts

New York

Mar 30, 1664

The Duke of York drives out the Dutch in New Netherland. The Duke of York claims the colony for England and renames it New York.

King Phillip's War

Mar 30, 1675

King Phillip's War begins in Colonial villages of Massachusetts, between colonists and Native Americans.

Louisiana

Mar 30, 1683

Sieur de la Salle explores the lower Mississippi Valley river, and claims the valley for France and names it Louisiana in Honor of the French King Louis XIV.

Ohio Valley

Mar 30, 1754

War between the British and French, known as the French & Indian War. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio Valley.