European Nations Settle in North America

  • 1524

    1524

    Verrazzano, sailing for France discovers New York Harbor
  • 1534

    1534

    Frenchmen Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River names an Island along the River Montreal.
  • 1607

    1607

    Jamestown is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers
  • 1608

    1608

    French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founded the colony of Quebec
  • 1609

    1609

    Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherlands.
  • 1754-1763

    1754-1763

    War between the British and French, known as the French & Indian War. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio River Valley.
  • 1616

    1616

    An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many Native Americans on the New England coast.
  • 1620

    1620

    Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth Massachusetts.
  • 1664

    1664

    The Duke of York drives out the Dutch in New Netherlands. The Duke York claims the colony for England and renamed it New York.
  • 1675

    1675

    King Philip's War begins in colonial villages of Massachusetts, between Colonists and Native Americans.
  • 1682

    1682

    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.