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Columbus lands in the Bahamas, thus unknowingly "discovering" the New World
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John Cabot of England explores the Atlantic coast of Canada, claiming the area for the English King, Henry VII.
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Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci, sights the coast of South America during a voyage of discovery for Spain.
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Cabral arrived at Brazil they encountered stonage hunted gatherers and called them Indians
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The name "America" is first used in a geography book referring to the New World with Amerigo Vespucci getting credit for the discovery of the continent.
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Ponce de Leon explores Florida for Spain.
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Balboa claims all lands touched by the Pacific ocean for spain.
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Ferdinand Magellan is the first person to sail around the world.
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Hernando Cortes conquers Mexico for Spain.
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Magellan's vessel completes circumnavigation of the New World.
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Verrazano explores eastern seaboard of North America for France.
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De Soto explores the Southeast and discovers the Mississippi River.
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Coronado explores present-day Southwest.
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Hernando de Soto of Spain discovers the Mississippi River.
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Cabrillo explores California coast for Spain.
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The first permanent European colony in North America is founded at St. Augustine (Florida) by the Spanish.
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Sir Walter Raleigh founds Roanoke colony
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The first English child, Virginia Dare, is born in Roanoke.
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The English settle Jamestown Virginia under Captain John Smith. (founded by the London Company)
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Virginia colony founded at Jamestown, (named afteer the virgin queen.)
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Spanish found New Mexico.
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The first session of the first legislative assembly in America occurs as the Virginia House of Burgesses convenes in Jamestown. It consists of 22 burgesses representing 11 plantations
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The first twenty slaves to set foot in North America at the english colony of Jamestown, Virginia. (unable to find the specific day, but month is correct)
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Pilgrims sail on the Mayflower to Plymouth Bay.
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The Mayflower Compact is signed by the 41 men, establishing a form of local government in which the colonists agree to abide by majority rule and to cooperate for the general good of the colony.
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English citizens, searchiing for religious freedom and reform, settle Plymouth colony in Massachusetts.
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The Virginia Company charter is revoked in London and Virginia is declared a Royal colony.
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Dutch found New Netherland led by Peter Minuit.
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Puritans found Massachusetts Bay colony as a refuge.
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Maryland colony is founded as a refuuge for Roman Catholics.
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Roger Williams spoke out against policy of the church in the Massachusetts Bay colony. This eventually led to his fleeing the colony and establishing the colony of Rhode Island
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Harvard College is established.
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The colony of New Haven is founded by the English.
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In Massachusetts, the general court approves a law that makes religious heresy punishable by death
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Rhode Island enacts the first law in the colonies declaring slavery illegal.
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Navigation Act of 1663 requires that most imports to the colonies must be transported via England on English ships
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England seizes New Netherland from Dutch East and West Jersey colonies founded.
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The New Jersey colony is settled by the English, Dutch, and Sweedes.
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Lord Shaftsbury founded the Carolina colony at Charlestown (modern day Charleston).
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The Mississippi River Valley is explored and claimed by Robert LaSalle of France, Louisiana is claimed.
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William Penn settles Pennsylvania and the Quakers briing the idea of tolerance to the colonies.
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The Anglo population in the English colonies in America reaches 250,000.
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North and South Carolina divide into two colonies because of economic differences in farming and production.
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The colony of Georgia was founded by James Oglethrope.
