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Aug 22, 1492
christopher columbus sets sail
in 1492 christopher colombus sets sail from spain to find a faster route to china for trade. -
Period: Aug 22, 1492 to
exploration and colonization era starts
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Jul 9, 1497
john cabot
john cabot on his first voyage searching for the Northwest Passage. -
Jun 21, 1499
Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci finds the South American Coast. -
Mar 6, 1507
“America” is first used in a book
“America” is first used in a book, referring to the New World. Amerigo Vespucci receives credit for the discovery of the continent. -
Apr 25, 1513
landfall in Florida.
Spaniard Ponce de Leon makes landfall in Florida. -
Oct 31, 1517
Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther is launched in Europe. -
Jun 26, 1519
texas
Alonso de Pineda sails along the Texas coast. -
Apr 21, 1521
explorer Cortés
Spanish explorer Cortés claims Mexico for spain -
May 1, 1524
Carolina
Giovanni de Veranzo leads French expedition beginning in Carolina, and ending at Nova Scotia. -
Aug 21, 1524
Hudson River
French sponsored navigator Giovanni da Verrazano discovers the Hudson River. -
Dec 26, 1526
South Carolina
The first settlers from Hispaniola establish San Miguel de Guadalupe, now South Carolina. -
Oct 18, 1528
Cabeza de Vaca
Cabeza de Vaca explores the Gulf coast, including both Florida and Texas. -
May 3, 1533
California
Fortún Jiménez sent by Cortéz to explore Baja Peninsula and names the region California -
Sep 1, 1534
France to explore the New World.
Jacques Cartier sails from France to explore the New World. -
Jan 29, 1539
Florida to California
Hemano de Soto lands in Florida. Fransico de Ulba explores the California coast. . Marcos de Niza explored New Mexico and Arizona in search of gold. -
May 23, 1540
Rio Grande.
FranciscoVasquez de Coronado explores the southwest, north of the Rio Grande.. -
Jul 17, 1541
Mississippi River
Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto explores the Mississippi River. -
Jun 23, 1542
Juan Rodiquez Cabrillo
Juan Rodiquez Cabrillo enters current day California -
Jan 2, 1554
Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh is born. -
Sep 22, 1564
Fort Caroline
The French establish a colony at Fort Caroline in Florida. -
Aug 21, 1565
first European Colony
Spain establishes the first European Colony in North America, St. Augustine, Florida. -
Nov 30, 1566
Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina colony is established in Georgia. -
Apr 25, 1577
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth to return to England. -
Jun 9, 1579
Pacific Ocean
Francis Drake explores the Pacific Ocean -
Roanoke Island
First Expedition, led by Sir Walter Raleigh, arrives at Roanoke Island. -
first English settlement
The first English settlement, the Roanoke Colony, is established. -
Virginia Dare
Virginia Dare is the first English child born in the Roanoke Colony. -
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia is the first established colony of the 13 Colonies. -
Captain John Smith
Captain John Smith is captured by the Powhatans at Werowocomoco. -
Cape Cod
Henry Hudson sailed into Cape Cod. -
tobacco
Colonists’ plant and harvest native tobacco in Virginia. -
Starving Time
During that winter of 1609-1610, nearly 440 settlers of Jamestown die because of what is known as Starving Time. -
John Rolfe marries Pocahontas
Tobacco farmer John Rolfe marries Pocahontas, daughter of Cheif Powhatan. -
House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses becomes the first representative assembly. -
Mayflower Compact
Earliest Plymouth Colony document is known as the Mayflower Compact -
Plymouth Colony
Landing party arrives what is to become the Plymouth Colony. -
Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims celebrate the First Thanksgiving at Plymouth. -
Virginia Company charter
Virginia falls under British control. The Virginia Company charter is revoked by Britain. New Netherland is founded by Dutch West India Company. -
Manhattan Island
Manhattan Island was bought by Peter Minuit from Native Americans. -
King Charles I try to rule as absolute Monarch
King Charles I try to rule as absolute Monarch, leading people to leave for the American Colonies. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony Royal charter was issued by Parliament. -
Boston
Boston is established by John Winthrop. -
Lord Baltimore
George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) gains land in Maryland. -
Maryland is founded
Maryland is founded. Plymouth Bay settlers start colonies on Conneticut River. Jean Nicolet arrives in Green Bay (Wisconsin). Also, Jean Nicolet explores Lake Michigan. -
first public school in America
The first public school in America is established, Boston Latin School. -
Harvard College
Harvard College in Massachusetts is founded.Providence, Rhode Island is founded by Roger Williams. Hartford founded
by Thomas Hooker. -
first Colonial printing press
Cambridge, Massachusetts is where the first Colonial printing press is located. Puritans establish settlement called Naumkeag. The House of Burgesses is officially reestablished. -
New Hampshire
New Hampshire founded by John Wheelright. -
Yonkers
Yonkers (New York) is founded by the Dutch. -
Slavery legal
New England makes Slavery legal. -
Providence Plantation
Providence, Newport, Shawomet & Portsmouth become one colony. Providence Plantation in Narragansette Bay. -
Liberal Constitution
Liberal Constitution drafted in Rhode Island. -
Religious toleration
Religious toleration is granted to Maryland. -
Quaker and Jewish immigrants
Quaker and Jewish immigrants seeking freedom of worship begin arriving in northeast. -
slavery illegal
Rhode Island passes the first law within the colonies making slavery illegal. -
New Jersey
The first permanent settlement in New Jersey is at Bergen (Jersey City). First Navigation act is passed by the British Parliament. -
Conneticut
Colony of Conneticut is chartered by England. Conneticut and Rhode Island merged under one charter. -
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather was born in Boston, Massachusetts. -
Saint Augustine
Pedro Menedez founds Saint Augustine in Florida. Carolina and Georgia are colonized. -
Lake Michigan
Marquette and Joliet cross Lake Michigan into Wisconsin -
King Philip’s War
Earliest attacks against Colonists begins King Philip’s War. -
Bacon’s Rebellion
Declaration of the People of Virginia leads to Bacon’s Rebellion. -
rebel against taxation
Colonists in North Carolina rebel against taxation by the English. -
William Penn
Pennsylvania is established by William Penn for quakers. -
King William’s War
King William’s War starts to spread to the colonies. -
Salem Witch trials
Salem Witch trials take place in a village in Massachusetts -
Baja California
First mission founded in Baja California -
wool tax
The parliament in England passes the Wool Act. -
black code
The Virginia Black Code is passed in Virginia. -
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is born in Boston, Massachusetts. -
act of the union
Act of the Union combines England, Scotland, and Wales as part of the United Kingdom. -
post office act
Post Office Act passes in the English parliament. Begins a postal system in the colonies. -
New Orleans
The French establishes New Orleans. -
population
Population of the American colonists number 475,000. -
George Washington
Feb. 22. George Washington of Virginia is born. -
copper coin
First copper Coins of the Colony are minted in Connecticut. -
Albany congress
June 19. Delegates from seven colonies met at the Albany Congress. -
treaty of paris
Feb. 10. French and Indian War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
