Exploration and Settlement

Columbus lands at Hispaniola in the Caribbean

1492

Christopher Columbus sails to Hispaniola, this is the beginning of contact with the Europeans and the Native Americans.

Balboa "discovers" the Pacific Ocean in Panama

1513

He was the first European that guided a group to see the Pacific from the New World.

Cortes conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan (Mexican city)

1521

He led a group that made the Aztec empire fall and brought a lot of Mexico because of the king of Castiles rule.

De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi River

1539

He made a group that found the modern-day United States which is Florida and the Mississippi River.

First permanent English settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia

1607

In Jamestown it was where the first British Empire began. At first it was called James Fort and it was created by the Virginia Company of London. It had several fail attempts.

Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth colony in Massachusetts

1620

The pilgrims built a second ship (the Mayflower) that that found Plymouth, Christopher Jones owned 1/4 of the ship. When they went to Plymouth they got fever and cholera. They traveled there in several voyages.

English Settlers defeat Native Americans in King Philip's War

1676

King Philip's war was one of the major wars. They have been to war with each other multiple times and they also speak similar languages. More than 3,000 Native Americans and 1,000 Colonists have died in this war.

France claims the Mississippi River Valley and names it Louisiana

1682

Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette are the ones that found the Mississippi River. They called the River the Sioux Tongo.