Exploration and settlement By Sibel 1492 Columbus lands at Hispaniola In the Caribbean When Columbus lands at Hispaniola in 1492 marks the beginning of contact between Europeans and Native Americans. 1513 Balboa Discovers the Pacific Ocean in Panama He soon gained control of what became the southeastern and southwestern United States, including California. 1521 Cortes conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan 1539 De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi river 1607 1st Parliament English settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia 1620 Mayflower Pilgrims Found Plymouth colony in Massachusetts 1676 English settlers defeat Native Americans in King Philip's war 1682 France claims the Mississippi river valley and calls it Louisiana
