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Virginia is founded as the first colony
The colony of Virginia is founded with a patent for the London Company. Jamestown, Virginia is the first settlement in the colony. Economy is primarily based on agriculture and cultivation of cash crops such as Tobacco. Virginia will become one of the Southern colonies -
Massachusetts Bay Colony is founded
King of England granted a charter to Puritans to allow them to form a colony to practice and spread their religion freely. Becomes essentially a theocracy. Economy contrasts that of the south in that agriculture is not sustainable in this region. Religion is essential to daily life. -
New Hampshire Colony is founded
Founded by Captain John Mason. Created as a fishing colony. Part of the New England colonies. Economy is based on fishing and other maritime exports. -
Colony of Maryland is founded
Established by Lord Baltimore. Created as a refuge for British Catholics to escape persecution. Part of the New England colonies, however, not Puritan. -
Colony of Connecticut is founded
Originally called River Colony. Founded by Thomas Hooker and Governor John Haynes from Massachusetts, who were Puritans. Hooker left Massachusetts because of loss of support for his political ideals. Part of the New England colonies. -
Rhode Island Colony is founded
Created by Roger Williams. Williams was banished from Massachusetts for his belief in separation of church and state. Providence is first settlement. Part of the New England colonies. -
Colony of Delaware is founded
Established by Peter Minuit and the New Sweden Company. Minuit was forced to renounce the colony when King Charles II took control of the area of "New Netherlands" and tells him to give the colony to his brother, the Duke of York. The Duke of York renames New Sweden Delaware. Part of the middle colonies. -
Colony of Carolina is founded
From a charter from King Charles II, 8 men from Virginia create a settlement south of Virginia. Part of the southern colonies. Economy is heavily based on agriculture. -
New Jersey Colony is founded
Duke of York gives some land from New Netherlands to his acquaintances Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. New Jersey Colony is promoted as a place for religious freedom. Part of the middle colonies. -
New York Colony is founded
Duke of York renames New Amsterdam to New York. Part of the middle colonies. Former new Netherlands. Economy is based upon overseas trade. -
Colony of Pennsylvania is founded
Using land grant owed to his father, William Penn founds a safe haven for Quakers who were persecuted in England. Part of the middle colonies. Women are treated equal because of religion. -
Carolina is divided into North Carolina and South Carolina
When royal crown takes control of the colony, it is separated into North and South Carolina. Economy remains very reliant on agriculture. -
Colony of Georgia is founded
King Charles II granted James Oglethorpe a royal charter to establish a colony located on lands between Florida and South Carolina. Known as the buffer colony between English and Spanish colonies. Part of the southern colonies. Economy is based on agriculture.