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  A group of English Puritans arrived in Plymouth Harbor on the Mayflower, and the Mayflower Compact is signed, becoming the prototype for the U.S. Constitution.
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  the establishment of the Dutch colony near New York
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  Harvard University is founded, the first university in North America.
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  Bacon's Rebellion against harsh taxes breaks out in the Virginia colony.
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  discovery of the Mississippi River by French colonists; establishment of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.
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  Salem witch case
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  founding of New Orleans by the French.
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  the Seven Years' War between Britain and France spreads to North America, where Britain, France and the native tribes begin to mingle.
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  British Stamp Act causes public outrage in the North American Colonies.
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  the Boston Tea Dumping Incident.
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  13 colonies issued declarations of independence and waged a war of independence against Britain.
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  The name "United States of America" was established.
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  the defeat of Great Britain and the independence of the United States.