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Roanoke
Roanoke, also known as the “Lost Colony” was the first attempt to found a permanent English Settlement in New England. This was sponsored by Sir Raleigh who sent over 115 settlers. It was attempted a second time after poor relations with Native American and a lack of resources. John White was the governor who returned after 3 years only to find everyone gone and only the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. -
Puritans
Puritans were a group who wanted to purify the English church, as they thought that the Angelican church regained too many Catholic ceremonies. This religious group followed the teachings of theologian John Calvin, leading the most moral lives they could in preparation for God’s saving grace. In an effort to achieve such, they troubled English monarchs. -
Salem Witch Trials
Within one year from 1692-1693, over one hundred and fifty-five people were prosecuted for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. These prosecutions came to be known as the Salem Witch Trials. These religiously motivated trials were held in an attempt to restore their crumbing society by scapegoating outsiders, recluses, and those otherwise living outside of the norm. These trials came to an end when the colony governors’ own wife was accused of such witchcraft. -
Ohio River Valley
The fertile Ohio River valley was a large point of conflict between Great Britain and France. It was claimed by both countries, however, it was "largely unsettled". The French built Fort Duquesne, located in western Pennsylvania, to stop British colonists from moving into the area. This was a strategic effort to gain control over the highly coveted valley -
Colonial Government
During the French and Indian War, colonists payed very little cost for protection from Britain. Additionally, they profited from British trade and had valuable political rights due to their status as Brritish subjects. Once taxation on the colonists began to raise British revenue, colonists became infuriated and protested, leading to rebellion and war. -
Pontiac's Rebellion
The conquest of Canada was bad news for the American Indians of the interior who had previously played the French and British against eachother, and now could not. British military commander cut off goods to American Indians and British settlers flooded into their lands in western Pennsylvania and Virginia. -
Taxation & Conflict
The Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War)raised Britain's national debt and colonial territories immensely, provoking the need for Parliament to collect funds to raise themselves out of debt and for colonial protection. They accomplished this through taxation which was far higher in Britain then it was in the colonies. This was not believed to be fair seeing as this debt was from a war fought to protect the colonists. as a result, the parliament raised colonial taxes greatly. -
Treaty of Paris
The British won India, the Philippines, West Africa, and the West Indies where they were also fighting. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris ended the war. The British won and kept Canada, the Great Lakes region, the Ohio River valley, and Florida after driving the French out of North America. After this victory, the Mississippi River became line between British and Spanish territory in North America. -
Boston Massacre
Colonists act out in violence and rebel after the Townshend Acts. Many large boycotts or riots like this one occurred in Boston where British customs officials had been abusing their power. MA legislature later denounced the acts.
