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Jamestown is Founded
The Virginia Company in Britain financed the settlement of a colony in the 'New World.' Three ships carried a small group of colonists up the James River in southeast Virginia until empty land was discovered. Jamestown was the first permanent British settlement in America, but it faced great struggles during its formation. Some of these struggles included starvation, disease, and a lack of manual labor. -
Tobacco is Planted
Tobacco saved the Jamestown colony and opened the door to future British settlement. The struggling colony had been unable to find a means of wealth by which to support themselves. Tobacco was planted by John Rolfe in the colony, and soon became a large-scale export to European countries. The wealth of tobacco also brought more colonists to the area and replenished the population. -
The House of Burgesses and First Slaves Brought to America
The House of Burgesses, the first representative assembly in America, meets for the first time in Virginia. As a result of the continued labor shortage in Jamestown, specifically regarding tobacco farming, Dutch traders offered slaves to the colonists. The colonists accepted the sale and paid the Dutch for 20 slaves. This was the introduction of slavery to the British colonies and the root of later American slavery. -
The Mayflower Compact
The Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts is established by Pilgrims from England.
Before disembarking from their ship, the Mayflower, 41 male passengers sign the Mayflower Compact, an agreement that forms the basis of the colony's government. -
Charles 1 Executed
Due to political unrest in England, King Charles I was executed. This resulted in American colonies being forced to define their position regarding British affairs. Most colonies hoped to remain neutral in the political conflict, but other colonies pledged allegiance to the monarch's son. A conflict arose between Parliament and the monarch-supporting colonies, resulting in the first discussion of English authority in America. -
Land for Maryland Allocated
The second British colony in America, called Maryland for the British queen, was founded by King Charles I. The original colony consisted of about 12 million acres of land. Originally intended as a haven for Catholics, the formation of a new colony paved the way for other colonies to be formed in America. -
Colonial Population Growth
Colonial population is estimated at 50,400. -
Virginia Law
In Virginia, the first law was passed to help define the nature of slavery in the colonies. The law stated that the children of a slave mother inherited her 'condition.' In other words, children of a slave mother were now slaves for life, regardless of their father's condition. This law was the beginning of the American legal system which defended slavery by legalizing the growing slave population. -
New York
English seize New Amsterdam (city and colony) from the Dutch and rename it New York. -
King Phillip's War (1675-76)
Another Native conflict arose in new England when Wampanoags, led by a native called Metacom, attacked British colonists in Swansea. What began as a singular act of retaliation escalated into a war involving the military forces of several colonies and originally neutral Natives. The war resulted in the deaths of thousands of natives and opened the door to future colonies in the area. Furthermore, both groups maintained a standing hatred of each other by the war's conclusion. -
Bacon's Rebellion (1675-77)
When a group of Doeg Natives became involved in a disagreement with a Virginia settler, misguided violence escalated the event to a full-scale conflict. A group of colonists led by Nathaniel Bacon began openly attacking all Natives in the area through their claim of self defense. Ironically, the colony's government largely saw Bacon as the trouble-causing enemy. The result of the rebellion was an angered native population and open hatred between natives and the colonists. -
British Glorious Revolution (1688-89)
Further political unrest in Britain resulted in another change in monarchs. James II was replaced by Protestant William and his wife Mary. The Revolution was peaceful and bloodless, resulting in it being called 'glorious.' The colonies rejoiced because the new monarch cemented Protestantism as the main British religion.