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Aug 12, 1492
Columbus Discovers the New World
In 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain with 3 ships: the Pinta, the Niña, and the Santa María. In his search for a trade route to India he stumbled across the Bahamas archipelago, and he thought it was India. While he was there, he examined the natives, traded with them, and declared the lands he visited under the authority of the Spanish Monarch. This was the first step that led towards the European colonization of the New World. -
English Defeats the Spanish
At around midnight July 29, 1588, the English navy approached the "Invincible Armada." They sent around 8 burning ships into the harbor at Calais. In a panic, the Spanish ships cut their anchors and dashed in every direction. The English naval forces took advantage of the confusion and the Spanish took heavy losses and see forced to route. Rough storms did further damage to the Spanish fleet as their made their excruciating journey back from England to Spain. England is now the top naval empire. -
Jamestown Colony is Settled
After two weeks of following the shoreline by boat, on May 13, a group of English settlers find suitable land. Here they begin the first permanent English colony Jamestown. The colony struggles for its first few leaders since they didn't know how to run a colony well. By 1608 John Smith took command and ran the colony military style. It was more successful than ever before. -
The French and Indian War (Seven Years War)
The French and Indian War was the northern theatre of a worldwide war called the Seven Years War. It was a conflict between British America and New France, with troops supplied by each colony's parent countries. Each side also utilized Native American allies. Most of the fighting was done on the frontiers between British American and New French territories. The conflict was ended by the signing of the Treaty of Paris in February 10, 1763. -
The Boston Tea Party
At night on December 16, 1773, American patriots from the Sons of Liberty boarded a British ship dressed as Mohawk Indians. Out of protest, they threw an entire shipment of tea into the Boston Harbor as a response to the Tea Act of May 10, 1773. The Americans were unhappy with the Tea Act because they felt "no taxation without representation." The British government responded harshly, which helped spark the American Revolutionary War. -
The American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War was a war fought between the British Colonies and England for their independence. It started when British troops invaded with The Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1773. Although initially between the two countries, it soon turned into a global war including: France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Mysore. After French intervention, the British tried unsuccessfully to surrender. They were eventually able to sign the Treaty of Paris and end the war over America. -
London Hosted the 1st World's Fair
The First World's Fair, also known as The Great Exhibition, was the first of many World's Fairs hosted all over the world to bring unity from different cultures and respectfully share ideas. As is common with every World's Fair, the country hosting it will build a unique and sometimes temporary building as the main attraction for the Fair. In London, the Crystal Palace was built. There in the palace many people came to show off technology from the industrial revolution.
