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James Town founded in America
Three ships carried a small group of colonists up the James river until new land was found. Jamestown was the first permanent British settlement in America, but this faced tough struggles during its formation. Some of the major struggles were new diseases and a lack of food and safe water. -
First Tobacco Plant
Tobacco was the building plant for the future of British settlements. Tobacco was planted by John Rolfe in the colony and soon became a large-scale export to European countries. -
First Slaves Brought to America
The continued labor shortage in Jamestown started to come into effect specifically regarding tobacco farming. Dutch traders offered slaves to the colonist. The colonist bought 20 slaves from the Dutch. This was the beginning of slavery in the British Colonies and the root of later American Slavery. -
The Mayflower Compact signed
The Puritans began to establish settlements in Plymouth. They form the Mayflower Compact, which established a government and legal structure. -
Plymouth Rock Founded
A landing party searches the coast for a suitable site for a settlement and starts to move the entire party to Plymouth Harbor. Plymouth Rock was identified as the first solid land the Pilgrims set foot on. -
The first Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving celebration is held in the autumn for three days between the Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe, who had helped them settle and plant the colony's land. -
Petition of Rights
King Charles receives a Petition of Rights from the English Parliament to gain royal subsidies. Petition of Rights would influence the Massachusetts Bay Colony's Body of Liberties and the 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. -
Establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
The first vessels of Winthrop's eleven ship fleet, eventually totaling seven hundred aboard, leaves England for the Puritan colony already established in Salem, establishing the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. -
Settlement of Boston
Settlement of Boston begins when John Winthrop and one hundred and seventy-five of his colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony choose the Trimountain to harbor area to establish a town. -
Maryland founded as a Catholic colony
Maryland is founded as a Catholic colony promoting religious tolerance. The subsequent state is named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of England's Charles I. -
Charles I exacuted
Due to the unrest in England, King Charles I was executed. This resulted in the American Colonies being forced to define their position regarding British affairs. Most colonies hoped to email neutral in the political conflict, but other colonies pledged allegiance to the monarch's son. -
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Bacons Rebellion
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. -
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British Glorious Revolution
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. -
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King Philips War
New England with Metacom Indian forces attacking colonial settlements due to encroachment on the land. Considered the costliest war for European Settlements in relation to the population with Indian success during the first year halted later when their alliances fell apart. Twelve towns were destroyed. The Confederation of New England tribes and the colonists in New England ends.