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The founding of Jamestown
The founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony, took place in Virginia in 1607. The colony was sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, a group of investors who hoped to profit from the venture. Hired in 1606 by King James I, the company also supported English national goals of correcting the development of other European nations overseas, seeking a northwest passage to the Orient (the countries of Asia), and converting the Virginia Indians to the Anglican religion. -
Quebec settlement was founded
The Quebec settlement was founded by the French explorer and navigator Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Prior to the arrival of the French, the location that would become Quebec was the home of a small Iroquois village called "Stadacona.” Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, was the first European to get past the St. Lawrence Gulf, claiming for France the land that later became "New France." -
First black slaves arrive in Jamestown
The first 19 or so blacks arrived ashore near Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, brought by Dutch traders who had seized them from a captured Spanish slave ship. -
Pilgrims arrive in Massichusetts
Some 100 people, many of them fed up with London and seeking religious freedom in the New World, set sail from England on the Mayflower in September 1620. That November, the ship hit the shores of Cape Cod, in present-day Massachusetts. A scouting party was sent out, and in late December the group landed at Plymouth Harbor, where they would form the first permanent settlement of Europeans in New England. These original settlers of Plymouth Colony are known simply as the Pilgrims. -
The first settlers on the Potomac River
In March of 1634, the first English settlers--a carefully selected group of Catholics and Protestants--arrived at St. Clement's Island aboard the Ark and the Dove.
I am not sure of the exact day this took place.
This picture is of an old Indian settlement on the Potomac River. -
The Quakers found Pennsylvania
The Quakers, (or Society of Friends) had suffered greatly in England. They were religious rebels of the Church of England, and would not fight in any of England's wars or pay their taxes if they believed it would assist a military scheme. They believed in total equality, and would not bow down to anyone, not even the King.
The Province of Pennsylvania, or the Pennsylvania Colony, was founded by William Penn and his fellow Quakers in English North America on March 4, 1681. -
the Mollasses Act
This act was caused by merchants who were smuggling mollases and other luxury goods into the colonies without paying the six-pence tax. The British navy continued to complain and they eventually stopped smuggling. -
British colonies try to establish a fort at the Forks of Ohio river (present day Pittsburg)
Robert Dinwiddie and the Virginia legislature agreed that French’s refusal of British demands was a intimidating act, and that the French must be driven from their boundary forts. Dinwiddie sent Captain William Trent (from Virginia militia) to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio River. Washington was also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and ordered an expedition to force the French to surrender their forts. I am not exactly sure when all of this happened, it happened late in 1753. -
the French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, was a battle of land between the French, British, and Indians. It started with the scalping of a french ambassador. This war was very spread out, for it was even fought in places like India. -
Washington loses Fort Necessity to the French
Washingtons fort, built in a hurry by the British, was attacked by the French. The British named the fort Fort Necessity because they needed it at the time to hold off the French. Sadly the British had built the fort way to close to the trees and the French were able to fire their guns while staying hidden behind the trees. Washington surrendered the fort after loosing one third of his men. -
The Albany Congress
This was a meeting of representatives from the northern seven of the thirteen British North American colonies. Representatives met daily at Albany, New York from June 19 to July 11, 1754 to discuss better relations with the Indian tribes and common defensive measures against the French, given tensions that led to the French and Indian War, the North American front of the Seven Years War. -
George Washington builds Fort Necessity
On this day in 1754, during the Seven Years War, 22-year-old lieutenant in the Virginia militia, George Washington, begins construction of a temporary Fort Necessity. The fort was built to defend his forces from French soldiers angered by the murder of Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville while in Washington's care.
I do not know the exact day this happened. -
Braddock gets shot and loses the battle of Monongahela
General Braddock and his men tried to march over the Forks of the Ohio river to take over the land, but they were met with a large army of Indians and French. Almost all the men died and Braddock was shot. His death took place three days later. Of the 54 women that marched with Braddock that day, only 4 survived. -
Great Britain declares war on France
The British Declare war, though they have been fighting against the French for the past 2 years. -
End of the French and Indian War
The Treaty of Paris, signed by Great Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal, ends the French and Indian war. -
The Proclamation of 1763
This act prohibited settlers to settle past a line near the Appalachian Mountains. This was done to try to establish a good relationship with the Indians. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763 by King George III following Great Britain's gaining of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War, forbidding settlers to settle past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. This was done to organize Great Britain's new North American empire and secure families with Native North Americans through trade of settlement and land purchases on the western frontier. -
the Sugar Act
The Sugar Act, also referred to as The American Revenue Act of 1764, happened when the Parliment reduced the tax of luxury goods to three-pence, but put higher taxes on more luxury goods, such as sugar. This act was important because it was one of the first British taxations tworads the Colonists. This act was important because it caused the Boston Tea Party. -
the Stamp Act
This act played a part of the attempt to pay off the massive bill from the Seven Years War. Everything that was printed, including playing cards, was taxed. Stamps were placed on everything to show the tax had been payed on it. -
the Sons of Liberty
In Boston in early summer of 1765 a group of shopkeepers and artists who called themselves The Loyal Nine began preparing for anger towards the Stamp Act. As that group grew, it came to be known as the Sons of Liberty. This group was founded by Sameul Adams, and meetings were held beneath a large tree referred to as the Liberty Tree. The first widely known acts of the Sons took place on August 14, 1765 -
the Declaratory Act
Occuring after the stamp act and before the revolutionary war, the Declaratory Act was passed in 1766 by the British Parliament, stating that all laws created in England would also apply to America. -
the Declaration of Independence
This was a declaration approved by the Continental Congress. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, expressed the feelings of the colonists, and how they wanted to be independent. This was one of the first big events leading to the Revolutionary War. -
Townshend Act
This act put taxes on oil, lead, glass, tea, paint, and paper. It was part of the British's effort to raise 40,000 euro every year. -
The Boston Massacre
A group of British soldiers fired at a crowd that was teasing them, throwing rocks, and even hitting them with clubs. John Adams defended them in court and no punishment was served. -
The Tea Act
The tea act was a tax put on tea. This act angered the colonists, for it took away the freedom to choose which type of tea they would drink. Eventually the tax was repealed. -
the Boston Tea Party
The Colonists were mad that they had to pay taxes, so they dressed up as Indians and dumped 342 chests of British tea into the ocean. This was on of the first, but not the last, protests against the British. -
the Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable acts were made because the king was angry at the colonists for dumping tea into the harbor.They consisted of the Boston Port Bill, the Quartering Act, the Quebec, the Massachusetts Govenrment act, and the Administration of Justice Act. -
the Administration of Justice Act
This was one of the Intolerable acts. It was very unfair. It allowed British soldiers to get away with things that others can not. The Patriots liked this act. -
the Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress met in Philedalphia atCarpenter's Hall, lasting from September 5 to October 26, 1774. All of the colonies except Georgia sent representatives. These were elected by the the resident of the state. -
Paul Revere and William Dawes's "Midnight Ride"
Paul Revere & William Dawes "Midnight Rides" happened when they rode through towns, alearting the militias that the British were coming. "The British are coming! The British are coming!" they yelled. They had a system that was made of lanterns. If one was lit then that meant they were coming by land and if two were lit then that meant they were coming by land. -
The battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. American colonists fought in a battle against the British soldiers, who wanted to take away the colonists weapons and arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. These battles were fought in many towns outside Boston, Massachusetts. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
American soldiers were instructed to go to Bunker hill to bomb the British. Instead they went to Breeds hill. The Americans still held off the attack and they killed 1,540 men before freezing. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was the final attempt of the colonists to settle and make peace with the British. Yet all the British did was send more troops. -
America forces under Benedict Arnold fail to seize Quebec
From December 30th to the 31st of 1775, Benedict Arnold and the American forces went to Quebec in attempt to take it. Because of harsh winter conditions, the Americans were defeated. -
Common Sense
This was a pamphlet published by Tohmas Paine. It listed all of the reasons as to why they should break away and pushed America closer to uprising. He signed it By an Englishman. -
The Crossing of the Delaware
Washington crossed the Delaware river and caught British soldiers by surprise. Since it happened to be Christmas Eve, the British were not expecting an attack. Washingtons men triumphed. This was a major victory! -
America drives the British out of Boston
America took Dorchester Heights (a dissolved city and present neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts), and aimed cannons down on Boston. The Brittish surrendered and fled. -
British Evacuate Boston
With cannons stolen from Fort Ticonderoga, the Americans threatened to destroy Boston. General Howe decided to remove the 9,000 troops that were left in Boston. The British were forced to evacuate Boston. -
Hessian Mercenaries Arrive to Fight for British
Since joining the British Army meant you must serve for life, it was discouraging. Britain needed soldiers to help them. 9,000 Hessian soldiers came to their aid. -
The British Take Over New York City
After the Battle of Long Island in New York, the British took over the state. -
The Battle of Brandywine Creek
British General Sir William Howe planned to take over Philadelphia, and George Washington tried to stop him. Though the Continentals outnumbered the British by 2,000, they had to surrender to the Hessians. -
British capture Philadelphia
William Howe had his sights on Philadelphia, and wanted to take it at all costs. He does so, but he is forced to abandon another campaign, which could have meant the British’s victory in the war. -
The Battle of Saratoga
During this battle, the Americans sucessfully stop the British's plans of dividing and conquering. This battle caused the French to join the American cause. -
Valley Forge
George Washington and his men stayed at Valley Forge from This battle was fought from December of 1777 to June of 1778. The Battle of Trenton was fought just across the River in 1776. The winter at Valley Forge was the hardest winter, for many soldiers didnt have enough clothes or food. However, the winter did help improve the troops, because Washington's men learned training, drills, and discipline. -
Siege of Charleston
The Siege of Charleston was a huge loss for the Americans. The terms of surrender allowed the British to get many thousands of Continental soldiers and lots of the supplies that the Americans had. It nearly gave the British complete control of the southern colonies. -
Battle of Yorktown
This was the last major battle of the American Revolution. French and American troops surrounded the Brittish forces and continued to battle the British over a long period of time. The Brittish had no choice but to surrender.
