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Period: to
1600s-1700s
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Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was founded by a group of Englishmen desiring to settle in North America. In 1607, three English ships, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery, set sail to America in search of a place to establish a settlement. Although at first believing they had chosen a perfect location, the Jamestown peninsula had brackish water and infertile soil, which caused extreme disaster for the colony. -
Founding of Quebec
Quebec was founded by the French under the leadership of Samuel de Champlain. This city proved to be a foothold for the foundation of New France. -
Sante Fe Established
Sante Fe, the first permanent settlement in the Southwest, was founded by Juan de Onate in 1610. -
Virginia's First Tobacco Crop
John Rolfe planted Virginia's first tobacco crop in 1616 by crossing Trinidad and Guiana strains of tobacco. Tobacco later proved to be Jamestown's saving factor by allowing the economy to continue by bringing in settlers and producing money. -
Virginia's First Tobacco Export to England
After planting and growing its first strains of tobacco, Virginia finally shipped its first shipment of tobacco to England. Tobacco soon became one of America's leading exports for several years. -
House of Burgesses Established
The House of Burgesses, established in 1619 by the Virginia Company, served as Virginia's limited representative body. It was made up of only white landowners. -
First Shipment of African Slaves to America
In 1619, the first shipment of 20 African slaves arrived in Jamestown, paving the way for the terrible institution of slavery that later followed in America. -
Founding of Plymouth Colony
Puritans seeking religious freedom and the purification of the Church of England migrated from England to America and founded the colony of Plymouth. Men and women sailed to America on the Mayflower and established Plymouth, which became the first permanent European settlement in America. -
Founding of New Amsterdam
Dutch enslaved laborers were tasked with building New Amsterdam. Laborers built a defensive wall around the colony, built its internal roads, and maintained its vital port. -
Founding of Maryland
George Calvert was granted a charter to land east of the Potomac River by King Charles I of England. Calvert named the region "Maryland" after the King's consort. Maryland was designed to be a haven for Roman Catholics who faced persecution in England. -
Founding of Providence
After being banished from the Massachusetts colony, Roger Williams founded Providence in 1636 on land he had negotiated with nearby Indigenous peoples for. Williams and the citizens of Providence established their own religious freedoms and egalitarian constitution. -
Connecticut Established
Leaving Massachusetts because of overcrowding, Thomas Hooker established the colony of Connecticut in 1636. -
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Pequot War
The Pequot War, mainly caused by the continual struggle of controlling trade, was fought between the Pequot tribe and Massachusetts Bay soldiers. Tensions had been rising until an American trader and his crew was murdered by Narragansett-allied Native Americans. -
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Pequot War Continued
Soon after, Captain John Endecott sailed to fight the Pequots with 90 soldiers. The war included several instances of burnings of towns and massacres of people on both sides. The Massachusetts Bay soldiers won the struggle. Most members of the Pequot tribe were killed during the conflict, and the remaining members were either sold into slavery -
New Hampshire Established
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New Haven Colony Established
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Official Establishment of Rhode Island
After Roger Williams established Providence, Anne Hutchison and her followers settled nearby. Settlers were granted a charter in 1644 but refused it and, instead, appointed their own president and council. Each settlement created their own laws, guidelines, and systems of justice. Finally in 1663, King Charles II granted the settlements a charter, which established Rhode Island. -
New Amsterdam becomes New York
IN 1664, the English gained control of New Amsterdam from the Dutch and named it New York. -
Invention of the Telescope
Sir Isaac Newton invented the telescope in 1668. His invention included both a concave mirror and a flat secondary mirror in his telescope to aid in magnification. -
Founding of Charlestown
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King Phillip's War
Fought between English settlers and the surrounding Native Americans in southern New England, King Phillip's War resulted in the decimation of several native tribes and ruined Native American relationships with English settlers. -
Pennsylvania Colony Established
The Pennsylvania colony was established by William Penn in 1682. Penn was a Quaker and he desired for his colony to not be only a colony of unity, but of harmony as well. He desired Pennsylvania to act as a "City Upon a Hill". -
Creation of the Dominion of New England
James II created the Dominion of New England in 1686 to have a stricter hold and administration over the colonies. The dominion consisted of New Jersey, New York colonies, and the New England colonies. -
Decree of Sanctuary Issued by the Spanish King
Issued by the Spanish King in 1693, the Decree of Sanctuary allowed escaped laborers to gain freedom if they swore an oath of loyalty to Spain and converted to Catholicism.