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The English set sail for America
English men set sail for America on three ships: The Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery. They planned to start a settlement. The Virginia Company funded the trip and the settlement (Stebbins 2016). Stebbins, S. J. (2016, February 26). A Short History of Jamestown. Retrieved December 8, 2019, from https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/a-short-history-of-jamestown.htm. -
The English Establishes Jamestown
104 men and boys landed in North America. On May 13, they named their colony Jamestown, honoring King James I. Jamestown is England's first permanent settlement in North America (Stebbins 2016). Stebbins, S. J. (2016, February 26). A Short History of Jamestown. Retrieved December 8, 2019, from https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/a-short-history-of-jamestown.htm. -
Henry Hudson Discovers the Hudson River
The Dutch East India Company funded Henry Hudson's voyage to find a Northeast passageway to Asia. Hudson's ships were blocked by ice, so he turned around. He tried to find a Northwest passage to Asia instead. During his search, he entered a river in present-day New York. He sailed 150 miles down the river. This river was named the Hudson River ("Henry Hudson"). Henry Hudson. (n.d.). Retrieved 8 November, 2019, from https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org/subject/henry-hudson/. -
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Jamestown Colonists Struggle to Survive
The colony was struggling with disease and starvation. Also, they could not find a reliable crop that they could grow and ship back to England ("John Rolfe"). John Rolfe. (n.d.). Retrieved 8 December 2019, from https://historicjamestowne.org/history/pocahontas/john-rolfe/. -
Tobacco Saves Jamestown
John Rolfe sailed to Jamestown in 1609. John Rolfe planted tobacco from seeds he possibly acquired from Trinidad. He shared his crop with his friends, and many people started to grow it. The colony sent tobacco back to England. Tobacco saved Jamestown because the colony found its first reliable and profitable crop ("John Rolfe"). John Rolfe. (n.d.). Retrieved 8 December, 2019, from https://historicjamestowne.org/history/pocahontas/john-rolfe/. -
Slaves Arrive in Jamestown
A Spanish ship called the White Lion was carrying African slaves. The ship docked near Jamestown, and the sailors traded slaves for food. Slavery in English North America had begun. -
The Pilgrims Arrive
The Pilgrims were a group of radical Puritans from England seeking religious freedom. They wanted to separate from the church of England. Whereas, Puritans simply tried to "purify" the existing English church. They sailed to New England on a boat named the Mayflower. They established the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony is Founded
The Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The colony was very organized compared to the Plymouth Colony. The Puritans wanted to purify the church of England. They decided to sail to America. They wished to model a godly society for the world. John Winthrop explained that the colony should be like a city on a hill so that all may see how to live righteously. -
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King Philip's War
The Wampanoag Indians fought against the American colonists hoping that the colonists would stop stealing their land after the war. The Wampanoag leader, Philip, led multiple Indian tribes in the war including the Nipmucks, Pocumtucks, and Narragansetts. The Indians fought against the New England Confederation. An English man warned the colonists that the Indians were planning a war, but the colonists ignored him. The Indians killed the man who told the colonists about the plot. -
William Penn Establishes Pennslyvania
William Penn was persecuted for converting to the Quaker faith. King Charles II gave Penn a royal charter that allowed him to establish Pennslyvania. He wanted the new colony to be a haven for any religion.