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Jan 1, 1492
Columbus sailed the ocean blue
Christopher Columbus tried to find a route from Europe to the East Indies but instead landed on a Carribean Island. He claimed all of the islands he found for Spain. -
Jan 1, 1511
First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas
Because Africans had experience in farming and dark colored skin, they were favored over the natives to be used as slaves. Around 300,000 slaves were brought to the Americas between 1500 and 1600. -
Jan 1, 1521
Cortés conquers Aztec Empire
Hernando Cortes sailed to Mexico to conquer it for Spain. He and his 600 men reached Tenochitlan and were mistaken for gods. When the conquistadors began killing the Aztecs, they rebelled. The Spanish overpowered them due to superior weaponry, disease, and other native groups that did not like the Aztecs. -
Jan 1, 1533
Pizarro conquers Incan Empire
Francisco Pizarro's army ambushed the Incan ruler, Atahualpa, and a few thousand of his men during a meeting and kidnapped Atahualpa. After receiving ransom from the Incan ruler, they killed him and captured the Incans. -
English found Jamestown
The English decided to also make colonies in America and sailed to Virginia. They calimed it and called the settlement Jamestown after King James. -
English found Plymouth
The Pilgrims made a second colony that they called Plymouth. They ventured for religious freedom. -
French and Indian War ends
The French and some Native American groups fought the British over land. The British won and took all of the French colonies.