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Under a charter from the King of Spain, members of the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church construct missions in Hopi and other tribal regions in modern-day Arizona and New Mexico.
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With the foundation of the Cuttyhunk Colony, Bartholomew Gosnold aims to settle New England for Great Britain.
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Three ships arrive in Jamestown, creating the first English colony in North America. There are 103 settlers in total. Captain John Smith is appointed to the ruling council upon his arrival.
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Juan Martinez de Montoya establishes Santa Fe, the second oldest Spanish town in North America.
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King James version of the Bible published for the first time.
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The smallpox pandemic kills 90% of the Native Americans in the Massachusetts Bay region.
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The Puritans arrive at Plymouth and begin to settle. They construct the Mayflower Compact, which creates a governance and legal framework. Half of the colonists would perish the next winter. The settlement site had previously been the location of an Indian town that had been wiped out by a disease in 1617.
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The very first Thanksgiving is conducted in the fall between the Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe, who assisted them in settling and planting the colony's territory.
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Maryland passes the Maryland Toleration Act, allowing freedom of religion.
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The first in a series of Navigation Acts is passed by the English Parliament, prohibiting the use of anything other than English ships in commerce with its colonies.
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King Philip's War begins in New England, with Metacom Indian soldiers assaulting colonial towns owing to land infringement. Considered the most expensive war in terms of people for European settlements, with Indian victory during the first year interrupted later when their coalitions broke apart. Twelve settlements were destroyed.
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The Indian War, often known as King Philip's War, between the Confederation of New England tribes and New England colonists comes to a conclusion.
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The burning of Jamestown is caused by Bacon's Rebellion. Nathanial Bacon leads the planter insurrection against Governor Berkeley. Bacon would be executed, along with twenty-three others.
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The Boston uprising against Dominion of New England governor Sir William Andros results in his dismissal.
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William Penn, the head of the Pennsylvania colony, devises a scheme for intercolonial cooperation, the first colonial proposal for uniting colonies into a single nation, which influences the formulation of the Constitution.
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After the statehouse is burnt in 1698, the colonial administration relocates to Middle Plantation, which is shortly renamed Williamsburg.