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Founding of Jamestown, England's First Successful American Colony
Jamestown, Virginia, the first of England's successful colonies in North America, was made successful by the leadership of Captain John Smith and the entrepreneurial spirit of John Rolfe, who brought tobacco to the colony, making a profit for the London based Joint Stock Company that funded the colony. -
The Virginia House of Burgesses Holds Its First Democratic Meeting
Virginia Colonists created the colonies' first Representative Assembly, the House of Burgesses, while in New England, the leaders of Puritanism, like Thomas Hooker, believed the free consent of the governed gave government its authority and Carolina wrote its own Fundamental Constitution. -
Blacks Arrive at Jamestown
To work their tobacco fields, colonists in Virginia buy 20 blacks from a Dutch ship that arrives for supplies.
In the English Colonies, Jamestown was the first to bring in black slaves, but slave could earn his freedom, as Anthony Johnson did and get out of slavery. -
Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims in Massachusetts have a meal with the Wompanoag chieftain, Massasoit, and more than ninety of his warriors. The Pilgrims have been struggling and are thankful. The day is to be celebrated in the United States as Thanksgiving. -
Rene Descartes Philosophy
Works by the philosopher, mathematician and scientist Rene Descartes have entered Dutch universities. Descartes rejects relying on authorities regarding idea. He advocates disciplined philosophical argumentation integrated with physical science. -
Discovery of Cells
Extensive use of the microscope has begun. Robert Hooke, an English natural philosopher, finds in cork and live plants what he calls cells. -
Metacom Leads "King Philip's War"
King Philip's War, led by Metacom, the Wampanoag chief also known as King Philip, was one of many wars by the English colonies at Jamestown and Plymouth Plantation against Native Americans, including the Pequot War in 1636. It took place in southern New England from 1675 to 1676. It was the Native Americans' last-ditch effort to avoid recognizing English authority and stop English settlement on their native lands. -
Isaac Newton presents his Principia, Book I, to the Royal Society.
He is changing how people see the world, replacing the magic of the gods with an understanding of gravity, inertia and physical force and counter force. -
Parliament creates a Bill of Rights and the Toleration Act.
Freedom of speech is guaranteed. People have the right to petition government. They are to be free from cruel and unusual punishments. They are not to be compelled to become members of the Church of England.