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Establishment of Jamestown
In 1607, the settlement of Jamestown was established as the first European Settlement in North America. Founded by the British, Jamestown is the oldest city in America -
Establishment of Santa Fe
In 1610, Spanish colonizers officially established Santa Fe. The second oldest city in America but the first permanent European settlement in the Southwest -
Establishment of New Amsterdam
In 1614, the Dutch West India Company established New Amsterdam and "purchased" Manhattan from the native tribe. -
First Democratic Meeting in Americas
In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses meets and officially creates the continents first representative assembly -
First African Slaves Arrive in the Americas
In August of 1619, an estimated 30 slaves arrived in Hampton Virginia, and were offered in exchange for supplies -
Mayflower Lands in Massachusetts
In 1620, the Mayflower landed in modern-day Massachusetts. Before disembarking the ship, settlers wrote a set of rules known as the "Mayflower compact" which is the first set of rules and government established in the Americas -
First Thanksgiving
In 1621, settlers were in dire need of assistance with agriculture and general survival from the land. Former slave Squanto assisted and settlers celebrated with the inaugural "Thanksgiving" -
Maryland is Established
In 1632, a 12 million acre tract of land was set aside for English Catholics fleeing persecution in the mainland -
New Amsterdam Becomes New York
In the summer of 1664, British convoys sailed to New Amsterdam to take the colony for themselves. Shortly thereafter, the Dutch surrendered the land to the British and it was then renamed, New York. -
Establishment of Pennsylvania
In 1681, William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania as a haven for religious puritans know as the Quakers and based the colony on religious tolerance -
The French Claim Louisiana Territory
In 1682, Robert LaSalle claimed the Louisiana territory for France with large plans for the port of New Orleans -
Salem Witch Trials
In 1693, the Salem Witch Trials took hold of Salem Massachusetts with men and women being tried as witches with no real evidence. Due to the paranoia, many of these people were executed or died in prison. This became a bookmark in the future of United States law proceedings to avoid similar tragedies.
