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Jamestown was established
Three ships were sent to America in 1606. They reached Chesapeake bay in 1607. The colonists on the ships wanted to avoid Spanish raiders so they settled inland along the James river, named after their kind. They named their settlement James Fort, but it would later be renamed Jamestown. -
Headright
In 1618, Edwin Sandy’s became head of the Virginia Company. His new innovation was launching a new headright(land grant). This made it that any Englishmen who bought shares in the company and could pay for their passage to Virginia would get 50 acres of land when they arrived and 50 more for every servant they brought. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was created by the Virginia company. It was modeled after parliament and would meet at least once a year to make laws and decide in taxes. It represented the first experiment with representing government in the American colonies -
Massachusetts Bay Founded
The Puritans established the colony of Massachusetts Bay. They wanted to Purify the church or England and return with an improved religion. That was why Puritans left, because they didn’t agree with the church and wanted to practice there own faith. -
Pequot War
Settlers in Massachusetts accused a Pequot of murder ing a colonist and took revenge by setting fire to their village and king everyone who ran out. When the chief came to counterattack, the colonists and their allies killed hundreds of Pequots. Around 900 Indians were killed or taken prisoner. -
Toleration Act was written
Cecilius Calvert wrote the Toleration Act hoping to help keep from loosing his colony to the puritans. The act stated that all Christian’s were welcome regardless of there denomination, but promised to execute anyone who denied Jesus. -
King Philips War
The Indians went on a rampage killing and mutilating many people because they didn’t want to recognize English authority. The colonies ended up conscripting laws, drafting into militia all males between 16 and 60. The war was named after the chief of the Wampanoags. -
The Pueblo Revolt
The Indians resented the Spanish for taking away their ancestral way of life. An Indian named Popé organized a rebellion of warriors and then went and burned Catholic Churches, executed 21 priests and 400 Spanish settlers, and forced 2400 survivors to flee. This revolt was the most significant defeat the Indians ever inflicted on European efforts to conquer the new world. -
Pennsylvania Founded
William Penn inherited a large amount of land when his father passed away. The king wanted him to make this land a place for Quakers and and other religions. He wanted them out of England. The colony was bigger than England and it was named after Penns father. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch trials commenced in 1692. A group of young girls who spent time with a fortune teller claimed to be having terrible visions and that they were being tormented. They accused 3 women, calling them Satans servants. Two of the women were hanged after naming other supposed witches, leading to more accusations. Many people died because they were very religious and not willing to say they were in league with Satan. The witchcraft frenzy ended a little over a year after it began.