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Period: to
1600-1700
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Jamestown
Jamestown is established as the first English Settlement in North America. The trip to America, led by John Smith and John Rolfe, was made possible by three ships: the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery. -
Tobacco
John Rolfe ships the very first cargo of tobacco to England. -
African American Slaves
The first group of African-American slaves were brought to Jamestown. This was a prelude to a revolutionary movement, concerning slavery and slave rights. Also in 1619, the first legislative assembly met in Jamestown, Virginia. -
Mayflower Arrival
The pilgrims arrive in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. The Mayflower arrived on this day with 102 passengers, after a gruesome 66 day trip. -
Harvard University Founded
Harvard University is founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion begins, about 1,000 Virginians disagree strongly with Governor William Berkeley’s kindness towards Native Americans. -
Dominion of New England Formed
The Dominion of New England is formed, combining the colonies of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire into one collective colony. In 1688, the Dominion of New England expanded to New York and New Jersey. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution takes place in England, which involved William of Orange and Mary, the daughter of previous ruler King James II, to takeover. Once colonists heard of these events, they decided to revolt against government officials who were originally appointed by King James II. They did this because they realized they could make a difference in how their government was being run, they could have a representative democracy rather than being controlled under tyranny.