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Jamestown Established
The first English permanent settlement in America is established in Virginia. About 103 settlers. John Smith Captain. -
Pocahontas Marries John Rolfe
Pocahontas, who saved John Smith from death, marries John Rolfe and in doing so helped maintain peace between Indians and settlers for eight years. -
Smallpox Kills 90%
A smallpox epidemic wipes out about 90% of the Native Americans living in the Massachusetts Bay area. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses is the first representative assembly and it is held in Jamestown. -
First slaves arrive
Just a month after the representative assembly (House of Burgesses) meets, the first slaves from Africa arrive in Jamestown. -
Mayflower Compact
Puritans begin establishing Plymouth settlement and form the Mayflower compact in order to have government and legal structure. -
First Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe took place because the tribe had aided the Pilgrims in settleing and plating in their new land. -
Providence, Rhode Island Founded
After being banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony, Roger Williams founded Providence, Rhode Island. -
Treaty of Hartford
A war between the Mass., Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies against the Pequot tribe broke out and ended with the Treaty of Hartford, despite the fact that all but 200 of the Pequot tribe remained. -
General Assembly of Rhode Island Constitution
This document is drafted allowing initiatives in legislation and public referendums while keeping values of separating church and state. -
Slavery Legalized
Begins in Connecticut but recognized in all the colonies. -
King Philip's War
King Philip's war begins in New England. Indian forces attack colonial settlements. Although the Indians were successful for the first year, this ended when their alliances fell apart afterwards. -
Pennsylvania Colony
This colony is established by William Penn when he signs a treat with Delaware Indians and pays for the lands. -
Plymouth Colony Joins Massachusetts Bay Colony
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Jamestown Abandoned
Statehouse is burned in 1698 and the colonial government moves to Middle Plantation, now known as Williamsburg.