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1557
Roanoke
Roanoke was the first British Settlement led by John White. His grandchild Virginia White was the first child born in the Americas. White left and returned back to England to gather more supplies. When he returned no one was left. The only clue to them being there was the word CRO carved into a tree. A storm prevented a search. It is believed the colony moved to Hatteras Island but they have never been officially found. https://www.britannica.com/story/the-lost-colony-of-roanoke -
James Town
100 members of the Virginia company of London which was a joint stock company founded the first permanent English settlement in North America on the banks of the James River. The colonists were there for gold and didn't focus on settling because of this the starving times occurred and many people died. Through the leadership of John Smith the colony began to flourish due to the growth of tobacco, a cash crop. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/jamestown
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House of Burgesses
The House of Burgess's was a representative assembly in Colonial Virginia established by Governor George Yeardley at James Town until 1700 when it moved to Williamsburg VA. The assembly consisted of the governor, Virginia Company, and 2 elected Burgess's from each colony. The House granted supplies, passed laws, and gave right to revise and veto laws. https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Burgesses -
Mayflower, Mayflower Compact, and Plymouth Colony
In 1620, pilgrims known as separatists traveled to the Americas in search of religious freedom. They boarded the Mayflower and traveled to Cape Code where they formed the Plymouth Colony. Before landing the pilgrims established the Mayflower Compact as the colonies form of self government. John Carver was the overseer of the colony. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower-compact
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Colony of New York
After Henry Hudson's explorations in New York, (then called New Netherlands) The Dutch East India Company organized colonization. Manhattan was purchased with 24 dollars worth of jewelry from the Natives and that is where New York City was established. From 1652-1674 the Dutch and British fought 3 Naval Wars. The British finally claimed the land and it was renamed for the Duke of York. https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/NY1.html
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Great Migration
English citizens migrated to New England to escape religious persecution. Some were Puritans meaning they wanted to "purify" The Church of England. The others were Separatists meaning they wanted to break away from the Church of England entirely which was an act of treason. The Mayflower Pilgrims were the first people to start this migration. https://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-great-puritan-migration/ -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony is a charter colony granted by King Charles I. 1000 puritan refuges under the control of John Winthrop settled there. The laws that governed the colony were tied to the beliefs of the Puritan Church. Any non-puritan or dissenters where fined, publicly humiliated, and executed or banished. Banished dissenters formed other New England colonies. https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts-Bay-Colony
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Maryland Colony
The Maryland Colony was established by Lord Baltimore as a safe haven for English Catholics fleeing persecution in Europe. St. Mary's City was the first settlement and it was built along the Chesapeake Bay. It was the first settlement to declare religious freedom for all Trinitarian Christians. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-the-maryland-colony-103875 -
Rhode Island Colony
The colony of Rhode Island was made up 5 separate combined groups. Most had been banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony for being dissenters. They also attracted persecuted groups such as Jews and Quakers. Roger Williams was the sole founder. The colony abolished witchcraft trials, imprisonment for debt, most capital punishment and enslavement by 1652. https://www.thoughtco.com/rhode-island-colony-103880 -
Colony of Connecticut
Connecticut was a New England Colony founded by Thomas Hooker and based on landownership.Connecticut means "river whose water is driven by tides or winds. Its major industries are wheat, corn, and fish. Connecticut's significance is The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which was the first written constitution in North America. https://www.landofthebrave.info/connecticut-colony.htm
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Maryland Toleration Act
The Maryland Toleration Act granted religious freedom to all Christians living in Maryland. The law made blasphemy a crime punishable by death and provided for honoring the Sabbath. It is significant because it leads to the First Amendment in regards to religious freedom. https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/868/maryland-toleration-act-of-1649 -
The Carolinas
The Carolina's were settled by 8 supporters of King Charles II. They profited from cash crops such as tobacco, indigo and rice. These crops are labor intensive and utilized African Slaves. In 1729, Carolina became a royal colony and was split into a north and a south. NOTES -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was led by Nathanial Bacon and a group of unauthorized militia in response to attacks on settlers by local natives. The Governor of Virginia, William Berkley, and his army gathered to stop Bacon due to Berkley's policy that was suppose to maintain friendship between the natives and the settlers. Bacon's Rebellion is significant because it is the first acts of revolution which will lead to the Revolutionary War. https://historyplex.com/bacons-rebellion-causes-effects
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Pennsylvania
William Penn, a Quaker, was granted a charter by King Charles II to establish the colony of Pennsylvania. It was established as a "holy experiment". In the colony, every male settler received 50 acres and the right to vote. Many Quakers traveled to Pennsylvania to escape persecution. NOTES -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect is when Britain allowed the colonies to self govern. During this time, the colonists violated trade laws. To reverse this, Britain raised taxes to repay war debt from French and Indian War. This lead to events such as the Boston Tea Party and later, the American Revolutionary War. https://www.landofthebrave.info/salutary-neglect.htm -
Salem Witch Trials
Girls in Salem Village claim to be possessed by the devil. This caused mass hysteria when they accused several local women of witchcraft. The first convicted was Bridget Bishop who was hung and 18 others followed. Over the months, 150 others were also accused. "Symptoms" of bewitchment included fits of violent contortions and uncontrollable screams which were later linked to fungus ergot in the wheat and rye. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials -
Great Awakening and Enlightenment
The Great Awakening was a religious revival. Major themes include people are born sinners, sin without salvation leads to eternal damnation, and all can be saved if they confess and seek forgiveness in God. The great awakening is important because it influenced the revolutionary war by encouraging nationalism and individual rights. https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/great-awakening -
French and Indian War
This war was between France and Great Britain to determine who would control the colonial territory of North America. The argument was over who controlled the upper Ohio River Valley. The French surrendered after British victory at the Battle of Quebec and they signed the of the Treaty of Paris. France gave up territory in the Americas and Canada. Now that French enemies are gone the colonist conspire to over throw Great Britain. https://www.britannica.com/event/French-and-Indian-War -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan's purpose was to unite the North American colonies under a centralized government due to the French and Indian War on the horizon. Benjamin Franklin heads the unification by promoting the phrase "Join or Die." 7 colonies agreed to adopt the plan while the others refused. The proposal was never carried out but still important because it served as a model for future attempts at Unification. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1762 was issued by Britain at the end of the French and Indian War to appease native Americans by stopping trespassing on there lands. It created a boundary known as the Proclamation Line which shields natives from attacks by white settlers. But, the colonists denied this rule to gain good farm land. https://www.ushistory.org/us/9a.asp
