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First Colonists Arrive in America
The first 105 colonists sent by the London Company arrived in America. -
The Founding of Jamestown
40 miles up the James River in Virginia, the colonists founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. -
Mayflower Compact
41 of the male passengers on the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact, a legal contract in which they agreed to have fair laws to protect the general good. -
Powhatan Leader Killed
Colonists killed a Powhatan leader and the Powhatan responded by attacking the Virginia settlers later that year. -
Company's Charter Cancelled
Since the London Company could not protect its colonists, the English Crown canceled the company's charter. -
The Toleration Act of 1649
Lord Baltimore presented a bill to the colonial assembly that became known as the Toleration Act of 1649. This bill made it illegal to restrict the religious rights of Christians.. -
Bacon's Rebellion
A group of indentured servants led by Nathaniel Bacon attacked some friendly American Indians. Bacon thought that the colonists should be able to take the Indians' land. When the governor tried to stop him, Bacon and his followers attacked and burned Jamestown. -
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The Great Awakening
This was a religious movement that swept through the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. -
Stamp Act of 1765
This act required the colonists of the American colonies to pay a tax when they bought any paper items. -
The Boston Massacre
When angry group of colonists and a lone British soldier crossed paths, the soldier fired into the crowd and killed three men. -
The Boston Tea Party
Colonists disguised as Native Americans snuck onto three tea-filled ships and dumped over 340 tea chests into the Boston Harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
There were four parts of the Intolerable Acts. First, the Boston Harbor was closed until Boston paid for the ruined tea. Second, the Massachusetts charter was canceled and the governor decided if and when the legislature could meet. Third, royal officials accused of crimes were sent to Britain for trial which allowed them to face a more friendly judge and jury. Fourth, the colonists were required to house British soldiers. -
The Declaration of Independence
This document announced the disbanding of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain. This was the final step in separation and Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft. The Declaration of Independence tells about three simple ideas: God created all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the main job of the government is to defend these rights and the people are free to set up a new government.