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Oct 6, 1492
Colombus sailed the ocean blue
Important because Colombus opened up the new world for all of Europe -
Oct 6, 1511
First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas
Significant because it begins the disease-ridden, population decreasing, unpleasant Slave Trade process in which millions of Africans are taken from their homes. -
Oct 6, 1521
Cortes conquers Aztec Empire
Cortes manages to conquer the Aztec empire with few men and mostly wit. A translator, Malinche, is probably the most important traitor; she helped convince other groups to join in the fight against the Aztecs and translate between the Europeans and the Native Americans -
Oct 6, 1533
Pizarro conquers Incan Empire
Pizarro manages to capture Atahualpa despite the many safety precautions the ruler took. No Europeans died. He uses horses to kill the messengers relaying the message that Atahualpa was abducted and then demands gold and silver for his release. In the end, being the jerk European he was, Pizarro decides to strangle Atahaulpa. -
English found Jamestown
Significant event because Jamestown was the first surviving English colony. At first, everybody struggled because they were too focused on gold and didn't spend any time thinking about food and agriculture, causing lots of people to die of starvation. After a while they hit their stride and became successful farmers. -
English found Plymouth
Pilgrims went from Europe to the Americas trying to escape religious persecution and before they get off the ship sign the Mayflower compact. The compact basically establishes their government and says that they have decided that instead of going to North Carolina they would go to Massachussets. -
French and Indian War ends
A war between the British and the French. Indians fight on both sides, but the Spanish fight alongside the French. British gain a lot of land, including Florida from Spain, and the war probably caused the great increase of British power and presence in the Americas.