-
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus sailed the ocean blue
Columbus wanted to find a safe, short passage to Asia. Although this Genoese sea captain originally thought he had landed in the East Indies, he instead reached an island in the Bahamas, which is in the Caribbean Sea. Columbus encounterd what he called"los indios", or Indians, even though they were actually native people, who addressed themselves as the Taino. Nonetheless, Columbus claimed the land and named it San Salvador, or "Holy Savior". -
Jan 1, 1511
First enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas
Africans were brought to the Americas because they had experience in farming, were less likely to escape, were immune to diseases, and easy to find due to their skin color. They were used for cheap labor on plantations and farms. By this time, buying and selling these slaves in the Americas was known as the Atlantic slave trade, which became very successful. By the end of this massive enterprise, about 9,5 million slaves were transported to the Americas. -
Aug 13, 1521
Cortés conquers Aztec Empire
Hernan Cortés went to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, in search of gold. Montezuma, the king, gave it to him thinking he was a god. Even when supplied a lot of gold, Cortés was not satisfied. He told Montezuma he had a disease that only gold could cure. Montezuma willingly shared their gold supply with the Spaniards. During a spring festival, Cortés' men killed many Aztec warriors and the Aztecs rebelled. However, Cortés and his men struck back and conquered the Aztecs. -
Aug 29, 1533
Pizarro conquers Incan Empire
Pizarro and Atahualpa were going to meet near the city of Cajamarca. For the meeting, Atahualpa brought several thousand men, mostly unarmed, and because of this the Spaniards ambushed them and kidnapped Atahualpa. For his release, Atahualpa offered to fill a room with gold and two others with silver. However, after they received the money the Spanish strangled the Incan king. The rest of the Incan force retreated and Pizarro marched on the Incan capital, Cuzco, and conquered it easily. -
English found Jamestown
In 1606, a company of London investors were given a charter from King James to find a colony in North America. Four months later, they claimed the coast of Virginia and named the land Jamestown in honor of King James himself. -
English found Plymouth
A group of people commonly known as Pilgrims founded Plymouth. Around 1630, aa group known as Puritans sought religious freedom from England's Anglican Church. They were aided by a Native American tribe. They made an agreement with the chief which ensured the colony's success. -
French and Indian War ends
The French and Indian War began over a dispute for Ohio Valley. This war was a part of an even bigger war called the Seven Years' War. The French and British were fighting for power in North America. British colonists, with the aid of their army, defeated the French in 1763. The French gave up the land they claimed in North America as a result of the war. England seized control of the east half of North America.
