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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Columbus lands in the Bahamas. He believed that he had found the new water route to the Indies. -
Sep 27, 1513
Land Claimed by Balboa
Vasco Nuñez Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean off of Panama. He claimed all the lands that were touched by the Pacific Ocean for Spain. -
Aug 13, 1521
The Surrender of Tenochtitlán
Hernán Cortés's troops and allies were essentially at war with the people of Tenochtitlán. The Aztec empire gave way to three centuries of Spanish rule when they surrender on August 13, 1521 to the Cortés's troops. The capital of Tenochtitlán was destroyed to make room for the Christian Cathedrals that were built on the site of the ruins. -
Jul 8, 1524
Verrazano explores eastern seaboard of North America for France
Giovanni da Verrazano was sent by the French king to search for a passage west, through the North American continent. -
Nov 15, 1532
Pizarro Crushes Incas
In South America, Francisco Pizarro crushed the Icas of Peru. This added a huge amount of treasures to the Spanish coffers. -
Apr 20, 1534
Cartier discovers St. Lawrence River
Jacques Cartier wanted to find a western passage to Asia. He sailed up the St. Lawrence River. -
Sep 28, 1542
Cabrillo Explores for Spain
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was exploring the Caliornia Coast and failed to find San Francisco or San Diego Bay. -
Sep 8, 1565
Spanish build fortress at St. Augustine
The Spanish wanted to block the French approachment, so they began to settle and outline their North American borderlands. Spanish build fortress at St. Augustine as a movement to protect the sea-lanes to the Caribbean. -
Raleigh founds Roanoke colony
Sir Walter Raleigh organized an expedition that landed on North Carolina's Roanoke Island, off the coast of Virginia. The colony started out as 108 soldiers and a few years later, it disappeared. -
Battle of Acoma
The Spaniards led by Don Juan de Oñate, cruelly abused the Pueblo peoples they encountered by cutting off one foot of each survivor. They claimed the area to be New Mexico. -
Virginia Colony Founded at Jamestown
Most of the English colonists were too driven for their desire for gold to even prepare for their essential needs to survive. Many colonists had died from malnutrition and starvation. -
The First Anglo-Powhatan War
Lord De La Warr carries orders out to a declaration of war against the Indians. His troops burnt Indian houses and cornfields. They also took their supplies. -
Maryland Colony Founded
It was the fourth English colony to be established. Lord Baltimore wanted to create a refuge for other Catholics. -
Second Anglo Powhatan War
The Indians tired once more to remove the Virginians from their land, but they were defeated again. -
Act of Toleration in Maryland
The act guaranteed toleration to all Christians It gave the dealth penatly for Jews, atheists, and whoever denied the divinity of Jesus. -
Barbados Slave Code Adopted
It gave no rights to slaves and allowed their masters complete control of their slaves. Masters were able to violently punish their slaves for even the smallest infraction. -
Carolina Colony Created
Carolina was named for Charles II after he granted the expansion of wilderness ribboning across the continent to the Pacific. -
Tuscarora War
The North Carolinas aided by other colonies of the south defeated the Tuscarora Indians in battle. They sold hundreds of them into slavery. -
Yamasee War
The South Carolinas defeated the Yamasee Indians, which marked that virtually all the Indian coastal tribes were almost destroyed. -
Georgia Colony Founded
It was the last colony to be founded out of the original thirteen colonies. Georgia was intended to be a buffering colony, because of its location as the southernmost English colony. It was meant to protect the other English colonies from Spanish colonies such as Florida.
