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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
On this date Columbus arrived in the Caribbean. He claims Hispaniola for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas. All unclaimed lands west of the agreed upon dividing line belonged to Spain. All unclaimed lands to the east belonged to Portugal. -
Jan 12, 1513
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Vasco Nunez de Balboa becomes the first European to discover the New World by way of the Pacific Ocean. He traveled across the isthmus of Panama. Balboa claims all lands that touch the Pacific Ocean for Spain. -
Aug 29, 1533
Pizarro crushes Incas
Pizarro gains support from king Charles to invade Peru. He leads his army up the Andes during the Civil war between the Atahuallpa and his brother. He ambushes and defeats the Incas and forces Atahuallpa to surrender. -
Sep 8, 1565
St. Augustine
St. Augustine was founded by Spanish admiral, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. It is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the United States. -
Jan 1, 1570
Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois Confederacy was a political entity comprised of several Native tribes in response to colinization by Europeans. It occupied most of the Northeast region of the United states. -
Roanoke Colony
Sir Walter Raleigh establishes the colony of Roanoke. It was the first English settlement in the New World. Several colonists made a trip back to Europe for supplies, and upon their return, the colony was devoid of life. There are still speculations as to what happened to the remaining colonists. -
Virginia Company Founded at Jamestown
Jamestown becomes the first permanent English Settlement in the Americas. The settlers were under constant attack from the native Powhatan Indians. It was founded by the Virginia Company, an early,English joint-stock company. -
Spanish Found New Mexico
Juan de Oñate founds the New Mexico colony in 1609. The colony undergoes several attacks from the surrounding Pueblo Indians. Popé's Rebellion was successful in driving out the Spanish. -
First Africans arrive in Jamestown
Due to the increase in tobacco production, slaves were needed to tend the plantations. Natives Americans were too susceptible to disease, so African slaves were imported from Barbados. -
Maryland Colony Founded
Lord Baltimore founds the colony of Maryland. He gathered wealthy Aristocratic Catholic Families from England to form a colony in the Americas. The colony was based on religious tolerance to All Christian denominations. -
Barbados Slave Code
The Barbados slave code denied even the most basic rights to African slaves. Under the code, slaves were considered property, not people. This lays the basis for the harsh treatment of African slaves. -
Carolina Colony
King Charles issues land to eight English Nobles. The colony soon become a large producer of rice and tobacco. -
Carolina Separates into North and South
North and South Carolina Separate to to vast differences between the colonies. The two colonies developed several political and economic difference and soon developed separate governments. -
Georgia Colony Founded
James Oglethorpe establishes the Georgia Colony as a buffer colony to protect from invasions. The carolinas were under constant threat from the French in Louisiana and the Spanish in Florida.
