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Roanoke
The English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh founded Roanoke. The first group there suffered from a lack of food and Indian attacks. They went back to England in 1586. In 1587, another group was sent out, led by John White. He went back to England to get more supplies, but the war with Spain delayed his return 3 years. In 1590 he returned and the colony was gone. This is why Roanoke is referred to as the lost colony.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roanoke-colony-deserted -
Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia was the first permanent English settlement. It was financed by the Virginia Company. About 105 colonists left England, led by Christopher Newport. They landed at Chesapeake Bay. The new land was very different. It was marshy and humid. The first years were very difficult because no one wanted to work, but John Smith changed this. He had the philosophy that those who didn't work, wouldn't eat. https://www.britannica.com/place/Jamestown-Colony -
House of Burgesses
The first meeting was on July 30th, 1619. Governor George Yeardly arrived in Virginia and brought with him the news that The Virginia Company voted to make a legislative assembly. It was the first of the colonies. The first meeting was in a church in Jamestown. Only white men who owned land could vote for the House of Burgesses.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/2f.asp -
The Great Migration
The Puritans left England to flee from religious persecution. There was a lot of hostility toward them.They boarded a ship called the Mayflower in September, and by November, they had landed in Massachusetts. They developed the Plymouth Colony. It consisted of only a few hundred pilgrims, but in the next decade, thousands of Puritans migrated.
http://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-great-puritan-migration/ -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was a set of rules for self-government that the Pilgrims established to govern their colony in Massachusetts. 41 male colonists (included 2 indentured servants) signed the document. It set rules for the people of the colony, to ensure society would run smoothly. It was an early attempt at democracy, and would inspire future government. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower-compact -
New York
New York was first settled by the Dutch in 1614. It was named New Netherland at this time. In 1626, officials of the Dutch West India Company founded New Amsterdam, which became New York. The English took over the colony in 1664, and Charles II gave the colony to the Duke of York, James. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/new-york-colony -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
It was founded by investors of the Massachusetts Bay Company, and many of the colonists were Puritans. They wanted to get away from persecution and "purify" the Church of England. Governor John Winthrop was the leader. The Massachusetts Bay Colony quickly became a very influential, and its forms of government inspired the governments of other New England colonies. http://thehistoryjunkie.com/massachusetts-bay-colony/ -
Maryland
Lord Baltimore and George Calvert were given a charter from King Charles I in 1632. In 1633, the first settlers set sail. It was to be a home for English Catholics. It was named in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria.
https://original13colonies.weebly.com/maryland.html -
Rhode Island
Roger Williams founded this colony. He was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, so he founded his own colony with no religious persecution. He bought the land from Native Americans. In 1638, Anne Hutchison was also banned and came to help develop Rhode Island.
https://original13colonies.weebly.com/rhode-island.html -
Connecticut
The English gained possession of the colony over the Dutch. It was a place for Puritan noblemen. Thomas Hooker led settlers to the bank of the Connecticut River and established Hartford. Many principals of the government there influenced future government including the Declaration of Independence. http://thehistoryjunkie.com/connecticut-colony-facts/ -
Maryland Toleration Act
This law was passed to require religious tolerance. It gave freedom to Christians to practice their religion. It was passed by the Assembly of the Maryland Colony in St. Mary's City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Toleration_Act -
Carolina
Carolina consisted of both North and South Carolina until the two were officially separated in 1719. Nathaniel Batts was the earliest permanent settler in this colony. Virginia settlers are the people who founded Carolina. It was classified as a Southern colony. It had religious freedom, and its government favored large land ownership.
https://www.landofthebrave.info/north-carolina-colony.htm
https://www.thoughtco.com/colonial-governments-of-the-thirteen-colonies-104595 -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon led the Virginia settlers in rebellion against the Governor, William Berkeley. There were many causes for this rebellion. Bacon was refused to fur trade with the Indians, political challenges, and the Doeg Indian attacks were among the causes. Berkeley was doing nothing to help the colonists. 100 Virginians rose up against the governor, attacking Indians, chasing him from the town, and setting the capital on fire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon%27s_Rebellion -
Pennsylvania
William Penn founded this state. King Charles II granted him the charter. It was named after William Penn's father, Admiral Sir William Penn. The colony was dominated by the Quaker religion, but other religious beliefs were accepted. The colony was also friendly with Native Americans. http://www.softschools.com/facts/13_colonies/pennsylvania_colony_facts/2048/ -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect was a British policy that allowed colonists to go against the trade laws in place. It lasted from the 1690s to the 1760s because there was no way of proper enforcement. The British attempted to reverse this policy to raise taxes to help pay the debts from the French and Indian War, which led to Revolution and other events of that nature.
https://www.landofthebrave.info/salutary-neglect.htm -
Salem Witch Trials
The trials began when a group of girls were said to be possessed and accused a number of women of witchcraft. Chaos ensued, and a court was developed to hear the cases. 19 were hanged at Salem's Gallow Hills, and about 150 other men, women, and children were accused.
https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening or Enlightenment was a spiritual renewal that swept through the colonies. People expressed more emotion to become more intimate with God. It divided many churches as some supported a revival and some did not. http://www.ushistory.org/us/7b.asp -
French-Indian War
This was part of a larger conflict between France and Great Britain. There was tension in North America over both countries' desire to expand. France and native American allies were against Great Britain, American colonists, and the Iroquois Confederacy. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763 when French and Spanish diplomats wanted peace. Great Britain gained territory, but it brought trouble to the colonies.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/french-indian-war -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan of Union tried to form the union of the colonies under one government. It was introduced by Benjamin Franklin. Commissioners from 7 colonies met to create a plan. It was submitted on June 28, and the final version was adopted on July 10th. The plan was not carried out. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan -
Proclamation of 1763
At the end of the French and Indian War, this proclamation was issued by the British. It was to conciliate the Indians by checking the settlers taking their land. The British Empire began taking more control over the colonies. https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of
