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Roanoke
First British settlement in 1587. John White led the colonization of the island in Virginia. White returned to England to get more supplies but the Spanish Armada delayed him. 3 years later he returned to Roanoke to find the settlement deserted. All that was left was the word CROATOAN- a possible sign that they left to go live with the indians. It's still an unsolved mystery. (ALL INFO FROM NOTES) -
Jamestown
It was established in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London. The colony struggled at first because people refused to work and winter was bad. Only 38 of 150 settlers survived the first winter. John Smith then rose as the leader. In 1612 John Rolfe started growing tobacco, a major cash crop. Indentured servants and, eventually in 1619, slaves were brought in to work the fields. Despite John Rolfe's marriage to a Powhattan princess, the Natives killed 25% of the settlers in 1622. (from notes). -
Salutary Neglect
From 1609- 1763, Salutary Neglect was an unofficial British policy of avoiding British laws meant to keep colonies obedient. For example the Navigation Acts- forcing colonial exports and imports to pass through British ports- were often ignored. During this period colonial government grew shape and gained power. Britain tried to gain control over the colonies by continually taxing them, but it only fueled their desire for independence.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/salutary-neglect -
House of Burgesses
It was a British and the first popularly elected legislature in the New world. Established in Virginia in 1619, based on Parliament, members met with their royal governor at least annually to decided laws. Established by Governor George Yeardley, only white men who owned a specific amount of property could vote for Burgesses. Despite King James I best efforts to end it, the House of Burgesses gave colonists 157 years to practice democracy before independence. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/2f.asp) -
Mayflower/Plymouth/Mayflower Compact
In 1620, Pilgrims took the Mayflower over to Virginia- settling the Plymouth Colony. The first self government plan, the Mayflower Compact, was established for the colony. This plan allowed decisions to be made by the majority of the colony's men. After struggling the first winter, settlers gained help from Squanto and other natives. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest with the natives who helped them grow the food. This is now our modern thanksgiving. (from notes) -
Great Migration
1620 started the Great Migration with extreme Puritans founding the Plymouth Colony. In 1629, King Charles I dissolved Parliament- leading to even more persecution for English Puritans. Within the next 10 years, over 20,000 Puritans settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This migration was gifted the name "Great" because they sought a holier purpose in America. Their colonies, founded by stable families, remained successful.
https://www.greatmigration.org/new_englands_great_migration.html -
New York
In 1624, the Dutch settled this middle colony- New York. It was previously explored by Henry Hudson for the Dutch East India Company in 1611. Dutch landowners were given large amounts of land they could rent out to farmers to promote settlement. The British, in 1664, took over what was called New Netherlands and renamed it for the British Duke of York. (from notes) -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
In 1630, about 1,000 Puritans settled in Massachusetts with a charter from King James I. Their leader was Governor John Winthrop. Their laws were fully based on their religious beliefs. Non-Puritans (Dissenters) made up the majority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony by 1643. However, the Puritan church remained in charge. It became the most influential and largest English colony but became a royal colony in 1691.
(from notes) -
Maryland
Maryland was settled in 1632 as a proprietary colony by Lord Baltimore. It was meant to be a safe haven for persecuted Catholics. When Baltimore died, his son, Cecil, took over and granted 100 acres to each married couple that settled there. However, Protestants took advantage of the deal and the Toleration Act of 1694 gave religious freedom to all Christians living in Maryland.
(from notes) -
Rhode Island
In 1635, Rhode Island was settled by Roger Williams and his followers. After being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for speaking out against strict religious laws and the mistreatment of Native Americans he founded his own English Colony. Rhode Island was founded with no religious persecution of Christians.
(from notes) -
Connecticut
In 1636 Thomas Hooker settled Connecticut as a New England Colony. Along with this settlement came the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut- the first written constitution in North America. Also, Connecticut contrasted Massachusetts in that citizenship was based on land ownership and not religion. Connecticut resembled these ideals- the same ideas and values that an independent America would identify with.
(from notes) -
Maryland Toleration Act
Many colonies were formed by dissenters. One of these was Maryland- founded in 1634 for Catholics pursuing religious freedom. However, protestants and puritans eventually outnumbered the Catholics. To ensure their liberty, the Toleration Act of 1649 was passed- giving religious freedom to all Christians. This was a stepping stone to the characteristic religious freedom of the U.S.A.
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1601-1700/maryland-toleration-act-11630122.html -
Carolina
This southern colony started when King Charles II gave 8 supporters land in the Carolinas. Cash crops became huge in this colony because there was easy access to trade in the West Indies. These crops, (rice, indigo, tobacco, etc.), required a huge labor force. By 1720, so many African slaves had been brought over that they doubled the amount of European settlers. Eventually, in 1729, Carolina became a royal colony- being split in North and South Carolina.
(from notes) -
Bacon's Rebellion
In Jamestown, Virginia, Nathaniel Bacon gathered an unauthorized militia against Native American attacks in 1676. Virginia Governor William Berkeley raised his own army to retaliate against Bacon and his men's rebellion against his refusal to attack the Native's. Bacon and his men attacked Jamestown, but the destruction ended when Nathaniel died of dysentery and his men were hanged. This rebellion was significant as the first colonial rebellion against royal control. (information from notes). -
Pennsylvania
This charter colony, granted by King Charles II, was established by William Penn in 1682. Pennsylvania was meant to be a "Holy Experiment"- where male settlers were given 50 acres of land each and the right to vote. William Penn was also a Quaker so his colony became a safe haven for the Society of Friends. Quakers were often persecuted for their simplistic lifestyle and controversial beliefs so Pennsylvania was greatly appreciated by them.
(from notes) -
Salem Witch Trials
Starting in the spring, the Salem witch trials are accredited to young girls causing chaos in Salem Village, Massachusetts. The girls claimed to be possessed and accused other women of witchcraft- causing Salem to act hysterically. 150 people were imprisoned and 27 people were killed for "witchcraft". Nobody was safe from being accused and the village turned on each other with prejudice. The people eventually turned against the trials, ending the witch craze in September 1692.
(from notes) -
Great Awakening/ Enlightenment
The mindset of the British changed in the 1700's. The Great Awakening was a Protestant movement to experience Christianity in an emotional, nontraditional way. It caused the start of many Protestant denominations that we still see today. The Enlightenment was a movement away from God and towards human reasoning. Enlightenment thinkers inspired controversy- leading to the American Revolution.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1os2xmaster/chapter/great-awakening-and-enlightenment/ -
French-Indian War
Also called the 7 years war, it started in 1754 over tensions with French and British expansions over the frontier and their own undefined borders. The French and their native allies lost to the British, ending the war with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Britain gained a lot of land in North America. However, the taxes colonists had to pay for the war and the limit on western expansion eventually led to the American revolution.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/french-indian-war -
Albany Plan
On July 10,1754, the Albany Plan was constructed to place British North American colonies under a more centralized government. Only 7 representatives came from the colonies to help make it. However, the plan was never carried out because the preexisting colonial governments didn't want to lose their power. It is important though because it was the first try at unifying the colonies.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan -
Proclamation of 1763
The Indians were discontent about the colonists trespassing into their land. Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, even caused a revolt. In response to these things/ to pacify the natives, King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763 at the end of the French and Indian war. This closed off western expansion to all 13 colonies. Resentment unified the 13 colonies to ignore the proclamation and, eventually, fight for independence.
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of
