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Roanoke
"The Lost Colony" founded by Sir Walter Raleigh. John White, the settlement's mayor, sailed back to England and couldn't return until 1590 due to a war between England and Spain. The whole town was deserted and the word "CROATOAN" was carved on a tree. Would have been the first permanent English settlement.
https://www.history.com/news/what-happened-to-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke -
Jamestown
The first permanent English settlement. King James allowed its establishment in April 1606. It was the first big step for England in the fight to colonize against Spain. Only 38 of 150 settlers survived the first winter. John Smith became the town's leader and said those who don't work, won't eat. Tobacco was a cash crop of the town.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Jamestown-Colony -
New York
Henry Hudson and the Dutch explored and settled in an area they called New Netherlands. A fort was set up at Albany. Manhattan was purchased from the Natives for jewelry worth $24. In 1644 the British took control of New York and King Charles gave the colony to the brother of the Duke of York.
https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/NY1.html -
House of Burgesses
Representative assembly of Virginia established by gov. George Yeardley at Jamestown. It consisted of the governernor, a council, and two elected delegates from each Virginia settlement. Their job was to create, sign, or veto laws, as well as grant supplies to the colony.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Burgesses -
Great Migration
Puritans were not happy with the way the church was run in England, and wanted reform. They moved to Holland, and then came over on the Mayflower. They landed at Plymouth and established it as a colony.
https://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-great-puritan-migration/ -
Mayflower/Plymouth/Compact
Mayflower set sail on Sep 6, 1620, carrying about 100 people and some animals. A bad storm damaged the ship while at sea, but the pilgrims landed safely at Cape Cod. They sailed to Plymouth where half the people died during the first winter. The Mayflower Compact was an agreement binding the Pilgrims together when they arrived. It created order and a civilized community as they waited for permission to settle.
https://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/homework-help/mayflower-and-mayflower-compact -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
King Charles I granted a charter to allow 1000 Puritans settle and colonize in Massachusetts. Governor John Winthrop, along with Thomas Dudley and Rev. John Cotton, established and became leaders in the government. They wanted to ban religious freedom and banished many people who had different beliefs. In 1691 the royal government of Britain took control.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts-Bay-Colony -
Maryland
George Calvert and Lord Baltimore founded the colony as a safe haven for Catholics fleeing persecution. It was the first colony to have religious freedom for all Christians. Tobacco, wheat, and corn became cash crops.
https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-the-maryland-colony-103875 -
Connecticut
Thomas Hooker, an English clergyman, and others traveled to Boston and headed south towards Connecticut in the northeast part of the colonies. They set up a trading post in present day Hartford.
https://www.thoughtco.com/connecticut-colony-103870 -
Rhode Island
Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson and other groups of people kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay colony founded Rhode Island. Williams' view in favor of religious freedom was what got him booted. They settled in Rhode Island for 8 years without having a charter from the king. There were countless disputes about governing, boundaries, and religious practices. Basically the people in Rhode Island all just want their way.
https://www.thoughtco.com/rhode-island-colony-103880 -
Maryland Toleration Act
Signed in 1649 to allow religious freedom. It technically wasn't for everyone, just Christians with different views such as Calvinists, Anglicans, Catholics, and Lutherans. It made talking about another's religion in a disparaging way a crime. It also made blasphemy towards God, the Trinity, or Mary illegal.
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/868/maryland-toleration-act-of-1649 -
Carolina
In 1663, King Charles II granted land to eight of his supporters. Cash crops such as rice, indigo, and tobacco were grown. The Fundamental Constitution of the Carolinas, written by John Locke, was signed to establish an independent government system in the colony. The number of slaves was double the number of settlers by 1720. In 1729, the colony was split into North and South, and they became royal colonies.
https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/Carolinas.html -
Bacon's Rebllion
Targeted the power and authority of Virginia Governor Sir William Berkeley. After Natives attacked a plantation and Virginia retaliated on the wrong tribe, the governor called for a stop to it in order to investigate. Bacon, however, continued to attack other tribes. He was elected to the House of Burgesses and ultimately forced Berkeley to give him the authority to attack Native tribes without the government getting involved.
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/bacons-rebellion.htm -
Pennsylvania
Founded in 1681 by William Penn, Pennsylvania was a haven for Quakers. When the King owed money to Penn's late father, he instead granted a charter for land. The colony stayed under the control of the English government and governors loyal to the crown. They had good relations with the Native Americans, purchasing claims to land rather than stealing it.
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/pa-history/1681-1776.html -
Salem Witch Trials
After girls claim the devil possessed their bodies, some women in Salem were accused/convicted of being witches. Over the next few months 150 people were accused. While on trial the witches could defend their innocence which resulted in their hanging, or admit to it and name others, which sometimes gave a lesser punishment before finally being executed. Many of the accusations were driven by grudges held by the village people.
https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials -
The Great Awakening/Enlightenment
The Great Awakening was a push to revive the church and the people who had fallen away from it. People at this time were losing their personal connections to God and the church, due to wealth, rationalism, and new ideas coming from the colonies. Jonathan Edwards led the movement, preaching about how we are all sinners and will be damned to hell by an angry God for eternity if we don't seek forgiveness.
https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/great-awakening -
Albany Plan
A plan to put the colonies under a more centralized government. Representatives met, adopted the plan, but never carried it out. This was important proposing the idea of one main government to control the colonies.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan -
French-Indian War
Also called the Seven Years' War. Britain declared it in 1756 when France's expansion caused a lot of conflict. Native Americans sided with the French, and they seemed to have the upper hand until 1758 when the British took control. In 1763 a peace treaty was signed giving Britain the Canadian Territories from France, as well as Florida from Spain. This allowed westward expansion over the Mississippi Valley.
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/french-and-indian-war -
Salutary Neglect
Prime minister Robert Warpole ordered the relaxing of strict regulations imposed on the colonies. It was meant to try to get the colonists back on England's side, but actually allowed them to be independent economically and politically.
https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/salutary_neglect -
Proclamation of 1763
After the French-Indian war, the British wanted to avoid feuding with Indian tribes again. King George III created a boundary/proclamation line making all land west of the Appalachian Mountains off limits for Europeans. Only certain traders were allowed to go west and have contact with the Indians. This was the first measure that was directed to all 13 colonies. Quebec, East Florida, and West Florida formed as a result.
https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/great-awakening
