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Roanoke
Roanoke is the first British settlement in Virginia. It is known as the lost colony because when John White returned from England, Roanoke was entirely deserted(Notes). -
Jamestown
The Virginia Company of London established a colony along the coast of Virginia. The colony had a bad start, only 38 of the 150 settlers survived the first winter. The settlement was on a swamp, the gentlemen refused to work, the winter was really bad, and the Native Americans were not friendly. John Smith was the leader of Jamestown. Jamestown also had indentured servants that signed contracts to work for a period of time and get benefits in return (notes). -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was a representative assembly in colonial Virginia, which was an outgrowth of the first elective governing body in a British overseas possession. They met in Jamestown until 1670 until they moved locations to Williamsburg. https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Burgesses -
Mayflower/Plymouth/Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower was the ship that carried 102 English settlers to the New World. Their settlement was called Plymouth. The pilgrims knew that starting a new settlement would be a difficult challenge so they created the Mayflower Compact. This was the first written document of the New World. This established a set of rules for the Pilgrims and others that were with them.(https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower-compact) -
Puratin Great Migration
Between 13,000 and 21,000 English puratins migrated to New England, the Chesapeake, and the West Indies due to religious persecution and economic reasons. https://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-great-puritan-migration/ -
New York
New York was a middle colony settled by the Dutch. The Dutch called the area New Netherlands and New York City was called New Amsterdam. Dutch landholders were given huge tracks of land that they could rent out to tenant farmers. They were able to keep their land even when the British gained control of the area. In 1664 the British sent a naval fleet to seize New Netherlands and the Dutch surrendered it without a fight(notes). -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Settled by the Puritans with a charter. They were led by Governor John Winthrop who believed, "We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of the people are on us." The Puritans laws that governed the colony were tied to the beliefs of the Puritan Church. Dissenters were people who didn't follow the Puritan rules and laws. Some of the dissenters formed other New England colonies(notes). -
Maryland
Maryland was a southern colony and was settled by Lord Baltimore. Maryland was settled as a proprictary colony which meant the owner ruled the colony not the King or Queen. Later in Maryland the Toleration Act of 1649 was created and granted religious freedom to Christians living in Maryland.(notes) -
Rhode Island
Rhode Island was a New England colony and was settled by Roger Williams. Roger was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for speaking out against government authorities. He founded Rhode Island so that there would be no persecution of Christians.(notes) -
Connecticut
Connecticut was a New England colony settled by Thomas Hooker. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written constitution in North America. Unlike in Massachusetts, citizenship was based on land ownership, not religion(notes). -
Maryland Toleration Act
The Toleration Act of 1649 granted religious freedom to Christians living in Maryland. This was the first act of religious freedom in the colonies. The act was created by Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore's son.(notes) -
Carolina
Carolina was a southern colony settled by supporters of King Charles II. Carolina had easy access to the trade in the West Indies. This made people start to grow cash crops like rice, indigo, and tobacco. By 1720, African slaves outnumbered the settlers two to one because of all the labor the cash crops required.(notes) -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon raised an unauthorized militia if indentured servants, slaves, and poor farmers to retaliate against a series of Native American attacks on the Virginia frontier. William Berkeley gathered an army to fight against Bacon and his men. Bacon and his men destroyed Jamestown. The rebellion ended soon after Bacon's death from dysentery(notes). -
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was a middle colony settled by William Penn. The colony was created as a Holy Experiment. William Penn was a Quaker and so his colony soon became a safe haven for Quakers.(notes) -
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a period of bringing new light to European politics, philosophy, science and communications. The Enlightenment produced several books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars and revolutions to the Americas.(https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/enlightenment) -
Salem Witch Trials
A group of young girls in Salem, Massachusetts claimed to possessed by the devil and accused some of the local women of witchcraft.Through the months, hundreds of people were accused of witchcraft and several of them were hanged. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan of Union was a plan to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. Seven representatives of the British North American colonies accepted the plan. Although it was never carried out, it was the first important proposal to try and get the colonies under one government.(https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan) -
French-Indian War
Also known as the seven year war, it was a long battle between France and Britain. The two forces had many conflicts for the next seven years until 1763 when they signed the Treaty of Paris. This meant that Britain received the territories of Canada and and Florida, this opened the Mississippi Valley to westward expansion(https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/french-and-indian-war). -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by the British at the end of the French Indian war to please the Native Americans and try to hold off Europeans settlers onto their lands. Even though this was put in place, overall and eventually the proclamation failed to keep settlers off of Native American land.(https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of) -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary neglect was Britain's unofficial policy, initiated by prime minister Robert Walpole, to relax the enforcement of strict regulations, particularly trade laws. Salutary neglect enabled the American colonies to prosper by trading with non-British entities.(https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/salutary_neglect)
