-
King James grants Virginia Company
In June of 1606, King James I granted a group of London entrepreneurs, the Virginia Company, to establish an English settlement in the Chesapeake region of North America. -
English found Jamestown, Virginia
Virginia Company explorers arrived at Jamestown Island to establish the Virginia English colony on the banks of the James River, 60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. -
Puritans begin to settle in Massachusetts
in the 1620’s Puritans begin to settle in Massachusetts.
groups of Puritans crossed the Atlantic towards the "New World." -
The Mayflower ship arrives at Cape Cod
The Mayflower ship lands at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with 101 colonists. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact is signed by the 41 men, establishing a form of local government in which the colonists agree to abide by majority rule and to work together for the greater good of the colony. -
Puritan migration
In March, 1630, John Winthrop leads a Puritan migration of 900 colonists to Massachusetts Bay. -
John Winthrop is elected first governer.
John Winthrop was elected their first governor.
He served as the first governor.
In September, Boston is established and serves as the site of Winthrop's government. -
The English War erupts
from 1640 until 1659 the English Civil War erupts between the Royalists of King Charles I and the Parliamentary army, eventually resulting in defeat for the Royalists and the downfall of the monarchy. On January 30, 1649, Kings Charles I is beheaded. England then becomes a Commonwealth and Protectorate ruled by Oliver Cromwell. -
Rhode Island-slavery illegal
Rhode Island enacts the first law in the colonies declaring slavery illegal. -
Lifelong servitude for black slaves
Maryland passes a law making lifelong servitude for black slaves mandatory to prevent them from taking advantage of legal precedents established in England which grant freedom under certain conditions, such as conversion to Christianity. Similar laws are later passed in New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas and Virginia. -
Immigrants from Germany
A large wave of immigrants, including many Quakers, arrives in Pennsylvania from Germany and the British Isles. -
Anglo population rises
The Anglo population in the English colonies in America reaches 250,000.
