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Sep 7, 1440
Johann Gutenberg
Johann Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press, an invention that sparked the start of rapid and widespread knowledge. The printing press updated people on the discoveries and happenings of the New World, enticing Europeans to come and see it for themselves. -
Sep 5, 1492
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a religious war waged by Ferdinand and Isabella against the independent Muslim states in southern Spain. After the loss of Granada, the whole Iberian peninsula was joined under Christian rulers. Provoking a religious war indicates the importance of the Catholic faith to the Spanish rulers; rejecting Catholicism would not be tolerated in the New World. -
Sep 6, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Portugal wanted to keep Spain away from Columbus' newly discovered trade route; Spain demanded the rights over land Columbus found. The Treaty of Tordesillas was proposed by Pope Alexander VI and was accepted by both nations. But despite the treaty English, Dutch, and French explorers would still pursue good fortune in the New World. -
Sep 9, 1497
John & Sebastian Cabot
John Cabot completed the first known transatlantic trip by an English vessel in 1497, as he tried to discover a northwest passage to Asia. John's son, Sebastian, followed in his father's footsteps, but England's interest in the New World decreased due to domestic/religious affairs. When England reentered the competition, Cabot's voyages staked a claim in American land. -
Sep 5, 1512
Encomienda System
The encomienda system was a Spanish method used to utilize Native American labor during colonization. It began as an exchange of labor for legal protection and religious teaching, but the Natives were overworked and mistreated under the system. The encomienda system acted as a labor source, but also as form of suppression- breaking down local traditions and cultures and forcing new beliefs onto the people. -
Sep 8, 1517
Protestant Reformation: Henry VII & Elizabeth I
The Protestant Reformation was a partial factor in England's rivalry with Spain. English Protestantism and nationalism grew, taking their conflict with Spain, and Catholicism, to the New World. -
Roanoke
Sir Richard Grenville led the mission for a successful Roanoke colony, though he abandoned the colonists in the autumn of 1585. Sir Francis Drake visited the colony in 1586, and the colonists boarded his ship and traveled back home due to a lack of supplies. The Spanish Armada blocked communication between England and America in a second attempt of the Roanoke colony, showing the cut-throat competition between these two nations in the New World. -
Richard Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt was an English writer that collected accounts of sailors and captains that came back from the New World. He kept the hope for American colonization alive and convinced European settlers that the New World was rightfully theirs. -
Jamestown,Virginia
Jamestown was founded through the Virginia Company (joint-stock company), a common and popular solution to financial issues. Jamestown was founded with the itention to make long-term profits through tobacco. Captain John Smith saved teh colony with enforcing a military discipline, keeping the colony alive. Sir Edwin Sandys wanted to promite investment in the colony and started the House of Burgesses, an elective representative assemby. -
Quebec
The French king sent Jacques Cartier to seek a short water route to China near or through North America. Quebec was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain after resettling an area previously explored by Cartier. The founding of Quebec was the result of the French's increasing interest in the New World, inspired by Columbus' results nearly 30 years before. -
New York
Founded for commercial profit in 1614. Named an English colony in 1664. -
New Hampshire
New Hampshire was included in Massachusetts Bay, but became a separate colony in 1677. It experienced slow population growth and continued to economically rely on Massachusetts. -
Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts bay was founded as a result of the Protestant Reformation and the Great Mirgration; it was composed mostly by Puritans. Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were exiled due to religious interpretations that were considered heresy. -
Maryland
Maryland was founded as a refuge for Catholics. Protestants came to the colony as well, stirring dissent between the two religious groups. The Puritans took over during the "Plundering Time." Planting tobacco was not uncommon in this colony. -
Connecticut
Connecticut began as an extention of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The fertile lands of the Connecticut River Valley attracted many people who willingly settled the area, somewhat mirroring the previous colony. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a plan for civil government, was passed in 1639 -
Rhode Island
Rhode Island started off as Providence, a village founded by Roger Williams. It later became Rhode Island, a colony Anne Hutchinson brought her followers to (Portsmouth). Other groups lived here as well, and religious toleration was not an issue. A royal charter was attained in 1663; Rhode Island was profitable due to trade in agricultural goods. -
Slave Trade
Labor was essential to the growth and profit of communities in the New World, and this enslavement would recur In later times. Many Native American slaves died out or escaped, causing Europeans to find a new source of labor in Africa. An estimated 10.7 million Africans were brought to the New World to be slaves. -
Carolinas
The Carolinas were similar to Virginia and Maryland societies. Many families/individuals flocked to Carolina after the overpopulation of Barbados; by doing so, they could retain their social status, as many were quite rich. The colonies had a successful market due to commercial resources (rice [main staple], beef, skins, naval stores, tobacco..). The king created different royal governments for N. & S. carolina in 1729 -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon wanted to fight Native Americans and get their land, but the government refused. Bacon and his followers burned down Jamestown; the rebellion eventually died down. Bacon wanted a voice and a chance to become one of the elite. The rebellion caused the dying out of indentured servents and a replacement of slave labor due to the easy identification of darker skin tone. -
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a refuge for English Quakers. The settlers were diverse, and the settlement was economically successful due to agricultural goods (wheat especially). The Charter of Liberties was a frame of government that acted as Pennyslvania's constitution until the American Revolution. -
English Bill of Rights
Queen Mary and King William of Orange ruled as joint monarchs. They agreed to a Bill of Rights, a document expressing the constiutional rights of Englishmen, as a trade off. This was caused by news of the Glorious Revolution in the colonies. -
Plymouth
Plymoth was founded as refuge for English Separatists (those who left the Church of England because of lingering Catholic roots) in 1620; it was incorporated into Massachusetts Bay in 1691. The pilgrims created the Mayflower Compact, a set of laws established to avoid anarchy. William Bradford, the elected governor, united the people despite obstacles such as hunger and disease. -
First Great Awakening
Colonists feared they were out of touch with religion as they looked to the past and pondered on the piety of previous generations. The Great Awakening was sparked by the Englightenment and concrete preachings of Jonathon Edwards.Sponsored by Benjamin Franklin, George Whitefield was the dynamic aspect of the Awakening, touring the colonies and moving people with his extraordinary skills as a public speaker. -
French and Indian War/Seven Years War
The French and English battled over ther Great Lakes and Missippi River. The war ended with the Peace of Paris of 1763, and an English victory. There was also a minor debt that the English believed the colonists should be placed on the colonists as thanks for winning the war. -
Sugar Act
1st attempt at revenue for England, aimed to reduce smuggling, bribery and other illegal acts. The price of sugar dropped, by the colonists still rejected the acts due to a violation of rights. -
Stamp Act
Colonists forced to buy specific stamps/seals to prove legal documents. It affected both the common people as well as the elite. -
Quartering Act
Colonists requried to provide British troops with houseing and other goods. Many colonists considered this act an extended form of taxation without representation and Americans in New York refused to oblige. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stampt Act Congress delegates wrote petitions to the king and Parliament expressing their belief against taxation without representation. -
Townshend Revenue Acts
Stricter customs collections, revised duties on glass, lead, paper, paints and tea. -
Boston Massacre
The colonists were against the large presence of British troops. A mob grew and became more daunthing, scaring and confusing the British redcoats, who fired into the crowd. 5 Americans were killed in the incident. -
Tea Act
Parliament attempts to save East India Company from bankruptsy by giving them the right to sell directly to colonists. The act undercut colonial merchants who profitted from smuggling Dutch tea. -
Georgia
Georgia was created to discourage Spanish expansion. Bans on rum, slavery, and land limitations caused little interest in the colony. Social and political changes came after an assembly authorized by the king (1751); despite this, settlers were still disinterested. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Boston ports are closed until the money from the Bosten Tea Party is paid back. British officials accused of crims are also shipped to England/Canada for trial. The colonists boycot British goods and the first Continental Congress meets. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met to decide the next course of action regarding independence. There were many respected leaders present, such as: John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Christopher Gadsden, and George Washington. -
Shot Heard Round the World
This event was one of no return- peace between Britain was no longer an option as they struck the colonies. The British soldiers passed Lexington on the way to Concord, where the militia of Lexington were standing. There was an interval of confusion and someone fired; the British fired back and killed 8 Americans. -
Second Continental Congress
The Congress formed a continental Army and put George Washington in charge. The delegates listened to more talks about independence but did nothing about it. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a last effort to mend the relationship between the colonies and Britain. However, it was rejected by the king. -
Prohibitory Act
The British declare that they will force the Americans into obeying them; there is an embargo on American goods and the British seize American ships. The colonists are pushing towards independence. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine to urge the colonists into independence. He helped convince the common people to break their ties with Great Britain. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament announced sovereignty over all colonies under any circumstances; the colonists overlooked this due to the repeal of the Stamp Act, but they did not agree to this statement. -
Trenton
The Americans captured an exposed post and, at night, crossed the freezing Delaware River and suprise attacked 900 sleeping Hessian mercenaries. -
Germantown/Valley Forge
The Americans launched a big counterattack, but lost due to confusion and just bad luck. Camp diseases took 2500 lives from American troops. -
Second Battle of Saratoga
The second battle of Saratoga gained the Americans a French alliance. The Americans promised they would not sign a peace treaty with Britain before telling France, adn France promised not to claim Canada, though they would take specific British islands in the Carribean. -
Kings Mountain
This battle was fought in the backcountry. It introduced a new fighting style the British detested, as they found it cowardly. The Americans used their homefield advantage and guerilla warfare to win. -
Yorktown
The French surrounded Cornwallis from the water while the Americans trapped the British on land. Cornwalilis surrounded and ended the war.
