Colonization of America

Funding Columbus

Sep 2, 1491

Christopher Columbus gets financial help from the King and Queen of Spain

Early America

Period: Sep 2, 1491 to Dec 11, 1621

Setting Sail

Aug 11, 1492

Christopher Columbus sets sail with three ships, the Pinta, Nina, and the Santa Maria. Columbus sails on the Santa Maria.

Land

Oct 11, 1492

Columbus and his crew land at the Americas, which they believed to be Asia at the time.

Treasure?

Mar 11, 1493

After sailing through what is now known as the Bahamas, Columbus came away empty handed with no treasure or valuables to show for his endeavors. He returns to Spain.

Columbus' Return

Sep 11, 1493

Columbus' second journery came away with the same result, empty handed with no treasure. This time though he left his brothers behind with colonists to set up a colony in the wake of his return.

Columbus Returns Again

Dec 11, 1498

Spain paid agian for Columbus' third trip, he was hoping to come back to a colony of sorts set up by his brothers. When he returned he got the exact opposite. The colony was a mess and he was also arrested for the crimes that were committed there.

London Company

Dec 11, 1606

The London Company sponsors an expedition for the colonizing of Virginia

Jamestown

Dec 11, 1607

Jamestown was founded by the colonists of the London Company. By the end of the year only 32 of the original 105 colonists were still alive. This was due to starvation as well as the spread of disease.

John Smith

Dec 28, 1607

Captain John Smith is captured by the Chief of the Native Americans, Powhatan. It just so happens that the daughter of the Chief, Pocahontas, saves him from his death.

More colonists arrive

Jan 11, 1608

110 additional colonists arrive to Jamestown from the London Company.

First Exports

Dec 11, 1608

The first exports from Jamestown to England are sent, these exports include lumber and iron ore.

Cash crop

Dec 11, 1609

Native tobacco is first planted and harvested by the Virginia colonists.

Dutch Trading

Dec 11, 1613

A Dutch trading port is set up in lower Manhattan.

Tobacco

Dec 11, 1616

With a few years gone by with tobacco being harvested, it essentially has become the cash crop of Virginia. It is an essential export staple of early colonization in Virginia.

Disease

Dec 11, 1616

Smallpox has become an epidemic and has decimated Native Americans.

The Start of Slave Trade

Nov 9, 1619

20 Africans are brought to Jamestown by a Dutch ship and are for sale as indentured servants. This marks the beginning of slave trade in colonial America.

Mayflower Compact

Nov 11, 1619

The Mayflower Compact is signed by the 41 men. The Mayflower Compact establishes a form of local government in which the colonists agree to abide by majority rule and to cooperate for the general good of the colony. The compact gives way for other local colonies to establish a government of their own.

House of Burgesses

Dec 11, 1619

The first session of the first legislative assembly of the Virginia House of Burgesses is convened in Jamestown, consists of 22 burgesses which represent 11 plantations.

Mayflower

Nov 9, 1620

The Mayflower ship lands at Cape Cod, Massachussets with 101 colonists on board.

The FIrst Treaty

Dec 11, 1621

The first treaty is signed between the colonists and the Native Americans. It consists of the Plymouth Pilgrims enact a peace pact with the Wampanoag Tribe. This was possible because of the aid of an English speaking Native American, Squanto.