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Jan 1, 1440
Johannes Gutenburg
With the invention of the printing press, information could now be widely spread. The bible and a few German poems are examples of what was first printed. But with the ability to print information and spread it to the public, Sea captians could publish their findings and other information filled their minds with curiosity. -
Jan 1, 1492
Reconquista
With the reunion of Isabelle and Ferdinand, the Christians were fighting the Muslims. Once they Moors were finally kicked out of the Iberian Pennisula it was a happy time for Spain. The Spainish were able to expell the Moors and the Jews. This reconquering of the land lifted the spirits of the Spainish and part of their celebration involves the journey of Christopher Columbus. -
Jan 1, 1494
Treaty of Torsedillas
The pope created this treaty to appease the Spanish and the Portuguese. The treaty was a line that divided the entire world along a line located 270 leagues west of the Azores. It was agreed that any new lands discovered west of the line belonged to Spain and Portugal had the east. However, the treaty failed to prevent future English, Dutch, and French adventures. -
Jan 2, 1494
Slave Trade
Following the Columbian exchange, the europeans brought over Africans to use for labor. They tried to used Native Americans as slaves but many could escape because they new the land or died from disease. The slave trade may have been a negative mark on American history, but it diversified our ethnicity. -
Jan 1, 1497
John Cabot
Like Christopher Columbus, who had also planned to sail to the west, Cabot found it difficult to convince rich backers to pay for the ships he needed to test out his ideas about the world. After failing to persuade the royal courts of Europe, he decided to come to England. -
Jan 1, 1504
Sebastian Cabot
Sebastian Cabot led a voyage from Bristol to the New World, which involved two ships: the Jesus of Bristol and the Gabriel of Bristol. He followed in his father's footsteps by leading one of the first expeditions to find a North-West passage, and claimed to have found one. But he was forced to turn back by his crew. He may have even found the entrance to Hudson's Bay. -
Jan 1, 1512
Encomienda System
The encomienda system was created by the Spanish to control American Indian labor and behavior during the colonization of the Americas. In exchange for native labor and tribute, the Spanish would provide protection and education for them. However, the encomienda system was basically slavery. -
Jan 1, 1529
Heny VIII English Reformation
KIng Henry wanted a male heir and when his wife Catherine of Argon couldn't produce one he found another love. The catholic church however didn't agree with divorce. So to be allowed to marry another woman he created the Church of England and married Anne Boleyn. Who also didn't produce a male heir. -
Jan 1, 1558
Elizabeth I English Reformation
Following her half-sister Mary, Elizabeth believed in a protestant state. One result of that was that she was excommunicated. Many despised her restoration of the Church of England, but she continued anyways. -
Roanoke
One of the first colonies that were created in the Americas. It is called the lost colony because the people disappeared. A spanish armada blocked the supply ships headed that way, so the people began to starve. When ships got there there weren't any people and it is belived many just dissolved into the Native American groups nearby. -
Richard Haklyut
Richard Haklyut was a famous writer who published many works about European Colonization in the Americas. His major publication, "The Principall Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English Nation", provides almost everything known about the early English voyages to North America. Some say that without this book, the idea of life in the New World might have ended as quickly as it came. -
Jamestown
The colony was originally created for wealth and riches. 104 men were sent to the new world and expected to strike it rich. To avoid confrontation they setteled in a swamp, which had poor living conditions. After awhile the colony was falling into anarchy. But John Smith was able to organize everybody. A man named Edwin Sandys also convinced people to come over with the promise of the House of Burgesses. -
Quebec
Champlain founds Quebec. He founded it as a trading post at the crossing of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers. From this the city grew. Catholic missionaries, explorers, and fur traders pushed across North America. -
Plymouth
A group of people called Separatists left England and moved to Holland. They did this because they wanted to escape the corruption of the Church of England. Once they belived their children were becoming dutch, they decided to sail to America. They were granted a charter for Virginia, but they landed in New England. Since the land was promised to other people, the Pilgrims were in debt. After almost 20 years the debts were satsified. During this time they created the Mayflower Compact. -
New York
This was one of the most diverse colonies despite its small population. A person even claimed to have heard around 18 different languages when they came. The colony's culture itself was completly unique. Once England took over the colony, the Duke of York had control. He created a legal code called the Duke's Laws and they guareenteed religious freedom as well as establishing a local government. -
Massachusetts Bay
The original purpose of the colony was to get rid of the Puritans. They believed in a strict form of Christianity and believed that God did not approve of England. They went to the New World and believed that they could come back once God destroyed England. The living conditions in the colony was far better than the others. They lived in a healthier climate and had cleaner water. As the years passed they allowed joint-stock companies to set up business. -
Maryland
The driving force behind the founding of Maryland was Sir George Calvert. When he publicly declared he was Catholic, he lost his position but still had the crown's favor. The king later granted a charter to his son Cecelius. He established Maryland and was called Lord Baltimore. The settlers swore their loyalty to him and they created their own feudal system, which never became a common thing. The colony attracted both Catholics and Protestants because of religious tolerance. -
Connecticut
Many people were drawn in to the fertile lands of Connecticut. No one forced the men and women to leave the Massachusetts Colony; they weren't banished like Williams or Hutchinson. However, they created a society that looked much like the Bay Colony. They also passed the Fundamental Orders in order to create a blueprint for civil government. -
Rhode Island
It was founded by Roger Williams when he was banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony. His ideas caused controversy because he preached extreme separatism and claimed the Bay Colonists were impure to God. He was later joined by Anne Hutchinson because she claimed to have a connection to God. Rhode Island attracted everybody and many described it as a giant mixture of people. Despite differences, the people came together and built up a profitable commerce in agricultural goods. -
Carolinas
The Carolinas were a result of the Stuarts returning to the English throne. The followers who supported the Stuarts decided that they deserved a reward. Sir John Colleton, a succesful planter from Barbados, organized a group that recieved a charter for the Carolinas. After time many settlers from Barbados came to the Carolinas. They established many slave-based plantations and later the Commons House of Assembly had assumed the right to initiate legislation. -
Bacon's Rebellion
A weathly landowner by the name of Nathaniel Bacon led a series of expeditions to defend the frontier against Indian attack. Raising his own militia, he acted against the colonial governor, Sir William Berkeley, who preferred to deal with the Indians with more diplomatically. Once elected to the House of Burgesses, Bacon also pressed the interests of the small farmers and common people in the colonial assembly. -
New Hampshire
From Massachusetts Bay, four colonies were born. New Hampshire was one of them and its population grew slowly. For much of the colonial period it remained economically dependent on Massachusetts. -
Pennsylvania
William Penn recieved a charter in 1681. It still, however, remains a mystery as to why Charles granted the charter. Pennsylvania became a home to Quakers. To promote his settlement, Penn commissioned pamphlets in many countries. The response was overwhelming and Pennsylvania was filled with people from all over. -
Period: to
First Great Awakening
The Great Awakening made people rethink religion. One of the important people in this event was Jonathan Edwards. Edwards believed that the church had become soft because their teachimg differed from the teachings of Calbvinism. He believed that their eternal fate was determined by God and that they were dependent on God's will. Another important person in this time was George Whitefield. Even though Whitefield was not an original thinker, his skills as a public spaeaker were impressive. -
Georgia
Georgia was originally created to be a cushion. The people of the Carolinas were scared of the Spanish, who occupied Florida. So the king granted Oglethorpe, a British general. He envisoned Georgia to be an asylum as well as a garrison. The people who settled were avoiding prisonment and had little desire to settle there. They were denied many rights and in return demanded more. by 1738 all restrictions were elimated. -
Parlimentary Supremacy
The British ruling class viewed Parliament as the dominant element within the constitution. The King even recognized this fact and made a formal speech about it. The Colonist didn't believe in the supremecy. They believed that they should have a representative. The British government never came to the Americas. -
Sugar Act
Revised duties on sugar, coffee, tea, wine, other imports; expanded jurisdiction of vive admiralty courts -
Stamp Act
Printed documents (deeds, newspapers, marriage licenses, etc.) issued only on special stamped paper purchased from stamp distributors -
Quatering Act
Colonists must supply British troops with housing, other items (candles, firewood, etc.) -
Stamp Act Congress
Nine colonies sent representatives to get together about the inevitable taxes. They dicussed more about the lack of representation and wrote a petition to restate their beliefs. The resistence to the Act spread to the streets. Now ordinary people were being involved because of deeds, marriage licenses, and playing cards. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament declares its sovereignty over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever" -
Townshend Revenue Acts
New duties on glass, lead, paper, paints, tea; customs collections tightened in America -
Boston Massacre
The tension with troops arriving in the Americas made people afraid. Many despised the idea of the troops so young boys threw rocks at troops. This caused the troops to fire. Five Americans were left dead as a result of the troops firing. They were seen as martyrs and gave people more reason to go against England. -
Tea Act
Parliament gives East India Company right to sell tea directly to Americans; some duties on tea reduced -
Boston Tea Party
Parliment passed another tax on another object. This time tea was the new item being taxed. The people however preferred their smuggled tea from Holland, so when they were limited things got bad. The Sons of Liberty went to the harbor and dumped the tea into the water. They dressed as Mohawk Indians and did this protest in dramatic style. -
Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts
Closes port of Boston; restructures Massachusetts government; restricts town meetings; troops quartered in Boston; British officials accused of crimes sent to England or Canada for trial -
Concord
Americans won; -
Lexington
British won; -
Prohibitory Act
Declares British intention to coerce Americans into submission; embargo on American goods; American ships seized -
Trenton
Americans won; -
Germantown/Valley Forge
British won; -
Saratoga, Second Battle
Americans won; -
Kings Mountain
Americans won; -
Yorktown
Americans and French won;
