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Jan 1, 1000
Vikings Land in North America
Around 1000 AD, a European sailor by the name of Leif Ericsson landed in the New World. One story claims that he got off course on his way back to Norway and sailed across the Atlantic on accident. Another story says that he and his crew retraced the route of a previous explorer who accidentally missed North America. -
Period: Aug 22, 1000 to
Early America to the Revolutionary War
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Sep 28, 1066
William of Normandy Conquers england
William of Normandy claimed inheritance to throne of England, and defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings. -
Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a document written in 1215 to the tyrant King John from the English citizens. It was written as a type of constitution, limiting the rights of the king. It also made it so the monarchs were required to follow the law as well as the citizens, the monarchs were no longer above the law. -
Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus Discovers America
Columbus and his team were attempting to find an alternate route to Asia, but instead ended up in the Caribbean. He was under the impression, however, that he had made it to the islands around Asia. -
Jan 1, 1497
John Cabot Explores North America
John Cabot was born in Italy, but moved to England later in his life. King Henry VII sent him across the Atlantic, and he landed in Canada, but the exact location isn't known. -
Jan 1, 1517
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation took place mostly in the 16th century. It was a time of major changes in Europe within areas such as religion, politics, intellectuality, and culture. The changes that took place during this time had major, major effects in the coming years. -
Period: Aug 22, 1517 to
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation took place mostly in the 16th century. It was a time of major changes in Europe within areas such as religion, politics, intellectuality, and culture. The changes that took place during this time had major, major effects in the coming years. -
Jamestown, VA
The first permanent English settlement was in Jamestown, VA in 1607. John Smith became the leader of the colony, and in 1613 the cash crop tobacco was introduced in the colony. It was extremely successful, and the town of Jamestown thrived for many years. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the legislative assembly in the colonies, and the first one met on July 30, 1619 in Jamestown. The King did not like that the colonists were holding these meetings because he thought the monarchs should have all the power, but the colonists refused to give up the House of Burgesses. -
Puritan Migration
The Puritan Migration took part mostly from 1620-1640. Also called the Great Migration, twenty thousand English citizens crossed the Atlantic to come to the New World. One of the primary reasons for coming to the New World was religious freedom, as religion in England was a bit of a disaster at the time. -
Pilgrims Come on the Mayflower
In 1620 a group of Protestant Separatists boarded a ship called the Mayflower to come to the New World. They were extremely unhappy with the church in England, and wanted to begin a new one in the New World. They landed in Plymouth and developed a relationship with the Native Americans, allowing their colony to flourish. -
Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon did not like the governor at the time, Sir William Berkelely, for several reasons, one being that he didn't defend the colonists against the Native American attacks. Bacon led two attacks, and got elected to the house of burgesses, but Berkeley wouldn't let him, and instead had him arrested. Bacon gained followers in his rebellion against Berkeley, but when Bacon suddenly died the rebellion efforts fell through. -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect referred to how from the 1690's-1760's the trade laws were not really enforced for the colonists, because it wasn't worth it to have British soldiers in the New World enforcing those laws. This was beneficial to the colonists, but the British eventually raised taxes to help pay off debt. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment took part mostly in the 18th century, and it was a time of radical new ideas in politics, philosophy, science, and communications all throughout Europe. Enlightenment ideas eventually inspired the American Revolution. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a time from the 1730's-1740's where the British colonies had a religious revival. The preachings became much more intense, and someone's religious standing was based on how strong their reaction was to hearing a sermon. This also created a divide in the colonies between the New Lights and the Old Lights, who did not like the new way of worshiping. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (or the Seven Years' War) was because the French expanded into the Ohio River valley, which interfered with the British colonies. Britain officially declared war in 1756, and the war lasted until 1763, when the British defeated the French. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was signed on October 7, 1763 and it declared that the colonists were not to settle anywhere west of the Appalachian Mountains. King George III hoped that this would help to repair relationships with the Native Americans who had fought against him during the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765. This new tax on the colonies placed a tax on every single piece of printed paper used, including legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and even playing cards. -
Boston "Massacre"
The Boston "Massacre" took place on March 5, 1770. According to the colonists, British soldiers fired into a peaceful protests killing five people. According to the British, the colonists were being violent and in the chaos it sounded like their commander called for them to fire. -
The Boston Tea Party
On December 16,1773 some of the "Sons of Liberty" went on the ships in the Boston Harbor and dumped out the tea as a form of rebellion against the tax on tea. They didn't even touch anything else, they were simply making a statement about the bad on tea. This made the threat of war even more likely. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress opened on May 5, 1774 following the battles at Lexington and Concord. At these meetings, they started the Continental Army and placed George Washington as the Commander-in-Chief. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress first met on September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia, Penn. Twelve of the thirteen colonies had representatives present, and they wrote a "declaration of rights and grievances" against the British. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were several taxes placed on the colonies by Charles Townshend. They included taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. The Americans saw this as an abuse of power, and in 1770 all but the tax on ta were repealed. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson was the main "author", but he was assisted by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783 to officially end the Revolutionary War. It also recognized American Independence.
