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Jan 1, 1450
Johann Gutenberg
The first wooden movable type for printing in the world was made in China in 1040 A.D. In 1450, Johann Gutenberg perfected the movable type and made the first mechanical movable type for printing. He started the Printing Revolution in Europe, which played a big part in the formation of the Reformation and Renaissance. In 1517, the (Protestant) Reformation helped Europe claim territory in the New World. -
Jan 2, 1492
Reconquista
In 1492, the armies of Castile and Aragon entered a holy war, known as the Reconquista, against the independent states in Spain that had been once captured by Muslims. The kingdom of Granada (Islamic) fell, leading to the entire Iberian Peninsula being under the rule of Christians. During this time, conquistadors, men who craved personal glory and were loyal to the crown, brought European culture to the New World. -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail searching for a western sea route to China, India, and the islands of Asia on three ships- the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. He arrived to the Americas and named the inhabitants he met Indians, since he thought he had landed in India. Columbus was the first European to settle and colonize in the Americas. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Torsedillas
Following Columbus' voyage to the Americas, Spain and Portugal came close to waging war against eachother until Pope Alexander VI came up with a negotiation. Portugal did not want Spain anywhere near the west coast of Africa or Columbus' newly discovered route. Spain wanted control over all lands discovered by Columbus. The Treaty of Torsedillas divided the world, and any new lands discovered west of the line would belong to Spain. Several adventurers decided to travel to the new world, anyway. -
Feb 1, 1495
Slave Trade
The Europeans brought diseases with them to the New World in 1492, but the Native Americans were not immune to these diseases because they had never domesticated animals. The population of the tribes dropped by 90-95%, but the Europeans still needed laborers to work the gold mines and grow sugar and tobacco crops. Columbus found a substitute labor force in Africa, leading to the beginning of the Slave Trade. -
May 2, 1497
John Cabot
Giovanni Caboto, or John Cabot in English, was a Venetian sea captain that completed a transatlantic voyage by an English vessel, though he was seeking a northwest passage to Asia. During this time, John had established a fishing settlement in Newfoundland. North America later began to form and expand on the land Cabot had established. -
Jan 1, 1503
Encomienda System
The monarch decided to reward the leaders of the conquest where they captured New Spain (Mexico) with Indian villages. The Indians who had alrady lived in the settlements provided labor in exchange for goernment protection and religious guidance. This was one technique the settlers came up with to recieve free labor from the Indians. -
Jan 1, 1508
Sebastian Cabot
Sebastian Cabot was John Cabot's son. He continued his father's explorations in the Hudson Bay area from 1508-1509. -
Oct 31, 1517
Protestant Reformation- Henry VIII and Elizabeth I
The Protestant Reformation was a religious and cultural movement in England in the 16th century that began as an attempt to simply reform the Catholic church, but later became the creation of Protestant churches. King Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I developed a strong central government, including protestanism in England's society. -
Richard Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt was an English writer who wrote "Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America" in 1582 and "The Principal Navigations, Voyages, and Discoveries of the English Nation". He was the first European to promote the idea of colonization in the New World, thinking it would help with England's financial and social problems. -
Roanoke
Roanoke was a very hard to reach English colony located in the New World. Many adventurers attempted reaching this area, but the strong currents and storms off Cape Hatteras were increasingly intimidating. The leader of this colony, Sir Richard Grenville, abandoned Roanoke, leaving colonists to fend for themselves. It is a mystery to this day what made Roanoke become a ghost town, but the colonists are today referred to as "the lost colonists". -
Spanish Armada
Spain had King Phillip lead the Spanish Armada, a spanish fleet of about 130 ships, to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I of England, but the English defeated the Spanish in 1588. Another reason they wanted to attack England was to reinforce catholicism and trade agreements (due to the discoveries of land and resources in the New World). -
Jamestown, Virginia
Located tthirty miles from the mouth of the james river. This unsuccessful village settled on low-lying ground with disease and contaminated water(salt). The settlers here mainly settled searching for immediate wealth. It was unsuccessful because no one did their part. John Smith helped bring order out of anarchy by trading with the Indians. Sir Edwin Sandys ran a faction of stockholdersthat pumped up life in the dying colony. Sandys later made the House of Burgesses. Created Join Stock Company -
Quebec
Founded by Samuel de Champlain as a trading post near the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers. A main trading item here was fur. Today, Quebec is located in Canada. -
Plymouth
Pilgrims, in search of religious liberty, signed a compact aboard the Mayflower, later landing at Plymouth Rock. They believed the Church of England had too much caotholicism, so they separated from the state church. Others who followed this logic were known as Separatists. William Bradford sailed to America with the original Scrooby congregation. He wrote Of Plymouth Plantation. The Mayflower Compact was made to avoid full-blown anarchy. -
New York
Henry Hudson, an explorer and member of the Dutch East India Company, sailed the river that now bears his name. More of his voyages led to creation of trading posts in New Netherland and on Connecticut River. Directors of the Dutch East India Company established two small outposts, one being New Amsterdam (New York City) on Manhattan Island. New York contained several ethnicities and cultures, so it was diverse. Drew English, Germans, Finns, and Swedes. by 1640's, free black came here. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
John Winthrop was the governor. He was a Puritan. Massachusetts Bay Company recieved charter. Meetings could take place anywhere with anyone whenever they wanted, due to the irregular charter given. Known as the city on a hill. Roger Williams preached extreme separatism. He later founded Rhode Island, after being thrown out of Massachusetts Bay. Anne Hutchinson created Antinomianism. She was exiled to Rhode Island as well. In 1639, representatives from Conneticut towns passed Fundamental Orders. -
Maryland
Founded by Sir George Calvert. Cecilius, Calvert's son, wanted to make a place for England's persecuted Catholics to be safe. He also wanted to make money. The significance of the colony's charter was that it turned Lord Baltimore (Calvert) into a "palatine lord", or a proprietor with almost royal powers. He had absolute control over everyone in his domain. The colony brought in both Protestants and Catholics. He drafted the Act concerning Religion". He also had several indentured servants. -
Rhode Island
Roger Williams believed in exrtreme separatism. He said the Bay Colonists were impure in sight of the Lord so long as they remained members of the Church of England. He didn't like the charter given for the Massachuesetts bay colony since the king had not asked the Indians for the land first. The Bay magistrates were not prepared to tolerate his religious thoughts, so he was banished. He brought his logic and ideas to Providence, a village he founded in what would become Rhode Island. -
Connecticut
Massachusetts Bay had spawned four colonies, one being a very fertile Connecticut River Colony. THomas Hooker was Connecticut's most prominant minister, writing things that helped New Englanders define the congregational church policies. Puritans and representatives came to an agreement of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. -
The Carolinas
Carolina was a result of the resroration of the Stuarts to the English throne. Sir John Colleton organized a group of 8 men who called themselves the True and Absolute Lords Proprietors of Carolina. They wanted to obtain a steady source of income from rents. Transporting settlers across the Atlantic was expensive though. These 8 men waited for the money and immigrants and settlers to roll in, but no one wanted to live on a small Carolina frontier. -
Bacons Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon was jealous of the governor's friends, since they recieved special rights that normal people did not. Bacon offered to lead an army of volunteers against the Indians. All he wanted in return was an official commission from Berkeley giving him military command. Government refused. Bacon, labeled a traitor, burned Jamestown to the ground and went up agaisnt Berkeley.Women, having few to no rights at this time, fought with Bacon. Charles II helped Berkeley win against Bacon. -
New Hampshire
Massachusetts bay spawned four colonies, one being New Hampshire. Became it's own separate colony in 1677. It's population grew slowly, and remained economically dependent on Massachusetts (neighbor) for awhile. -
Pennsylvania
Quakers discarded the idea of predestination, and said anyone could be saved. William Penn, being a Quaker, believed in this Inner Light, leading to the founding of Pennsylvania. Charles II gave the charter. Attracted all cultures and ethincities, with thousands of immigrants. Penn left governors in charge while traveling to America, but they had lost the control, and the colonists no longer cared for the religious toleration the region had settled on. -
English Bill of Rights of 1689
Parliament issued this. It limited the power of the crown and established the power of parliament and the rules for freedom of speech. The purpose was to ensure certain rights and reinstitute the supremacy of Parliament. It was a result of the glorious revolution. -
First Great Awakening
Beginning in the 1730's, the Great Awakening was revivals of religion in multiple different regions, most importants ones being Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Virginia. People just didn't care for organized religion anymore. John Edwards sparked one awakening in Massachusetts by preaching calvinism. Since John Edwards couldn't sustain the calvinistic revival, the responsibility fell upon George Whitefield. He also welcomed all Protestants. -
Georgia
The origianl purpose of the founding of Gerogia was to discourage Spanish expansion. South carolinans feared Spanish would gain the land between Florida and the Carolina grant. Founded by James Oglethorpe. He wanted to avoid Spanish expansion as well, but also wanted to help develop a fresh start for London's worthy poor, saving them from debtor's prison. So Gerogia's founding was also a charity case. -
French and Indian War (Seven Years War)
The British declared war on French. William Pitt, a powerful minister in Britian, decided the fight would take place in North America. He ended up putting Britian and it's colonies in major debt with his plans for the war. Pitt selected two officers (Jefferey Amherst and James Wolfe), who later cut off Canada's main supply line with France, leading to the surrender of key forts by the French. The Peace of Paris of 1763 ended this war. This war had made colinists have close contact with Britain. -
Sugar Act
This act revised duties on sugar, tea, coffee, win, and other imports. It expanded the jurisdiction of the vice-admiralty courts. The colonists felt the social contract was being violated, but thought it helped because of the lower prices on sugar. There was less "economic crime" (not as many people going bankrupt), which helped raise more money for the army. -
Quartering Act
Stated that the colonists must supply British troops with supplies with housing and whatever else they need, like candles and firewood. The colonists, though, considered the act taxation without representation, and refused to pay. This was known as a boycott to British goods. -
Stamp Act Congress
Nine colonies sent representatives, and these delegates drafted petitions to the King and Parliament saying that they wanted no taxation without representation. They were afraid that the Stamp Act would increase poverty and unemployment. this fear led to large protests in colonial ports. -
Parliamentary Supremacy
The Declaratory Act was issued at this time, shrilling the defense of parliamentary power over Americans no matter the situation. The colonists wanted "no taxation without representation" because they felt threatenedby the British. They lost the respect for imperial officeholders in America. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament declares it's sovereignty over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever". The colonists further insisted on no taxation without representation. The colonists lost respect for imperial officeholders in America. -
Townshend Revenue Acts
They were established on June 26, June 29, and July 2, but were all repealed in 1770. It issued new duties on glass, lead, paper, paints, and tea. Customs collections tightened in America. The chancellor then created an American Board of Custom Commissioners. -
Boston Massacre
This event began with young boys throwing rocks at British soldiers on the streets. The troops began to get nervous when more colonists joined the boys, so they opened fire, leaving five Americans dead. This recieved an intense reaction and a larger possibility of a massive armed resistance. -
Tea Act
Parliament gave the East India Company the right to sell tea directly to Americans. Some duties on tea were reduced. Tea drinkers preferred the cheaper leaves that were smuggled in from Holland. This led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
Governor Hutchinson wouldn't allow vessels that had tea on them to return to England, but local patriots wouldn't let the vessels unload. That night, while the ships sat in the Boston Harbor, a group of men (colonists) dressed like Indians and dumped 340 chests of tea into the sea. This led to the creation of the Coercive Acts. The colonists feared that they were practically "slaves" to the British after the Coercive Acts were released. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
The ports of Boston were closed. It restructured the Massachusetts government. It restricted town meetings. The troops were quartered in Boston. British officials with crimes were sent to Canada/England for trial. It seemed like the British wanted to "enslave" the Americans. This led to the creation of the First Continental Congress. The colonists realized their positions were shakened by this act. -
First Continental Congress
55 elected delgates from 12 colonies came to an agreement on the Suffolk Resolves, which was practically a resistance to the Coercive Acts. This led to the creation of the "association", or an intercolonial agreement to halt all commerce with Britian until Parliament repealed the Intolercable Acts (or Coercive Acts). -
Stamp Act
Stated that printed documents (such as deeds, newspapers, and marriage contracts) were to be issued only on special stamped paper purchased from stamp distributors. Patrick Henry sent the Five resolutions protesting this act. He believed collecting stamp revenues was illegal and unjust. The stamp act congress believed the act would increase unemployment and poverty. -
Shot heard Round the World
General Gage sent troops for supplies while the militia of Lexington waited patiently and peacefully for the British troops. The countryside swarmed with minute-men. The British then took Bunker Hill, but suffered 40% casualties. -
Lexington
Paul Revere, a patriot and colonist, brought together a bunch of ill-trained farmer boys and men to help stand silently where the british troops would soon pass the next morning. When passing, someone fired their a weapon (colonist), and then the troops attacked as well, even though no one was expected to die that day. 8 Americans. After this event, the countryside swarmedwith minute-men. The British won the Bunker Hill soon after, but there were 40% casualties. -
Concord
This was an open-armed conflict in which British troops were sent by General gage to search for and take their enemies' supplies, but they found nothing. This led to open warfare since "minute-men", or special companies of Massachusetts militia prepared to respond immediately to military emergencies, arrived to Concord and attacked the troops. -
Second Continental Congress
This group of people came together to meet in Philadelphia. This congress took on the responsibility of taking control of the war. The delegates formed a continental army, appointing George Washington as it's commander. This led to the establishment of the Prohibatory Act, War was declared on American commerce. There was no more trading allowed until the colonists begged for pardon. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was the final attempt to avoid the war, where the Americans asked the king for no more problems. The king rejected it, so Adams had aimed for independence. At this point, the colonists had two options: independence, or give in to Britain. -
Prohibitory Act
Declared British intention to coerce American's into submission. American ships were seized. Until the colonists begged for pardon, they couldn't trade with the rest of the world. This led to a rebellion! Thomas Paine wrote "common Sense". The Congress voted on independence. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote this essay, which stripped kingship of its historical and theological justification. It declared that Monarchs had ruled by force. This essay persuaded ordinary people to regard England as the mother country. The colonists now wanted to form an independent republic. -
Trenton
The bad and foggy weather gave the Americans the advantage for a surprise attack. Washington won this abttle. This battle inspired more people to enlist into the successful army. In other words, it increased the self esteem of Americans! -
Germantown/ Valley Forge
Americans (from Washington) had attempted one last battle by issueing a surprise attack on British troops, but right when it seemed like they would win, Americans retreated. This was due to confusion, bad luck, and incompetence. Disease had taken 2500 American lives at Valley Forge. -
Saratoga, Second Battle
When it became clear to General John Burgoyne that Howe wouldnt be able to come to the rescue, he surrendered 5800 soldiers to the American General Horatio Gates. This British failure and surrender led to Americans winning the trust of foreign allies and received help from them in the future. -
Kings Mountain
Backwoods men had killed a unit of British forces, and the Americans sapped the strength of Cornwallis' army. Becasue of their victory, Americans left Cornwallis confused and attacked while he was mentally weak. -
Yorktown
Lasting from August 30- October 18, this battle was on tobacco land (fertile for tobacco crops). The battlefield and campsites were also located alongside the York and James Rivers. Cornwallis had surrendered ALL 6000 of his soldiers to the Americans and the French, who were working together in this battle. After this, the war ended!! -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
This treaty ended the revolution. It guaranteed the independence of the United States. It transferred all of the territory that was east of the Mississippi River- except for Spanish Flordia- to the New Republic. It established generous boundaries on the North AND the South. Lastly, it gave very important fishing rights in the North Atlantic to the Americans.
