-
May 15, 1524
New York Harbor
Verrazzano, sailing for France discovers New York Harbor. -
May 15, 1534
Frenchman Jacques Cartier
He navigated the St. Lawrence River and names an island along the River Montreal. -
Jamestown
Jamestown is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers. -
Quebec
French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founds the colony of Quebec. -
New Netherland
Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland. -
Smallpox
An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many Native Americans on the New England coast. -
Plymouth
Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
New York
The Duke of York drives out the Ditch in New Netherland. The Duke of York claims the colony for England and renames it New York. -
King Phillip's War
King Phillip's War begins in Colonial villages of Massachusetts, between colonists and Native Americans. -
Louisiana
Sieur de la Salle explores the lower Mississippi Valley river, and claims the valley for France and names it Louisiana in Honor of the French King Louis XIV. -
French & Indian War
War between the British and French. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio Valley.