European Nations Settle in North America

Verrazzano

1524

Verrazzano sails for France and discovers New York Harbor.

Jacques Cartier

1534

Frenchman, Jacques Cartier, navigates the St. Lawrence River, names and island along the River Montreal.

Jamestown is Founded

1607

Jamestown is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers.

Samuel de Champlain

1608

French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founds the colony of Quebec.

Henry Hudson

1609

Henry Hudson explores for the Netherland, and claims land that will become New Netherland.

Smallpox

1616

An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many native American on the New England coast

Plymouth, Massachusetts

1620

Pligrims from England, found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Duke of York

1664

The Duke of York drives out the Dutch in New Netherland. The Duke of York claims the colony for England and renames it, New York.

King Philip's War

1675

King Philip's War, begins in Colonial villages of Massachusetts, between colonists and Native Americans.

Sieur de la Salle

1683

Sieur de la Salle explorers the lower Mississippi Valley River, and claism the valley for Francce and names it Louisiana in Honor of the French King Louis XIV

French & Indian War

1754

The War between the British and French, known as the French & Indian War. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio Valley.