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1524
Verrazzano discovers New York
Verrazzano, sailing for France, discovers New York Harbor. -
1535
Jacques Cartier names island
Frenchmen Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River names an Island along the River Montreal. -
Jamestown is founded
Jamestown was founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers. -
Founding Quebec
French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founded the colony of Quebec. -
Henry Hudson explores Netherlands
Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland. -
Small pox kills many native Americans
An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many Native Americans on the New England coast. -
Pilgrims find english colony in Massachusetts
Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
New York is named
The Duke of York drives out the Dutch in New Netherland. The Duke of York claims the colony for England and renamed it New York. -
War begins between colonists and natives
King Philip's War begins in colonial villages of Massachusetts, between Colonists and Native Americans. -
Louisiana is named
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. -
Indian war begins
War between the British and French, known as the French & Indian War. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio River Valley.