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Verrazzano, sailing for France, discovers New York Harbor. -
Frenchmen Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River names an Island along the River Montreal. -
Jamestown was founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers. -
French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founded the colony of Quebec. -
An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many Native Americans on the New England coast. -
Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland. -
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. -
King Philip's War begins in colonial villages of Massachusetts, between Colonists and Native Americans. -
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. -
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.