European Settlers

  • 1524

    New York Harbor

    New York Harbor
    Verrazzano, sailing for France, discovers New York Harbor.
  • 1534

    Montreal

    Montreal
    Frenchmen Jacques Cartier navigate the St. Lawrence River names an Island along the River Montreal.
  • Jamestown

    Jamestown
    Jamestown was founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers.
  • Quebec

    Quebec
    French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founded the colony of Quebec.
  • Deadly Epidemic

    Deadly Epidemic
    An epidemic of smallpox, brought by Europeans, kills many Native Americans on the New England coast.
  • Plymouth

    Plymouth
    Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
  • New Netherland

    New Netherland
    Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherland.
  • New York

    New York
    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

    King Philip's War
    King Philip's War begins in colonial villages of Massachusetts, between Colonists and Native Americans.
  • Louisiana

    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

    French & Indian War
    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.