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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus
Columbus lands in the Bahamas, thus unknowingly "discovering" the New World -
May 20, 1497
Cabot (couldnot finid date)
John Cabot of England explores the Atlantic coast of Canada, claiming the area for the English King, Henry VII. -
May 21, 1499
Vespucci (could not find date)
Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci, sights the coast of South America during a voyage of discovery for Spain. -
Jan 1, 1500
Brazil
Cabral arrived at Brazil they encountered stonage hunted gatherers and called them Indians -
May 21, 1507
Beginings of an America (No specific date)
The name "America" is first used in a geography book referring to the New World with Amerigo Vespucci getting credit for the discovery of the continent. -
May 15, 1513
Exploration of Florida
Ponce de Leon explores Florida for Spain. -
Sep 1, 1513
Balboa
Balboa claims all lands touched by the Pacific ocean for spain. -
Period: May 21, 1519 to May 21, 1522
Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan is the first person to sail around the world. -
Nov 8, 1519
Mexico
Hernando Cortes conquers Mexico for Spain. -
Sep 8, 1522
Magellan
Magellan's vessel completes circumnavigation of the New World. -
May 20, 1524
Verrazano (could not find date)
Verrazano explores eastern seaboard of North America for France. -
May 20, 1539
De Soto (could not find specific date)
De Soto explores the Southeast and discovers the Mississippi River. -
Period: Feb 23, 1540 to Apr 22, 1542
Southwest (could not find exact end date)
Coronado explores present-day Southwest. -
May 21, 1541
The Mississippi
Hernando de Soto of Spain discovers the Mississippi River. -
May 20, 1542
Cabrillo
Cabrillo explores California coast for Spain. -
May 21, 1565
St. Augustine
The first permanent European colony in North America is founded at St. Augustine (Florida) by the Spanish. -
Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh founds Roanoke colony -
Virginia Dare
The first English child, Virginia Dare, is born in Roanoke. -
Jamestown
The English settle Jamestown Virginia under Captain John Smith. (founded by the London Company) -
Virginia
Virginia colony founded at Jamestown, (named afteer the virgin queen.) -
New Mexico
Spanish found New Mexico. -
House of Burgesses
The first session of the first legislative assembly in America occurs as the Virginia House of Burgesses convenes in Jamestown. It consists of 22 burgesses representing 11 plantations -
20 and odd
The first twenty slaves to set foot in North America at the english colony of Jamestown, Virginia. (unable to find the specific day, but month is correct) -
Mayflower
Pilgrims sail on the Mayflower to Plymouth Bay. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact is signed by the 41 men, establishing a form of local government in which the colonists agree to abide by majority rule and to cooperate for the general good of the colony. -
Massachusetts
English citizens, searchiing for religious freedom and reform, settle Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. -
End of the Virginia company charter
The Virginia Company charter is revoked in London and Virginia is declared a Royal colony. -
New Netherland
Dutch found New Netherland led by Peter Minuit. -
Massachusetts
Puritans found Massachusetts Bay colony as a refuge. -
Maryland
Maryland colony is founded as a refuuge for Roman Catholics. -
Rhode Island
Roger Williams spoke out against policy of the church in the Massachusetts Bay colony. This eventually led to his fleeing the colony and establishing the colony of Rhode Island -
Harvard
Harvard College is established. -
New Haven
The colony of New Haven is founded by the English. -
Religious heresy
In Massachusetts, the general court approves a law that makes religious heresy punishable by death -
Begining of anti-slavery
Rhode Island enacts the first law in the colonies declaring slavery illegal. -
Navigation Act of 1663
Navigation Act of 1663 requires that most imports to the colonies must be transported via England on English ships -
West Jersey
England seizes New Netherland from Dutch East and West Jersey colonies founded. -
New Jersey
The New Jersey colony is settled by the English, Dutch, and Sweedes. -
Carolina
Lord Shaftsbury founded the Carolina colony at Charlestown (modern day Charleston). -
La Salle
The Mississippi River Valley is explored and claimed by Robert LaSalle of France, Louisiana is claimed. -
Pennsylvania
William Penn settles Pennsylvania and the Quakers briing the idea of tolerance to the colonies. -
An Anglo Population
The Anglo population in the English colonies in America reaches 250,000. -
Carolina Split
North and South Carolina divide into two colonies because of economic differences in farming and production. -
Georgia
The colony of Georgia was founded by James Oglethrope.
