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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Exploration and Colonization Era
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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Columbus lands in the New World in what is the Bahamas today. He made the Atlantic crossing with the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria and traveled for Spain, hoping to reach the East Indies by sailing across the Atlantic.Instead, he reached the West Indies, islands in the Caribbean. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain secured its claim to Columbu's with this treaty dividing with Prtugal the "heathen lands" of the New World -
Apr 2, 1521
Ponce de Leon
De Leon learned from the Indians of an island called Bimini that there was a fountain that rejuvenated those who dranked from it, so he set out to find what is known as the Fountain of Youth on March of 1521 and landed on the coast of Florida near modern St. Augustine. -
May 22, 1524
Giovanni da Verrazano
The French king dipatched and Italian mariner, Giovanni da Verrazano to explore the eastern seaboard. -
Apr 1, 1541
The Southwest
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado was interested by Indian tales of a golden land to the east, Coronado headed northeast in the spring of 1541 through parts of present-day Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas before turning back. -
May 8, 1541
Hernando de Soto
On this day de Soto along with six hundred armor plated men, went on a gold seeking expedition mainly between 1539-1542, although in 1541 he discovered and crossed the Mississippi River, north of its junction with the Arkansas River. De Soto later on died in 1542 from fever and wounds,his troops disposed of his remains in the Mississippi at night. -
Virginia
On this day Sir Walter Raleigh fleet of seven vessels under Richard Grenville and Ralph Lane, with 108 men, reach Roanoke Island in Virginia which he named after Queen Elizabeth, but is now is known as North Carolina. -
Jamestown
John Smith came to the "new world" and established a new colony in Jamestown, it was he first permanent English colony on mainland America. -
Twenty Slaves
First African slaves in North America brought to Jamestown, Virginia, by a Dutch ship. -
Mayflower Compact
A document the colonists put together for their rights is signed, initiating a "type" of government. -
The Pilgrims
The Pilgrims find the Plymouth Colony in what became Massachusetts, the first New England colony. They remained a small group. -
The Mayflower
On this day the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England, with 102 men and women from a calvinist separatist community seeking a place in the new world to practice their religion. -
The Dutch Settlement
Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam (New York) occurs. The Dutch West India Company explored and settled on an area north of Virginia, settlers settled an island that brought from the local Indians for 60 gilders worth of goods, and the Dutch holdings in the area were collectively called New Netherlands -
Massachusetts Bay Company
Massachusetts Bay Company is organized and Massachusetts Bay Colony and city of Boston are founded. -
Maryland
Maryland is founded is settled and claimed to be a Roman Catholic Colony. -
Harvard College
The first high institute education is developed and named Harvard -
Conneticut
Connecticut is founded and settled on. -
Anne Hutchinson
Massachusetts Bay Colony resident Anne Hutchinson is banished after "court" holds that her religious beliefs are contrary to revealed faith of Puritans. -
Conneticut's Fundamental Orders is Drafted
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Roger Williams
Roger Williams, a religious seeker whose views on religious toleration are revived more than a century later, is granted a patent for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. -
Toleration Act
Maryland passes Toleration Act, this granted religious toleration to all Christians, including Roman Catholics. -
Oliver Cromwell
Puritan Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector in England. -
Cromwell refuses the Crown
Oliver Cromwell refuses the title of "king" -
Richard Cromwell
Cromwell dies, and is succeeded as Lord Protector by his son Richard who will resign one year later. -
Charles II
Charles II is invited to return to England as King. He is crowned the next year, and will reign until his death in 1685. -
New York
The English take over New Amsterdam and re-name it New York -
Carolina
Carolina is founded and becomes a colony. -
Mississippi River
French explorers Marquette and Joliet explore the Mississippi River -
William Penn
Penn was a Quaker who also wanted a safe heaven for his people, optains rights to what will become Pennsylvania named after Penn. -
King Philip's War
1675-1676 -
"The Laws, Concessions and Agreements"
William Penn and others publish "The Laws, Concessions and Agreements," which includes provisions protecting religious conscience and trial by jury. -
Sieur de La Salle
French explorer Sieur de La Salle investigates the lower Mississippi valley and claims the entire region for France. -
"Frame for Government"
William Penn publishes a "Frame for Government," which includes a type of representative government. -
A Charter of Liberties
Colonists from New York and parts of New England draft a Charter of Liberties, which requires those who are taxed to consent to such taxation. -
James II
After the death of Charles II, his brother James II, a Roman Catholic, succeeds him as King. -
The Protestants
King James II is removed from the throne, and replaced by the Protestants William and Mary, in what the English call the Glorious Revolution. -
Leisle's Rebellion in New York
1689-1691 -
Declaration of Rights
When King James II is removed from the throne, and replaced by the Protestants William and Mary, they issue the Declaration of Rightsand the charters to American colonies. -
The Declaration of Rights
When King James II is removed from the throne, and replaced by the Protestants William and Mary, they issue the Declaration of Rights, and re-issue the charters to American colonies. -
The English Bill of Rights
Is enacted by the English Parliament and singed into law by King William III in 1689, it lays down limits on the powers of the crown and sets out the rights of Parliament -
The Salem Trials
The Salem (Massachusetts) witch trials take place, before the hysteria ends, 20 people are killed. Five years later, many of those involved in the trials apologize for their actions. -
Yale College is founded
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Queen Anne's war
1702-1713 -
Tuscarora War
During the time periodof 1711-1713 a war breaks out in North Carolina -
The Rebellion of New York
A rebellion by slaves in New York is halted, and afterward, 21 slaves are executed. -
Yamasee War
During the time period of 1715-1716 a war broke out in South Carolina. -
Smallpox inoculation introduced
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Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin begins publishing his "Poor Richard’s Almanac." -
The first public stagecoach begins operations in New Jersey
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Georgia
The last of the thriteen colonies is settled by Englishmen
