Exploration and Settlement

Columbus lands at Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

1492

Christopher Columbus' exploration to the Caribbean Islands was the first contact between the Europeans and the Native Americans.

Balboa "discovers" the Pacific Ocean in Panama

1513

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean

Cortés conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan

1521

Tenochtitlan was given to Spain and is now Mexico City. Cortes was inspired by the stories of Christopher Columbus' stories of exploration

De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi River

1539

De Soto was the first to see and cross the Mississippi river.

First permanent English settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia

1607

Colonists came to America in search of riches and religious freedoms. Jamestown was the first successful colony in the New World

Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth colony in Massachusetts

1620

Pilgrims came to America for religious freedoms

English settlers defeat Native Americans in King Philip's War

1676

This war was the last resort for the Native Americans to drive out the English settlers. The war lasted 14 months and ended when the Native American leader was captured and beheaded

France claims the Mississippi River Valley and names it Louisiana

1682

The French expanded all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and claimed the land to King Louis XIV