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1492
Columbus lands at Hispaniola in the Caribbean.
Christopher Columbus' exploration to the Caribbean Islands was the first contact between the Europeans and the Native Americans. -
1513
Balboa "discovers" the Pacific Ocean in Panama
Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean -
1521
Cortés conquers the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was given to Spain and is now Mexico City. Cortes was inspired by the stories of Christopher Columbus' stories of exploration -
1539
De Soto explores the region between Florida and the Mississippi River
De Soto was the first to see and cross the Mississippi river. -
First permanent English settlement is founded in Jamestown, Virginia
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
Pilgrims came to America for religious freedoms -
English settlers defeat Native Americans in King Philip's War
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
The French expanded all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and claimed the land to King Louis XIV
