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Bartholomew Gosnold becomes the first Englishman to step foot on the New England coast
After the mysterious failure of the English colony of Roanoke, England was eager to claim land in the New World. On May 14th, 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold and 32 other men landed on present day Maine. The following day, the group traveled along the coast, discovering and naming Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. -
Jamestown is established
With the Idea of making money, Christopher Newport and his crew, founded by the Virginia Company, established Jamestown on the James river. At first, the settlement did poorly due to sickness, Indian attacks, and food shortages, but with the help of John Smith, Jamestown was able to become first permanent English settlement in America. -
House of Burgesses is formed in Jamestown
The House of Burgesses was the first ever assembly in America composed of locally elected representatives. The House would maintain equilibrium throughout the colony of Virginia by meeting with the colonist representatives twice a year to sort out issues in the colony. This is now viewed as the start of American democracy. -
Signing of the Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was a collection of self-government laws created by the English immigrants who sailed to the Americas on the Mayflower. Understanding that living without rules would result in anarchy, colonist leaders drafted the Mayflower Compact to assure the survival of a functional social order. The Mayflower Compact established regulations for both Pilgrims as well as non-Pilgrims, intended to benefit their newly made colony. -
The Indian Massacre of 1622 takes place
The Indian Massacre of 1622 was when Chief Opchanacanough, leader of the Powhatan Confederacy, attempted to remove Virginia of its non-Indian settlers. It was an onslaught directly on the settlements located within the Virginia Colony, which resulted in the deaths of 347 colonists. This massacre killed an astounding one third of the colonies population. -
Slavery is made legal in Massachusetts
In 1641, slavery was officially sanctioned by the state of Massachusetts. Although slavery had existed within the states before hand, it was not truly acknowledged until 1641. Many other Colonies do the same soon after. -
Jamestown is burned down by Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was an armed revolt led by Virginian settlers trying to get rid of Native Americans. It was overseen by Nathaniel Bacon, who was strongly against Colonial Governor William Berkeley. Bacon's Rebellion would be the first revolt in the North American colonies. After a long rivalry between Bacon and Berkeley, Bacon and his men stormed Jamestown and burned the whole city down. -
The English Parliament introduces the English Bill of Rights
This English Bill of Rights was allowed by William III and Mary IL. This document brought on by the overthrowing of King James II was the blueprint for the American Bill of Rights.