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Roanoke
1587-1590, 115 English settlers settled on the coast of what is now present day North Carolina. John White became the governor of this colony. He was called back to England to fight in the Spanish Armada, and when he returned to Roanoke there was no sign of the people. The only thing left behind was the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree. (https://www.history.com/news/what-happened-to-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke) -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English colony in America, founded by the London company. Their main goal was to find gold, so they were not looking for food or shelter. Many people died because of this and disease. John smith was their leader and established the "no work, no food" policy. Then in 1613, because of tobacco being a cash crop, African slaves were imported. (https://www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement/history-jamestown/) -
House of Burgesses
The first meeting was on July 30, 1619. This was the first legislature in the colonies, and it started in Jamestown. It was made up of 22 men over the age of 17, who met once a year to make laws. (http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/houseofburgesses.htm) -
The Great Migration
1620-1642, English puritans left England because of religious persecution and other economic issues. They boarded the Mayflower and landed on the coast of Massachusetts. The Plymouth colony was then established, which is the first colony to be established in America. (http://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-great-puritan-migration/) -
Mayflower/ Plymouth/ Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower was a ship that set sail carrying 102 passengers to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they hoped to start a new life. These Pilgrims were separatists wanting to establish a new church. They established the Mayflower Compact to be considered a legitimate colony. This compact promised "just and equal laws" and said the colony was to be governed by elected officials. (https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower) -
New York
New York, originally named New Amsterdam by the Dutch, was founded by Peter Minuit in 1626. It was a middle colony and one of the original 13. There was not a specific religion for the colony. One of the major crops was wheat.(http://softschools.com/facts/13_colonies/new_york_colony_facts/2043/) -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
This colony was founded by the Massachusetts Bay Company during The Great Puritan Migration. John Winthrop and his fleet of 12 ships sailed to The New World and landed in Salem, Massachusetts. After the Puritans had settled, they named Boston their capital in 1632, and had invited for colonists from England to join them. (http://historyofmassachusetts.org/history-of-the-massachusetts-bay-colony/) -
Maryland
The King of England granted a charter to Lord Baltimore to settle between Virginia and Pennsylvania for the British Roman Catholics. This land became Maryland, and the Religious Toleration Act was passed to protect the Catholics and Puritans from each other, but religious wars occurred anyways. (https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Maryland_History) -
Connecticut
This colony was founded in 1636 by Thomas Hooker and some other colonists. Connecticut joined this other colonies in 1776 in rebellion against Great Britain. There was no religious freedom in areas inhabited by the Puritans. (https://www.landofthebrave.info/connecticut-colony.htm) -
Rhode Island
This colony was founded by Roger Williams, who had been banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for acting against their strict Puritan laws. He had a firm belief in religious freedom and the separation between church and state. Also, the city Newport was a big hub for shipping and trade. (https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/rhode-island) -
Maryland Toleration Act
Englishman, George Calvert, looked to America for religious freedom. His son, Cecelius, carried out his wishes by establishing a colony as a refuge for Catholics, like his father who had to practice in secret. This act was passed by the colony's legislature and granted religious freedom to all who believed in the Trinity and in Jesus as the Son of God. (https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1601-1700/maryland-toleration-act-11630122.html) -
Carolina
The Carolinas were created after King Charles II resumed his position on the throne, making them "restoration colonies." It was founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The Carolinas were not divuded until 1729. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carolinas) -
Bacon's Rebellion
In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon recruited a small force in an uprising against American Indians and the government of the Virginia Colony. This was caused by low prices in tobacco, high taxes, and anger. Bacon's rebellion was the first rebellion in America. (https://www.landofthebrave.info/bacons-rebellion.htm) -
Pennsylvania
William Penn founded this colony as a safe haven for the Quakers. He established this colony as a "Holy Experiment" and granted 50 acres to each male. The capital, Philadelphia, was the location of the 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775. (https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/pennsylvania) -
Salutary Neglect
This was a British policy which allowed colonists to violate the trade laws. It was not documented, but lasted from the 1690s to the 1760s and benefited the colonists by boosting their trade profits. (https://www.landofthebrave.info/salutary-neglect.htm) -
Salem Witch Trials
In the spring of 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts, a group of young girls insisted they were possessed by the devil. They also accused some local women to be participating in witch craft. 19 people were hung, 4 died in prison waiting for their trials, and one person was crushed to death. (https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials) -
Great Awakening/ Enlightenment
The First Great Awakening was a religious revival impacting English colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. Christian leaders traveled from town to town preaching the gospel, putting emphasis on salvation from sins. A new interest in religion resulted from this. However, Enlightenment thinkers put emphasis on science and a logical view of the world, looking down on religion. (https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/great-awakening) -
Albany Plan
This was a plan suggested by Benjamin Franklin which proposed that the American colonies unite permanently. Even though this plan was rejected by King George II, it was a major milestone and was the first official attempt of inter-colonial cooperation. (https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/albany-plan-of-union/) -
French-Indian War
1756-1763 Also called the Seven Years War, this was a major conflict involving 6 countries. It was ultimately between the English and the French battling over control of North America, the Caribbean, and in India. In effort to raise money for the war, The Sugar Act and The Navigation Act were put into place. (http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/frin.html) -
Proclamation of 1763
This was issued by the British to appease the Indians by checking the rights of settlers on their lands. Tightening control over the colonies, they were not allowed to expand westward. Only licensed traders could travel west and deal with Indians. The proclamation has become one of the cornerstones of Native American law in America and was the first law to affect all 13 colonies. (https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of)
