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Jamestown Founded
The first permanent English colony in the "New World." Jamestown was founded by the New Virginia Company, named in honor of the Virgin Queen. This first settlement would be met with much harder conditions than were expected. The colony suffered heavy losses initially but under the leadership of Captain John Smith, the colony was able to survive. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses assembled in Virginia and was the first representative assembly in America. This assembly is the start of what the governments around the colonies will be shaped like. -
The Arrival of the Mayflower
102 Pilgrims and 30 crew members from England arrive in Plymouth, Massachusetts on the Mayflower and developed the city of Plymouth after surviving the harsh winter that was waiting for them when they landed. -
Dutch Arrive
The Dutch colonized the area of New Amsterdam, modern-day New York. They established this colony in New Netherlands in search of economic gain. They created a Fur trade empire that operated out of this colony later on. And it would later become America's first capital. -
Navigation Act
The Navigation Act is passed by the British Parliament to control the amount of commerce coming into the American Colonies. The act was put in place to expand the British Mercantilist agenda and expand the wealth that could be extracted from the colonies. -
English Seize New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam, a city and colony, was taken from the Dutch by the English. A blockade led by Colonel Richard Nicolls surrounded the town. This led to the capture of the colony and then after treaties with the Dutch its assimilation into the English colonies. The town is renamed, New York after the Duke of York. -
King Phillip's War
This war was a last-ditch effort for the Native Americans to take back their land from the ever-encroaching European immigrants. It was also a way for the Native Americans to not recognize the authority of the European colonists. However, the natives were quickly dealt with and the war was short-lived, but also extremely costly for both sides. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was fought in Virginia by local colonists fighting against the control of the mercantilist British assigned government and their laws. This rebellion was started by colonists in the interest of ridding the restrictions on foreign goods due to the overly priced British goods. -
Pennsylvania is Established
The frame of the government of Pennsylvania is established and the colony is officially apart of the English colonies. -
The First Newspaper is Published
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick is the first newspaper to be published and printed in the colonies, and though not widely accepted at the time, it paved the way from newspapers in the colonies. The importance of spreading information is starting to be realized by the colonists and they are finding ways to distribute information about the world and their home.