-
Oct 10, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus sailed west from Spain. He hoped to reach Asia by crossing the Atlantic Ocean and found North America instead. Columbus names the island they landed on San Salvador. -
Mar 1, 1524
Giovanni de Verrazano
This Italian explorer's mission was to find the Northwest passage. He landed near the mouth of the Cape Fear Re=iver in March 1524. Verrazano is considered North Carolina's first European explorer. -
Mar 1, 1526
Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon
Ayllon hoped to start a colony for Spain along the Cape Fear River. He brought 500 men, women, and children with him including enslaved Africans. Many of the colonists died from disease and lack of supplies. -
Mar 1, 1527
Ayllon's Colonists
Ayloon's colonists returned home to Spain. -
Jan 1, 1540
Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer that led a large expedition through the Southeastern US. His main goal was to find gold. However, he did not find any. -
Barlowe and Amadas
Raleigh sent Arthur Barlowe and Philip Amadas on an expedition to set up a colony.Barlowe and Amadas found Roanoke Island. -
Roanoke Island
Raleigh sent about 110 men to settle Roanoke Island. He appointed Ralph Lane to be the governor. -
Failed Roanoke Island Mission
Colonists began to starve when food became scarce. They feared they would die so they returned to England with Sir Francis Drake. -
The Lost Colony
John White and a group of colonists sailed to Roanoke Island to repair the fort and mend things. White sailed back to England for more supplies. When he returned to Roanoke 3 years later, the colonists were gone. To this day, no one knows what happened to the colony. -
King James I and his charter
King James I of England gave the Virginia Company a charter to start a colony. -
Jamestown
English colonists settled Jamestown. -
New taxes
The English government passed laws to control trade in the colonies, including taxes on certain goods shipped from colony to colony. -
Carolina Colony
King Charles II of England decided to start a colony south of Virginia. It was called "Carolina" which means "land of Charles." -
Culpepper's Rebellion
George Durant and John Culpepper led "Culpepper's Rebellion", a rebellion against the English governemnt on their new tax laws. -
Tuscarora attack New Bern and Bath
American Indians attacked the towns of Bath and New Bern. These attacks led to the Tuscarora War. -
Tuscarora Defeated
Colonists defeated the Tuscarora in 1713.
