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James I approves the formation of the Virginia Company
James I approves the formation of the Virginia Company (named after Elizabeth I). -
The Virginia Company establishes Jamestown
The Virginia Company arrives to the New World and establishes Jamestown on a peninsula in the Chesapeake bay. Jamestown is the first successful English colony in the New World. -
Samuel de Champlain establishes Quebec
French explorer de Champlain establishes Quebec as a foothold in the New World for France. -
The Dutch commission Henry Hudson to find the Northwest passage
The Dutch commission Henry Hudson to find the Northwest passage. He fails this, but he does find the Hudson River and claims New Amsterdam for the Dutch. -
Four Hundred settlers arrive at Jamestown
Four Hundred new settlers arrive at Jamestown. -
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"The Starving Time"
Jamestown faces its harsher winter. They had so little food that they had to resort to cannibalism. Only sixty settlers survived through the winter. -
Pocahontas marries John Rolfe
Chieftain's daughter Pocahontas marries wealthy tobacco farmer John Rolfe. This helps the relationship between the English and the Native Americans. -
Jamestown sends its first shipment of tobacco to England
Jamestown sends its first shipment of tobacco to England. Tobacco becomes very popular in England and Jamestown begins to make money. -
The Dutch bring the first African slaves to the New World
The Dutch sells the first African slaves in the New World to settlers in Jamestown. -
The Virginia Company establishes the House of Burgesses
The Virginia Company establishes the House of Burgesses to create a formal local government. -
Establishment of Plymouth
The colony was established by puritans who wished to turn this colony into a "city upon a hill" that England and the rest of the world would look to for inspiration. -
The Dutch create the Dutch West India Company
The Dutch create the Dutch West India Company. The company then creates colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. -
Chieftain Opechancanough attacks Jamestown
Chieftain Opechancanough attacks Jamestown, killing 350 settlers. The settlers retaliate, and drive the Native Americans out of Jamestown. -
Establishment of Massachusetts Bay
This colony was comprised of religious dissenters and more radical protestants. -
Charles I grants land to Cecilius Clavert in order to create Maryland
Charles I grants land to Cecilius Clavert in order to create Maryland. Calvert wants to make a haven for English Catholics in the New World. -
Establishment of Connecticut
Connecticut was created from the settlements of Saybrook, New Haven, and Newtown. -
Establishment of Rhode Island
Rhode Island was created by religious radicals such as Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson. It was well-known for its religious and political freedom. -
Thomas Hooker establishes Newtown (later to be known as Hartford)
Preacher Thomas Hooker led one hundred people to establish Newtown. -
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The Pequot War
A group of armed Puritans went into a Pequot village and burned the entire village to the ground. The ensuing conflict drew in the Dutch, the Narragansett, and the Mohegans. Eventually the English and the Mohegans emerged victorious. -
New Haven is established
New Haven is established by John Davenport, Theopholus Eaton and other puritans. -
Charles I was executed
After a reign of absolute monarchy, the people rebelled. They executed Charles I and Oliver Cromwell became protectorate of England. England then tightened its control on the colonies. -
The establishment of Charles Town
Charles Town was established as a major trading center in the colonies. The entire colony of Carolina was modeled after the colony of Barbados by the eight lords proprietors, friends of the king. -
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King Phillip's War
An uprising was led by a Wampanoag leader Metacom, also known as King Philip. After the English killed him, his head remained on a pole in the middle of Jamestown for 20 years. -
France criminalizes Protestantism
French Huguenots are tempted to leave France for the New World after France criminalizes Protestantism, but they are stopped when Protestantism is outlawed in the New World as well. -
James II creates the Dominion of New England
James II creates the Dominion of New England in order to better control the northern colonies. -
The Glorious Revolution
After James II Catholic and Pro-French policies came to light, he was overthrown by England in a bloodless revolution and was replaced by Prince William of Holland. -
Massachusetts becomes the first colony in the New World to print money
Massachusetts becomes the first colony in the New World to issue paper bills for currency. -
The Decree of Sanctuary is made
Created by the Spanish king, The Decree of Sanctuary stated that any slave that ran away to Florida, denounced their loyalty to Britain, proclaimed their loyalty to Spain, and converted to Catholicism would gain their freedom.