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Dec 8, 1440
Johann Gutenberg
Gutenberg's invention of printing form movable type greatly increased knowledge and facilitated communication. Sea captains were quick to publish their findings. Due to the printing press Europe was informed about exploration in America which in turn began colonization in the Americas. -
Jan 2, 1492
Reconquista
Towards the end of the 15th century Spain "came alive with creative energy" which led to the Reconquista. The Reconquista was a war between the Spainard monarchy and independent Islamic states within Spain. Spanish monarchs did not tolerate any other religion but Catholicism, which in turn drove Jews and Moors out of Spain. Spain's achievement in a way fueled Columbus' voyage to the Americas due to Spain being in a good political state. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
After Columbus' first voyage Spain and Portugal almost went to war due to the dispute of new routes that led to Asia. Pope Alexander VI intervened and compromised with both. The treaty stated that any lands located 270 leagues west of the Azores belonged to Spain and the other side belonged to Portugal. This is significant because certain parts of the New World were colonized by Spain, others by Portugal. -
Jul 8, 1497
John Cabbot Sebastian Cabbot
John Cabbot was the first explorer to lead an English vessel on a transatlantic voyage to Asia. Cabbot died on his second voyage to Asia. Although his son Sebastion followed in his fathers footsteps in 1508, England was to worried about internal conflict to focus on exploring the New World, which prolonged English exploration/colonization in the Americas. -
Sep 8, 1500
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was fueled by English/Spainard rivalry. In order to avoid future war, Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII decided to make the Church of England since he could not divorce his wife from the Catholic church thus began the Prostestant Reformation. When Elizabeth succeeded the throne she began creating Protestant martyrs. Protestants began exploring/colonizing the Americas while spreading their religious thoughts. -
Mar 7, 1512
Encomienda System
The encomienda system was used by Spainsh monarchs to recompense conquistadores. The conquistadores were rewarded with Indian villages. Indians were supposed to be protected and religously guided but instead most were forced to work for the conquistadores much like slaves. This is significant because the system led to slavery in early colonies of America. -
Sep 8, 1582
Richard Hakluyt
Although Richard never visited the Americas, it was because of him that "the dream of American colonization" did not die out in England. He published many books, speaking of American coloniaztion in a positive way. In order to write his famous books he interviewed captains and sailors about their voyages. -
Roanoke
Roanoke at first seemed to be going well for colonists. In the spring of 1586, Roanoke's colonists returned home due to lack of supplies. In 1587, Roanoke was given a second oppurtnity but again the colonists waiting on shipment of supplies that never came. The Spanish Armada blocked off communication between England and America. It was not until 1590 that a ship finally reached Roanoke. The fate of Roanoke scared many potential emigrants which prolonged English coloniaztion in the Americas. -
Slave Trade
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Africa by Sea. Portuagal voyaged to Africa for gold and slaves. Slaves were traded to the Europeans for gold. Europeans were constantly purchasing slaves. Slaves were used to work forcefully on plantaions. Slavery was established in the New World as well. Soon it was very common for slaves to be taken to the Americas. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was first settled by about 100 men sent by the Virgina Company. Conditions were bad. Famine, disease and conflict with natives nearly killed all settlers. Smith contributed to the survival of the colony, The Virginia Company in 1619 decided to create the House of Burgesses led by stockholders such as Sandys. Meetings were held and only white landowners were allowed to vote.Jamestown was the first colony to actually flourish, this colony convinced many Europeans to give America a try. -
Quebec
The French were not very interested in the Americas. Jacques Cartier was sponsered to find a shorter route to China, in 1534. Cartier grew discouraged and never found his route. It was not until 1608 that a French colony was finally established. Quebec was founded by French explorer, Samuel de Champlain. -
New York
New York founded by the Duke of York. He founded this colony for his own economical benefit. New York became an extraordinary mix of cultures. This colony is significant because it was one of the most diverse colonis of the time. The colony included English, Germans, Finns, Swedes, Blacks and even Puritans. -
Plymouth
Plymouth was founded by religious humble farmers who felt the church of England had too many traces of Catholicism. These farmer/seperatists known as Pilgrims originated from Scrooby later moved to Holland to avoid Angilican services. The Pilgrims moved to America and signed a democractic compact known as the Mayflower. The colonly faced many hardships but with the help of Natives, survived. Plymouth is important because it was one of the few colonies that learned to get along with the Natives. -
New Hampshire
New Hampshire was founded by John Mason. it was founded for the porpose of commercial venture in 1623. The colony focused mainly focused on Agriculture and exporting raw goods to England. -
Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts was founded by Puritans. The colonists actually migrated in family which set this colony up for success. The colony participated in the joint stock company which helped for a colonial government. The Purtians were highly religious. Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson were individuals who founded even more religious ideas. This colony was signigficant because it prospered greatly due to its even sex ratio, colonies before were usually unbalanced. -
Maryland
Maryland was founded by George Calvert, Lord Baltimore and others. Lord Baltifmore wanted to create a sanctualry for Catholics in England. Although the colony began to lure Protestants. Religious differences soon caused war within the colony. Maryland is a significant example of diversity in early colonial America, which is what makes America, America. -
Connecticut
Connecticut was orginally founded in order to expand Massachusetts. Connecticut focused on agriculture.This colony is significant because it contributed in the agricultural trade. -
Rhode Island
Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams. In Rhode Island no one was persecuted for their religious beliefs. Although villagers did not help each other out in order to prosper as a colony. Despite the coloinal differinces the colony profited from commerce in agricultural goods. This colony is significant because despite challenges the colonystill managed to prosper. -
The Carolinas
The Carolinas were founded in 1663 by Anthony Ashley Cooper for a commercial venture. The colony attracted men and women who were already living in America. This colony was a bit of a corrupted one due to its owners who took advantage of unfair rights. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was led by Nathan Bacon. The rebellion was fueld by resentment of Berkeley (governor) who tended to recieve specail treatment. The rebellion drove Berkeley out of Virginia and also issued campaigns against Natives. In the end Bacon died and the rebellion fell. This is significant because even century before the Revolution rebellions were already being held. -
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn who aspired to form a sanctuary for his fellow Quakers. Quakers believed everyone has the right to belive whatever the desired. Pennsylvania over time became a very diverse colony due to its tolerability of everyone. -
English Bill of Rights
The bill was passed to limit the monarchs power and establish democratic elections. The bill also guarenteed certain rights for the citizens. The English Bill of Rights was the first step of England becoming more of a democratic nation. -
Georgia
The settlement of this colony was mainly to anger the Spanish. Georgia seemed to struggle at first as nobody found the desire to move there. The establishment of this colony indicates Britian was willing to put up a fight against Spain when it came to coloinzation. -
First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was a religious movement that unified colonists. Jonathon Edwards contributed to the movement by proposing the idea that salvation solemnly depended on the Lord. George Whitefield contributed to the "New light, Old Light" movement. In a sense the Great Awakening prepared the colonists for the Revolutionary war. -
Seven Years War
Britain, France and Spain were in competition for control of the world its markets and materials. The War was fought between Britain, Americans against Indians, French. France lost the war and lost Quebec. The war left England in debt, so it began to tax Americans unfairly to pay off the war which led to the Revolution. -
Sugar Act
Revised the tax on sugar,coffe, tea, wince, and other imports it also expanded the jurisdiction of vice admiralty courst. This was the first real taxation. Colonists began to get upset which fueled the Revolution -
Parlimentary Supremacy
Colonists felt it was very unfair for Parliment to make decisions about America without having American represenatives in Parliment. Colonists were angered thus starting a chain of events that would lead to the Revolution. -
Stamp Act
Printed documents such as deeds, newspaper and marriage licenses could only be issued on special stamp paper whichwas bought from stamp distributors. After the act was passed colonists began to realize they possesed the same rights as the British. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act demandedthat colonists supply British troops with housing and other items. This angered many colonists which caused protests in assembelies. This greatly fueld the Revolution. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress held a meeting in New York, where they discussed what had to be done about the Stamp Act. The Congress consisted of colonial represenatives. Colonists after the Stamp Act refused to buy British goods. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act basically states that Parliment has declared its sovereignty over the colonies. This Act fueled the Revelution through oppression. -
Townshend Revenue Act
This Act brought about new duties on things such as glass, tea, lead , paper, paints etc. It also "tightened customs collections in America". Colonists no longer imported British goods, assembelies began to protest and the paper attacked British government. This Act is important because it is directly linked to the Boston Massacre -
Boston Massacre
In Boston a mob of colonists gathered around a group of British troops. Although it was a peaceful riot shots were fired and 5 Americans lay dead. This event outraged colonists and victims were seen as martyers. -
Tea Act
Americans were for a while smuggling in tea from the Dutch which was causing the East India Company to go bankrupt. The Tea Act gave the Company right to sell directly to the Americans, it also made tea cheaper. This Act caused the Boston Tea Party, where Americans disguised themselves as Natives and dumped the tea into the harbor. -
Boston Tea Party
Political Protest led by the Sons of Liberty. They disguised themselves as Natives in order to dump a shipment of tea sent by the East India Company. Protestors followed this example soon. This event led to the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
This Act was result of the Boston Tea Party as punishment for the Americans. Britian closed the port of Boston, modified the MA government and restricted town meetings. This Act was what mainly fueled the idea of independence. -
First Continental Congress
Fifty five electives gathered from 12 colonies except Georgia, in Phildelphia to discuss what needed to bedone about the Intolerable Acts. People known as loyalists usually violated certain laws of the Congress and were shamed or forced to publicly apoligize. The First Continental divided America into Revolutionaries and Loyalists. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine, Common Sense was pamphlet which stated the historical and theological justification for independence. It persuaded many colonists to want their own independent nation. -
Shot Hear'round the World
As British troops were crossing over from Concord they ran into an American militia, shots were fired and 8 Americans died. After the event Americans constructed more organized armies in each colony. -
Lexington
Boston British troops were sent to seize rebel supplies but a shot was fired. The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolution. These events motivated colonists to on go with the Revolution. -
Concord
The battle at Concord was not really a battle. This battle helped American give a name for themselves. After the event Britian didnt see Americans as just an "irregular mob" anymore. -
Second Continental Congress
This meeting was held by the Representives in order to form the Continental Army, and appointed George Washington as Supreme General. Colonists soon began to join the cause and army. -
Olive Branch Petition
It was the last attempt by the Americans to try to make peace in order to avoid an uprising war. Britain rejected the petiton which outraged colonists and gave them the oppurtunity they needed to push for independence. -
Prohibitory Act
Britain with this Act tried to make things very difficult for americans by cutting off trade and seizing ships. This act was convinced America of Independence. -
Trenton
Americans sneak attacked British troops, surrounded them and won the battle of Trenton. The victory at Trenton provided much needed motivation for American Troops. -
Germantown
Americans counter attacked the British but bad luck, confusion and incompetence cost them the victory. After the battle they headed towards Valley Forge where 2500 troops died due to disease. This event discouraged the American rebels. -
Saratoga
British surrenders 5800 troops to American general. This victory finally convinced France to form an alliance with America colonists. -
KIngs Mountain
Most vicious fighting of the whole war. While surrendering British general was still shot at. British retreated to North Carolina and forgot about their plans of invasion. -
Yorktown
British surrenders while attempting to establish a base at Yorktown. This was the last battle fought which gave America their long awaited Independence from England.
