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Jan 1, 1442
Johann Gutenburg
He was the creator of the movable type printing press. This creation spread technical knowledge that made it more likely for the colonizers to properly educate themselves, and explore revolutionary ideas. -
Mar 3, 1492
Reconquista
Ferdinand and Isabella's union started a religious crusade due to the ruler's Catholicism, through the armies of Castile and Aragon. This religious conquest led to the conquistadores extremedrive to spread religion in the New World. -
Aug 11, 1494
Treaty of Torsedillas
This divided the whole world along a line, and any territories discovered to the west of this line belonged to Spain, but this failed to stop Europeans from traveling to the New World. This affected how the Spain might have felt about the Europeans' pilgrimages to the New World, in a negative manner. -
May 3, 1497
John and Sebastian Cabot
John Cabot was the first recorded person to complete a transatlantic voyage by an English vessel, and Sebastian explored the Hudson Bay. This later helped the Europeans in their claim on the New World, and made it possible for them to be such a major participant. -
Sep 8, 1552
Slave Trade
This was the large export of Africans from their mainland to the New World for very inexpensive labor. This trade allowed for a vast amount of work to be accomplished, but at the cost of African's freedom, and their harsh treatment, which would scar the New World for centuries. -
Apr 1, 1558
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was the introduction of new theologies. This was a major cause for the colonization of the New World, to avoid persecution and to have complete religious freedom. -
Jun 26, 1570
Roanoke
This was a group sent to colonize the New World by Ralegh, but was very unsuccesful,a dn when the second colony launched, they had gone missing. This was likely a decrease in the excitement of Europeans, and a warning of the dangers that lie in creating a new colony. -
Richard Hakluyt
He published a massive book in which he used partially picked parts of interviews he held, in order to show the significance of European colonies in America. This work made the colonies in America seem like an absolute win, thus altering the Europeans opinions on colonization. -
Encomienda System
This system of labor was used by Spain in order to maintain control over the ambitious conquistadors. The encomienda system made it possible for Spain to complete the vast amount of tasks, and further spread Catholicism. -
Jamestown
The Virginia company, soon the London Company, settled the colony of Jamestown which was a failure; John Smith brought order to the colony, and Sandys' House of Burgesses and headrights helped the colony prosper. This colony is significant in the fact that it failed at first but ended in prosperity, and inspired others to come to America. -
Quebec
This was a French colony in present-day Canada, that required full cooperation between the Natives and the French. This created better realtionships that would lead to the possibility of learning fully about their culture, and the ability to befriend a new people. -
Plymouth
Pilgrims were humble English farmers, and seperatists came from a too good home in The Netherlands; together, along with William Bradford's lyrical tellings of American Settlement, they established the Mayflower Compact and with Squanto's help a more successful colony. This shows the cooperation between religions and peoples to successfully found a colony free of religious persecution. -
New York
James was the Duke of York, and one of his governors had created the Duke's Laws, which guranteed religious toleration and made local governments. This colony held significance in its foolish leader and giving of lands. -
Massachusetts Bay
John Winthrop established Massachusetts Bay as a Puritan colonyand the settlers possessed the same beliefs in God, and used Congregationalism. This colony lived in peace with one another, and established well-working means of law; they accepted no heresy, which worked to bring them all together. -
Maryland
Founded by Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore II, this was a place for persecuted Catholics and Protestants came as well; this eventually led to Protestants overtaking the government, as well as civil wars. This colonies held significance in its battles over religion which were a factor to its lacking standard of living, -
Connecticut
Thomas Hooker helped all New Englanders define Congregational Church Policy and it was decided that the towns would pass the Fundamental Orders as their civil government. -
Rhode Island
Founded by Roger Williams, a seperatist, and two years later Anne Hutchinson, an Antinomianist, brought her followers, and together the island was a profitable commerce in agricultural goods. This colony was unique and important in its religious diversity and zealots. -
Carolinas
Not many seemed interested in going to the Carolinas. It was mostly run by slave labor used for growing staple crops, and many farmers spent most of their time searching for the most profitable crops. -
Bacon's Rebellion
This rebellion was led by Nathaniel Bacon, an indentured servant, against the Indians and corrupt governor of Virginia. This event led to the use of African slaves in order to easily identify and persecute. -
New Hampshire
This colony had a very slow growing population and remained economically dependent on Massachusetts. for most of its time -
Pennsylvania
William Penn
This colony was founded by William Penn, a Quaker, who was seeking religious freedoms; he brought many Quakers from Ireland, Wales, and England. -
English Bill of Rights
This was created in response to the Glorious Revolution, and it limited the power of the Sovereign as an act of the Parliament. -
Georgia
This was settled as an act of aggresion against Spain, and owes most of its existence to James Oglethorpe. Slavery and alcohol were prohibited and, though it was made for the poor, not many came. These prohibitions were repealed, however it still attracted very few settlers. -
First Great Awakening
Many complained religion had lost its vitality; Jonathan Edwards sparked the Great Awakening, but did not have the proper voice, so George Whitefield became the voice and they spread their non-traditional teachings and creating New Lights. This brought new ideologies to the world, and created several new beliefs. -
Fench and Indian War
Britain and France were struggling to control colonial materials, eventually the French were driven out of mainland North America through colonial and British effort. Eventually, this led to taxes that caused America to claim independence. -
Parliamentary Supremacy
Parliament thought it was the best government and had the ability to do as it wished, and to an extent this was true. They were the ones who had the final say in legal decisions. Many colonists felt that the parliament had violated the undeniable right that they were given laws without proper representation, and were fairly upset. -
Sugar Act
Placed a heavy duty on molasses imported from foreign ports. Lower sugar prices, they were expected to generate revenue for British fighting. -
Stamp Act
Required Americans to purchase special seals or stamps to validate legal documents. They argued they had been taxed without proper representation. -
Quartering Act
Colonists must supply British troops with housing. They protested these acts, as they felt they were unjust and should not be forced to house troops. -
Stamp Act Congress
A congress held in New York that drafted petitions to the king through representatives from different regions. This was one of the largest intercolonial meetings since the Albany Congress if 1754, and it was against the Parliament. -
Declaratory Act
Parliaments declares its sovereignty over the colonies. England was saying it had power, but the colonists were enjoying the repeal of the Stamp Act, and felt successful. -
Townshend Revenue Acts
New duties on glass, lead, paper, paints, tea; customs collections tightened in America. Colonists publicly protested and had an increase in their spite of England. -
Boston Massacre
Unwanted soldiers fired upon a mob in King Street, Boston leaving 5 colonials dead. This sparked a larger amount of hate towards the British and their troops. -
Tea Act
Parliaments gives East India Company right to sell tea directly to Americans, some duties on tea reduced. East India Company was saved, lowered tea prices, more revenue was generated for British fighting. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of men dressed as Indians threw 340 chests tea off of a ship. This was a direct attack against the British government for what the colonists thought were oppresive laws. -
Intolerable Acts
Closes port of Boston; restructures Massachusetts governments; restrics town meetings; quartering; british officials accused of crimes sent to England or Canada for trial. More boycott to show their dissatisfaction towards the British officials and government. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine's essay that systematically stripped kingship of historical and theological justification. This influenced colonists to severe their ties with Great Britain, thus turning the general populous to the side of rebellion and independence. -
First Continental Congress
60 delegates met in Philadelphia to make a bold statement that encouraged forcible resistance of the Coercive acts. This was directly a revolutionary act against the Parliament. -
Olive Branch Petition
The petition was meant to affirm that the colonists were still loyal to the British government, and they wanted the King to stop any further fighting. The king rejected this petition, which inspired the rebellious colonists to push further for independence. -
Lexington
Shots were fried, small farmland. One of the first events directly leading to the Revolutionary War. -
Concord
Lexington troops came to stop the British from taking their weapons. The Lexington troops were ill-trained and a shot was fired leaving 8 Americans dead. Word spread fast and many Americans were outraged. Minutemen were formed to respond quickly to emergencies such as these. -
Shot Heard Around the World
At the road to Concord colonial troops faced British troops, and though no one meant for battle, someone fired a shot, and the British fired killing eight Americans. This was the initiation of future battles and thus led to war. -
Second Continental Congress
These delegates decided to form a Continental Army, while still refusing to declare independence. The formation of a military was the colonists saying that they were done with Britain's ways, but still weren't completely detaching themselves. -
Prohibitory Act
Declares British intention to coerce Americans into submission; embargo on American goods; American ships siezed. The seperatist colonists felt even closer to seperating from England and declaring their indepedence, due to their growing hatred for their laws. -
Trenton
Washington launched a well-coordinated attack on Trenton in the Northern Colonies. This was the first planned attack against the British and was successful, which gave the colonists/Americans hope. -
Second Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne fought back against the British and dealt a heavy blow, and they nearly lost their positions. The Americans and the French came to an agreement on the terms for their alliance. -
Germantown/Valley Forge
The Americans launched a majopr counterattack on a fog-covered battlefield, but just as they were about to win they broke off. They then went to valley forge where camp diseased took 2500 American lives. This was a near success that quickly turned into a dramatic loss. This dealt a heavy blow to the Continental Army as they were saddened by withdrawing then lost many troops. -
Kings Mountain
In a forest in the backwoods, guerilla warfare was used. This gave Americans the advantage, along with the fact that they were fighting in their homeland. The first use of guerilla tactics that meant a significant change in war tactics and typical rules of battle. -
Yorktown
Washington and French troops marched Cornwallis and his troops to surrender at Yorktown. This was the final major battle of the American Revolution and led to Britains' recognition of America as an independent country.
