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The Roanoke Colony
Roanoke, an English colony, was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh who was granted permission by Queen Elizabeth 1. This colony only lasted 10 months due to the people's inexperience and lack of knowledge on how to provide for themselves. Roanoke is often referred to as the "Lost Colony."
[http://www.nationalcenter.org/ColonyofRoanoke.html] -
The Colony of Jamestown
Jamestown was founded on the James River in North America by the Virginia Company. About 100 settlers arrived, but inexperience brought famine, disease, and conflicts among other Americans. However, the discovery of tobacco brought income and became the town's savior.
[http://www.history.com/topics/jamestown] -
The House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first American assembly which belonged to Virginia. It was originally created to abolish martial law and create a legislative assembly. Members, only white men who owned property, first met in Jamestown in 1619.
[http://www.ushistory.org/us/2f.asp] -
The Mayflower, Plymouth, and the Mayflower Compact
102 Protestant Pilgrims on the Mayflower voyaged from the Plymouth Colony in 1620. The Mayflower sailed across the Atlantic for two months through numerous storms in order to reach America. The Pilgrims miscalculated their navigation and intruded on the tribes located in Cape Cod. They created a contract with the tribes promising a fair government and allegiance to the king.
[http://www.history.com/topics/mayflower] -
The New York Colony
Founded by Peter Minuit, his crew claimed the territory for England and renamed it New York. The Colony of New York joined the 12 U.S. colonies, becoming the 13th in 1626. New York practiced religious freedom and was a major exporter of wheat.
[http://www.softschools.com/facts/13_colonies/new_york_colony_facts/2043/] -
The Great Migration
During the Great Migration, about 60,000 Puritans deserted England and sailed to the Americas. The majority settled in the West Indies, but about 10,000 to 20,000 went to Massachusetts. The Puritans left primarily due to religious persecution and economic reasoning.
[The American Nation by Paul Boyer] -
The Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Company sought out trade and colonization in New England from a charter with King Charles I. However, the company moved the charter to Massachusetts. The Puritans established a new government and set up communities in Massachusetts.
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts-Bay-Colony] -
The Maryland Colony
Englishman, George Calvert was granted rights to the land east of the Potomac River. Shortly after, Calvert died and his son, Cecilius, furthered his father's plan. He established Maryland as a safe haven for Roman Catholics from the persecution occurring in England at the time.
[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-settlement-of-maryland] -
The Colony of Rhode Island
In 1636, an explorer by the name of Roger Williams and crew founded the Colony of Rhode Island. A government was immediately set up which practiced religious toleration and separation of church and state. The settlers harmonized with the Narragansett Indians, helping the settlement to prosper. -
The Connecticut Colony
Connecticut, one of the first 13 colonies, was founded by the explorer Thomas Hooker and John Haynes. About 100 people with 130 cattle migrated to the settlement of Hartford. Thomas Hooker created the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the colony's principles of government.
[http://thehistoryjunkie.com/connecticut-colony-facts/] -
The Maryland Toleration Act
The Maryland Colony valued and granted freedom to Catholics and Protestants. As the settlement grew, Puritans and Protestants began to highly populate the area. In order to satisfy all religions, the Toleration Act was passed to grant freedom to all who believe in the Holy Trinity.
[http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1601-1700/maryland-toleration-act-11630122.html] -
The Colony of Carolina
King Charles I sudden death put a minor hold on colonization. Charles II took his place and furthered expansion by creating the Carolina Colony, known as the Restoration Colony. Charleston became a major merchant port in the center of the settlement. Slaves populated the colony due to the large quantity of rice that needed to be harvested and exported. The colony was divided into North Carolina and South Carolina in 1712.
[http://www.ushistory.org/us/5c.asp] -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was a conflict between the Native Americans and the Virginia Colony. The Natives were slowly pushed out of Jamestown, leading them to vandalize the colonists' supplies. The Governor of Virginia refused to help his settlers causing an outburst among the town. Led by Nathaniel Bacon, the Virginia settlers attacked Governor William Barkley and the Natives.
[ http://study.com/academy/lesson/bacons-rebellion-facts-summary-lesson-for-kids.html] -
The Pennsylvania Colony
William Penn was granted the territory of Pennsylvania by King Charles II in 1681. Penn and his cousin, William Markham, drew up plans for a successful government which they referred to as the "First Frame of Government." A naturalization act, a great law, and a humanitarian code were put into action for Pennsylvania. The colony succeeded in agriculture with wheat and corn as their major exports.
[http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/pa-history/1681-1776.html] -
The Salem Witch Trials
These trials occurred due to the suspicion of a small group of women who were falsely accused of being witches. People were convinced they were possessed by the devil and demanded a trial be held against them. 19 innocent people were executed and over 150 others were charged and sent to prison for being witches as well.
[http://www.history.com/topics/salem-witch-trials] -
The Great Awakening/ The Enlightenment
Both the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment began around similar times. During the Great Awakening, people began to question their role in religion and society in England and America. Jonathan Edwards, a preacher, played a major role in the Great Awakening by promoting religion with his sermons. In the Enlightenment, new ideas spread of logic, reasoning, and scientific law.
[https://www.thoughtco.com/great-awakening-of-early-18th-century-104594] -
The Policy of Salutary Neglect
Salutary neglect is the lack of enforcement of law by Britain on the American colonies. Instructed by Robert Walpole, British officials lessened their supervision on the Americans, giving them more freedom. This policy was mainly practiced on trade routes causing conflicts among merchants.
[http://historyofmassachusetts.org/what-was-the-british-policy-of-salutary-neglect/] -
The Albany Plan
The Albany Plan was created to establish a centralized government for the British North American colonies. However, the plan was never accepted by Congress or the colonial leaders. Although the Albany Plan was never put into action, it influenced others along the way to divide the executive and legislative branches in order to compose a central government.
[https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan] -
The French and Indian War
Britain declared war on France in 1756 due to conflicts over land. France sought out to expand into the Ohio River Valley which angered the British. The two countries fought for seven long years, giving it the nickname the "Seven Year's War." As a result, Britain gained parts of Canada and Florida.
[http://www.history.com/topics/french-and-indian-war] -
The Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation, issued by Britain, prevented explorers from expanding colonies westward. Only traders given a license were allowed to travel to the west. Britain hoped this would stop settlers from invading Indians and vice versa.
[http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of]
