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Sep 7, 1439
Johann Gutenberg
Gutenberg invented the printing press which allowed for mass production in literary works and helped spread ideas among the masses. It also helped spread the idea of colonizing the Americas. -
Sep 6, 1492
Reconquista
A war between Christians and Muslims in Spain. The war drove Jews and Moors out of the country by Christians and Christians ruled the Iberian Penninsula. From this war came conquistadores, men eager for personal glory and riches, as well as resolute loyalty to their religion and crown. The conquistadores would explore the New World and claim it for Spain, claiming it the will of God. -
Sep 5, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The treaty divided the entire world along a line loacated 270 leagues west of the Azores. Anything west of that belonged to Spain. The treaty allowed for Brazil to be colonized by Portugal. It also did not discourage the rest of Europe from trying to colonize the rest of America. -
Sep 6, 1497
John and Sebastian Cabot
John Cabot completed the first recorded transatlantic voyage for England in 1497, while attempting to find a passage to Asia. John's son, Sebastian, continued his father's explorations in the Hudson Bay, 1508-1509. When England gained interest in the New World, their voyages established England's claim on American territory. -
Sep 6, 1503
Encomienda System
In order to control conquistadores, the Spanish crown awarded the leaders of the conquest with Indian villages. The Natives proveded the encomenderos with labor tribute in exchange for legal protection and religious guidance. In reality, the encomienda system greatly exploited Indian laborers. This system led to more people settling the Americas and ended up generating commerce off the raw materials the Indians gathered. -
Roanoke
Sir Walter Ralegh started a colony in Virgina, but everything went wrong. In 1587, Ralegh launched a second attempt at colonzation. However, the Spanish Armada severed communication between England and America. Due to military preoccupancies, no ship visited the Roanoke colonists for 3 years. When rescuers returned, the village was abandoned. The first attempt would serve as an example of the difficulties that awaited them in America. -
Richard Hakluyt
Hakluyt collected and documented captains and sailors' accounts of the New World in Principall Navigations, Voyages, and Discoveries of the English Nation. His book drove the point that England needed to colonize America. He wrote of the commercial and economical opprotunities in America, which helped stir the drive to colonize America. -
Protestant Refromation: Henry VIII and Elizabeth I
Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth I developed a strong central administration, while England became more and more Protestant. The ties between Spain and England were breaking, which would lead to the colonization of America.English Protestantism plus English nationalism ehlped propel England into a central role in European affairs. -
Founding of Jamestown (Viginia)
Founded by joint-stock company in order to find wealth. If not for John Smith, the colony would have completely failed. Edwin Sandys later helped set up the House Of Burgesses. -
Quebec
Samuel de Champlain resettled the region for France. Quebec controlled export and imports of Canada and France. This made it easy for the crown officials to control that traffic, by awarding fur-trading monopolies to court favorites. These practices created political tensions and hindered economic growth which further inhibited the colonization of Canada. -
Plymouth
Separtists who refused to worship Church of England. Originally fled to Holland, but they worried their children were becoming too Dutch. William Bradford was the leader of these pilgrims and the local Natives helped then survive. They made the Mayflower Compact for religious tolerance. -
Maryland
Founded for religious freedom by John Calvert and his son. There was supposed to be toleration between Protestants and Catholics, but it didn't work and Protestants took control of government. By the end, it funtioned with the same purpose as Jamestown, looking only for wealth. -
Conneticut
Was founded by Thomas Hooker for religious freedom. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were written to set up government, setting its structure and powers. -
Rhode Island
Under Roger Williams, the colony was founded for religious freedom. Tried for religious toleration, but fighting ensued. -
Massachusettes Bay
Puritans moved there to find religious freedom. The monarchy wasn't concerned about making the church less like catholicism. John Winthrop led the group. Roger Williams preached extreme separatism and challenged Puritan orthodoxy. Ann Hutchinson also preached the same ideals that William did. -
Slave Trade
The slave trade transported Africans to America for the use of labor. Slaves were used primarily for agricultural purposes. With the use of slaves increasing, more and more people were willing to settle American lands and use cheap labor to harvest their crops. -
Carolinas
Founded as a commercial venture by Anthony Ashley Cooper. Cooper convinced people from Barbados to settle in exchange for power, self governance, and money. They primarily planted rice. -
New Jersey
The Duke of York gave New Jersey to Berkley and Carteret, but Nicolls of New York had been giving the land away to people of New York to settle, as Berkley and Carteret were doing as well. Eventually, chaos ensued, no one knowing who to pay and Berkley sold the land to a group of Quakers. -
New York
Originally was Dutch. English captured it in 1664 because of their rivalry with Spain. Very diverse as different people settled and stayed. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon wanted to be a part of the gentry, but was too impatient and when the issue of whether or not Virginians should fight against or make peace with the Indians, Bacon gathered a following and marched to the frontier to destroy them, but instead just went around destroying everything in their path. -
New Hampshire
It was originally a part of Massachusetts Bay, but separated, after the division of a land grant. -
Pennsylvania
Founded by William Penn to practice Quakerism freely. Penn created a government that was so complicated, it collapsed. Land sales were the source of income. There was a lot of diversity which led to conflict. -
English Bill of Rights of 1689
The Bill of Rights set the rules for parliament and the crown. It was a result of the Glorious Revolution. -
First Great Awakening
It was a revitalization of religion. Jonathan Edwards was the reverend that sparked the awakening in America. George Whitefield managed to continue the spark that Edwards created by preaching the same ideals and maintaining a following. -
Georgia
Founded by James Oglethorpe and was an act of aggression against Spain. It acted as a buffer between Florida and the Carolinas. Criminals were sent there as a way out of debt. -
French and Indian War
War between France and England over who would control North America and specifically the Ohio Valley. Colonists fought along side British troops. -
Sugar Act
Revised duties on sugar, offee, tea, wine, other import;expanded jurisdiction of vice admiralty courts. Colonists were upset that Parliament passed it without any representation for them. -
Stamp Act
Printed documents issued only of special stamp paper purchased from distributors. Colonists saw this as more taxation without representation. -
Quartering Act
Colonists must supply British troops with housing. Colonists again were not represented. -
Stamp Act Congress
Intercolonial gathering of deleagates that drafted petitions to the King about taxes. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament declares its sovereignty over the colonies "in all case whatsoever." Colonists were mad because they had no representation and Parliament wasn't listening to them. -
Townshend Revenue Acts
New duties on glass, lead, paper, paints, tea; customs collections tightened in America. Colonists still weren't being represented. -
Boston Massacre
Coloinists threw rocks at soldiers and the soldiers, in the chaos, opened fire on the colonists. The people who were killed were viewed as martyrs. -
Tea Act
Parliament gives East India company right to sell tea directly to Americans; some duties on tea reduced. Colonists were hella mad that they weren't being represented. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Closes port of Boston; restructured Massachusetts government; restricts town meetings; troops quartered in Boston; British officials accused of crimes and sent to England/Canada for trial. Colonists were still hella mad because of the denial of their constitutional liberties. -
First Continental Congress
Gathering of delegates from different colonial regions. They needed to decide what to do about the acts and the taxing. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Ragtag army of colonists try to stop British troops from seizing any rebel supplies. Militia formed in towns in order to stop British.This was the first battle of the revolution. -
Sencond Continental Congress
Intercolonial gathering. Congress reluctantly took control of the war and organized the rebel army. -
Olive Branch Petition
Final attempt to avoid to conflict. It was the last thing the colonists could do to peacefully appeal to Parliament. -
Common Sense
Essay by Thomas Paine that stripped the kingship of historical and theological justification. Democratic manifesto that rallied and convinced many colonists of revolution. -
Prohibitory Act
Declares British intention to coerce Americans tinto submissiion; embargo on American goods; American ships seized. Colonists are about done with England. -
Paliamentary Supremacy
Parliament dominant aspect in constitution and had control over colonists. Colonists didn't have anybody representing them. -
Battle of Trenton
Colonists took Fort Trenton by surprise, despite cold conditions and it being nighttime. -
Germantown/Valley Forge
Fog-covered battlefield before the onset of winter. Washington wanted to win a battle before winter came to increase morale. But rebel troops ended up retreating in the chaos of battle. -
Saratoga, Second Battle
Victory that convinced the French to recognize America as a country and be its ally through the war. -
Kings Mountain
Guerilla warfare was primarily used. A battle that Americans won. -
Yorktown
French cut British off at the sea, while Washington encircled British on land. This was the final major battle, before Britain lost control of New York.
