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Port Royal
Port Royal in Acadia, now known as Nova Scotia, is established by traders. This establishment enabled the launching of trading expeditions down the Atlantic coast as far as Cape Cod. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful British colony in North America. It was placed in the middle of the Powhatten Confederacy. The survival rate was very low for this settlement as disease and lack of resources threatened lives at every hand. Tribal leader, Powhatten, kept the Englishman alive the first winter they lived in Jamestown. Fewer than half of the original settlers survived the first nine months. -
Quebec
Samuel de Champlain founds Quebec for the French in 1608. This provides a foothold for what would become New France. -
Manhattan
Englishman Henry Hudson is commissioned by the Dutch to find the fabled "Northwest Passage" through America. He found and explored the Hudson River, and laid claim on Manhattan Island. Manhattan was bought from the Indians in 1626. The money was either given to the wrong Indians or the terms of the sale were unclear as the Indians still believed that they had a claim to the land. -
First Slaves Imported
A Dutch Slave ship sold 20 slaves to Virginia colonists. John Rolfe had discovered the potential for tobacco farming in 1616, and slaves were cheap labor. -
House of Burgesses
The Virginia Company established their "House of Burgesses" as a limited representative body comprised of white land owners. This was the first form of "government" in British America. -
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Great Migration
In what was termed the "Great Migration", roughly 20,000 Puritan people immigrated to New England to escape increasing persecution. -
Great Swamp Fight
King Philips War compounded English problems when they attacked the powerful and neutral Narragansett village. -
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King Philips War
King Philips War originated with the death of one white settler, John Sassamon. John was found dead under the ice in a pond, and three Indians were blamed for the death. After the execution of the Indians, the Wampanoags controlled by Metacom, killed 9 colonists. Events escalated in this manner as different Indian tribes chose sides. The fighting finally ceased in 1676 after Metacom was killed. However, the legacy of distrust from both sides lived on in their hearts. -
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Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion started with a hog and escalated in much of the same way as King Philips War. In Bacon's Rebellion, Governor Berkeley procrastinated in protecting the settlers. As settlers fled to the city, they grew angry with the government. Led by Nathaniel Bacon, they started their own band that took up arms to protect fellow settlers. This was viewed as an insurrection, and the Governor attempted to suppress it. Bacon died in 1676, the rebellion surrendered in January, 1677.