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Period: Sep 30, 1400 to
exploration to the turn of the century
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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
he was financed by Spain, and made the first of four voyages to the New World. He landed in the Bahamas -
Mar 27, 1513
Juan Ponce de León
sights Florida , and lands there for the first time. -
the Jamestown Settlement
the first permanent English settlement in America, is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia founded by John Smith. -
Jamestown
The history of Jamestown continues with the marriage of Pocahontas to John Rolfe, who would bring tobacco seeds to the colony and begin its harvesting this year. Their marriage led to eight years of peace among the colonists and Indians. -
The House of Burgesses
The first representative assembly in America, meets for the first time in Virginia. The first African slaves are brought to Jamestown. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch hunts, spurred by preaching, results in the arrest of one hundred and fifty people and the death of nineteen. These trials were held in Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex counties. -
Seven Years War ( French and Indian war in America)
(to 1763), in which Britain and Prussia defeat France, Spain, Austria, and Russia. France loses North American colonies; Spain cedes Florida to Britain in exchange for Cuba. In India, over 100 British prisoners die in “Black Hole of Calcutta. -
The Stamp Act
To help defray the cost of keeping troops in America, the British Parliament enacted the Stamp Act 1765, imposing a tax on many types of printed materials used in the colonies. -
The Stamp Act Congress
A congress of delegated from nine colonies adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which petitioned Parliament and the King to repeal the Stamp Act. -
The Boston Massacre
A street fight between a "patriot" mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. Several colonists were killed and this led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the ire of the citizenry. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the beginning of the Revolutionary War. -
The American Revolution
The American War of Independence, led by George Washington was fought between Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers. -
Declaration of Independence
The statement adopted by the Continental Congress meeting at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies,then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. -
Bill of Rights.
First ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are ratified. -
Louisiana Purchase
United States agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and was about 830,000 sq mi. As a result, the U.S. nearly doubles in size. -
Jefferson issues a proclamation
this declared that "sundry persons, citizens of the U.S. or resident within the same, are conspiring & confederating...against the dominions of Spain" and requiring that all military and civil officials of all states and territories of the United States prevent "the carrying on such expedition or enterprise by all lawful means within their power." -
War of 1812
U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion (June 18, 1812). Madison's second inauguration (March 4, 1813). British capture Washington, DC, and set fire to White House and Capitol (Aug. 1814) -
Indian Removal Act
President Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, which authorizes the forced removal of Native Americans living in the eastern part of the country to lands west of the Mississippi River. By the late 1830s the Jackson administration has relocated nearly 50,000 Native Americans. -
Battle of the Wounded Knee
(in South Dakota) it was the last major battle between United States troops and Indians. Hundreds of Indian men, women, and children are slain, along with twenty-nine soldiers. -
Spanish-American War
USS Maine is blown up in Havana harbor (Feb. 15), prompting U.S. to declare war on Spain (April 25). Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War (Dec. 10); Spain gives up control of Cuba, which becomes an independent republic, and cedes Puerto Rico, Guam, and (for $20 million) the Philippines to the U.S.
