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Roanoke
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roanoke-colony-deserted
The first attempt at an English settlement, they struggled at first, and lost many lives but out of the necessity to survive, learned how to keep themselves alive. their leader left to go back to England for supplies, and three years later when he returned, the settlement was deserted. -
Jamestown
https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/jamestown
The first permanent English Settlement. Native American attacks, famine and a harsh Winter had the colony on the brink of failure before new settlers arrived in 1610. The tobacco industry saved Jamestown and made it a wealthy colony. -
New York
https://www.landofthebrave.info/new-york-colony.htm
Founded by the Dutch in 1614 New Amsterdam was under Dutch control until 1626 when the Duke of York took control and renamed it New York. This removed the Dutch wedge splitting the English colonies. -
House of Burgesses
https://www.landofthebrave.info/house-of-burgesses.htm
This was the first form of united legislative power in the colonies. All colonial members had representatives and a say. however, the House of Burgesses still oversaw all of the taxes and laws that led to rebellion. -
Mayflower Compact
https://www.ushistory.org/documents/mayflower.htm
42 men signed the Mayflower Compact as a form of self government, because they hadn't landed in Virginia, so they weren't sure their charter was valid. It was the first self government established in the colonies, and it was one of the documents leading to the Constitution. -
Great Migration
https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/great-migration-of-picky-puritans-1620-40/
Many puritan settlers came to the Americas looking for a land to safely practice their own religion and gain wealth. Most of the incoming settlers were already wealthy and upper middle class. They came to find a new way of life and start their own stories. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
https://www.landofthebrave.info/massachusetts-colony.htm
Founded by John Winthrop in 1630, it was a Puritan colony, and an example for the rest of the colonies. It was a joint stock company chartered by the English Crown. Many exiles banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony founded other colonies. -
Maryland
https://www.landofthebrave.info/maryland-colony.htm
John Calvert, Lord Baltimore and others founded the colony in 1633. The colony was named for the new queen. The colony was originally supposed to be a Catholic haven; however, many Puritans settled there. -
Rhode Island
https://www.softschools.com/facts/13_colonies/rhode_island_colony_facts/2044/
Founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Roger Williams paid the natives in the area for the land they settled. Roger Williams was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay colony before founding Rhode Island. -
Connecticut
https://connecticuthistory.org/timeline-settlement-of-the-colony-of-connecticut/
Thomas Hooker and other settlers founded Connecticut in 1636. Soon they developed the first state constitution. The colony was a Puritan colony and had no religious tolerance. -
Maryland Toleration Act
https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/868/maryland-toleration-act-of-1649
Freedom of religion for Maryland. Made it illegal to talk poorly of other religions, and blaspheme was also made illegal. -
Carolina
https://www.thoughtco.com/north-carolina-colony-103877
King Charles II gave the land to eight noblemen that helped him regain the thrown. In 1670 an attempt at a colonial government ended with internal fighting. this caused the noblemen to lose hope and sell their interest in the colony. The crown took over and divided the colony in 1729. -
Bacon's Rebellion
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/bacons-rebellion.htm
Nathaniel Bacon was unhappy with the government's failure to respond to native attacks on his town. He gathered a group of men and burned Jamestown to the ground. This was the first major act of rebellion in the colonies. -
Pennsylvania
https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/PA.html
Founded as a charter colony. The charter was given to William Penn and the land was to be used for Quaker settlements. The Quakers bought the land from the natives and began a settlement named Philadelphia. The land was incredibly fertile and the Quakers had good success. -
Salem Witch Trials
https://www.salem.org/salem-witch-trials/
The Salem Witch trials is one of the best examples of mass hysteria in history. The cause isn't known, but Ergot and town rivalries are the two most likely causes. Many Women and Men were accused of witchcraft, and more than 25 people were killed. -
Salutary Neglect
https://historyofmassachusetts.org/what-was-the-british-policy-of-salutary-neglect/ A period of time when the British were not enforcing their trading laws throughout the colonies. This was because of conflict between England, France, and the Dutch. This helped cause the revolution as the colonists felt happier when they governed themselves, but when the British came back to begin enforcing laws again, the colonists saw it as a threat to their self imposed "freedom." -
Great Awakening
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/the-great-awakening-11630212.html
European preachers coming to the colonies saw the colonists as dead in their faith. Preachers such as Jonathan Edwards began preaching about the horrors of hell trying to scare people into repenting. Thousands converted to this stricter form of Christianity. -
Albany Plan
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/albany-plan#:~:text=The%20Albany%20Plan%20of%20Union,American%20colonies%20adopted%20the%20plan.
Failed attempt to unify the colonies. This was a major step towards independence. It was made by the Albany Congress and set up the legislative and executive branches of government. -
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French and Indian War
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/french-and-indian-war
A series of conflicts led to the declaration of war by Britain in 1756. Conflicts were ongoing two years before Britain declared war, and the French were winning most of them. The war ended with many dead, from all sides. The natives, French and Spanish lost to the British. In the end, the Treaty of Paris was signed and decreed that Florida and Canada were given to the British and Louisiana was given to the Spanish. -
Proclamation of 1763
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/1763-proclamation-of
After the French and Indian War, the British tightened their grip on the colonies. King George III made a line that the colonists couldn't pass to keep the colonist from causing more fights with the Native Americans. The proclamation defined three new colonies, Quebec, West Florida and East Florida, extended Georgia's southern Border, and gave land grants to Veterans from the Seven Years War.
