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Roanoke
Roanoke was an island off the coast of present day North Carolina. IN 1587, John White the governor went back to England for supplies. When he returned in 1590, the colony was abandoned along with his family. The only clue to what happened was the word "Croatoan" carved into a wooden post.
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Jamestown
On May 14, 1607, a group of roughly 100 members of the Virginia Company founded the first permanent English settlement- Jamestown. Colonist John Rolfe married Pocahontas and befriended the Native American tribe. Jamestown grew and expanded rapidly and made huge profits in the tobacco industry. Link text -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect was a British policy to keep little imperial watch over the colonies as long as they were obedient to the British government, and contributed economically to them. This universally led to the American Revolution. Link text -
The House of Burgesses
When Governor George Yeardly arrived in Jamestown in 1619, he gave notice that there would be a legislative assembly. The House of Burgesses was established in 1619 and was modeled after English Parliament. The members would meet once a year with the local governor to discuss taxes and laws. Link Text -
Mayflower/Plymouth/Mayflower Compact
Signed by 41 colonists on the Mayflower, the Mayflower compact was the first written form of government of the New World. It was written to ensure that people who felt they didn't want to follow the rules of the Pilgrims would. The Mayflower was the boat Pilgrims used to cross the Atlantic, and they landed in Plymouth. -
Province of New York
The New York Colony was founded in1626 by the Duke of York. It was a major economical center and was governed as a Royal Colony. It was a Middle Colony and grew lots of foods and had many profitable industries. Link text -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by a group of Puritan business men. The colony was viewed as a way to make a profit and dominated trade. The Puritans in charge became rich and ruled with a theocracy. Link text -
Great Migration
The Great Migration started in 1620 and went on to the 1640's. It was the Puritans coming to the New World seeking religious freedom and live spiritual lives. They were very harsh with punishment and did not separate church and state. Link text -
Connecticut Colony
Thomas Hooker, a puritan minister, and Governor John Haynes were said to be the founders of the Connecticut Colony. They led 100 people to Hartford in 1636, and that's where it started. The main reason it was founded was for agriculture, and was named after a river passing through it called "quinnehtukqut." -
Maryland
The colony of Maryland was founded in 1633 by George Calvert and other colonist at Baltimore. Maryland's major industries were in agriculture and manufacturing. It was founded mainly for religious freedom. Link text -
Rhode Island
After being banished from Puritan society after pushing for separation of church and state, Roger Williams founded Rhode island in 1636. Rhode Island was a powerhouse in trade, and was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. -
Maryland Toleration Act
The Maryland Toleration Act was the second law passed regarding religious freedom in the colonies. It granted Trinitarian Christians religious freedom and a free conscience. Many believe this law led to the religious freedom that is now in the United States. Link text -
Carolina
In 1663, King Charles II gave the land south of Virginia to eight proprietors. These men founded the Carolinas in 1663. They concentrated on trade and tobacco and cotton agriculture products. North and South Carolina remained as one until 1729. Link text -
Bacon's Rebellion
In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a small rebellion in Virginia against the rule of William Berkeley. Berkeley was oppressing famers by raising taxes and lowering price of tobacco. After, Bacon was deemed as a hero and offered a seat in the House of Burgesses but was declined that position when Berkeley stated him a criminal. Bacon died in the fall of 1676. Link text -
Pennsylvania
The colony of Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn in 1682. Their main economics were in agriculture and manufacturing iron and exporting it to Britain. Link text -
Great Awakening/Enlightenment
The Enlightenment lasted from late 1600s and went on into the early 1800s. The Enlightenment was a time when people challenged themselves and questioned more about why things were the way they were. It pushed for separation of church and state in being that ideas that stemmed from the Enlightenment challenged what the church already said to be true. Scientist like Issac Newton played a key role in this period. Link text -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were times of hysteria in Massachusetts when a group of young girls said they were possessed by the devil and accused local women of witchcraft. One of the women confessed to being guilty, but created mass hysteria when she said that there were others too. In a Puritan society, witches would've been a big deal, and they didn't hesitate to do what they thought needed to be done. In the end, 19 people were killed and one pressed. Link text -
Albany Plan
The Albany plan was a plan for a unified government between the 13 Colonies suggested by Benjamin Franklin. Although it was never carried out, it was the first plan to conceive the Thirteen Colonies as one unified country. Link text -
French-Indian War
The French-Indian war was a 7 year war between the French and Indians against the British. The British had little success at first, but then they used the war to bring the colonies together and won in 1763. The war was fought over French expanding their territory into the Ohio river valley by bringing them into conflict with British claims. Link text -
Proclamation of 1763
After the French-Indian war, the Proclamation of 1763 was signed to ensure separation between Native American and British territory. It was the first act passed that affected all 13 colonies. After it was passed the British could not extend westward past the Appalachian Divide.
