Colonial period 1607-1763

  • Founding of Jamestown

    The first permanent English colony in North America is founded at Jamestown, Virginia.
  • Tobacco industry launched

    Settlers in Jamestown start growing tobacco, which becomes the main cash crop for Virginia and Maryland.
  • Virginia House of Burgesses

    The Virginia House of Burgesses, the first colonial legislature, is founded at Jamestown, the beginning of
    representative government in America.
  • Slavery starts

    The first Africans arrive in Jamestown, marking the beginning of North American slavery.
  • Pilgrims land

    The Pilgrims land at Cape Cod, the beginning of
    Massachusetts.
  • Mayflower Compact

    The Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact, agreeing to govern themselves in the New World.
  • City Upon a Hill

    Puritan leader John Winthrop says Massachusetts should be a “city upon a hill,” raising the idea that America is a special place.
  • Charleston founded

    Planters from the Caribbean island of Barbados found Charles Town (Charleston) in South Carolina.
  • Rice industry begins

    Settlers in Charles Town began growing rice, which becomes the main cash crop for South Carolina.
  • Georgia founded

    Georgia is founded, the last of the 13 colonies.
  • First Great Awakening

    The First Great Awakening, a religious revival, begins at Jonathan Edward’s’ church in Northampton, Massachusetts, and then sweeps the 13 colonies.
  • Stono Rebellion

    The Stone Rebellion erupts near Charles Town, the largest slave revolt in colonial America.
  • Plan of Union

    With the French and Indian war about to start, Benjamin Franklin proposes the Albany plan of union, the first plan to unite the colonies.
  • Start of French and Indian War

    France and Britain close a war that drove France from most most of North America
  • End of French and Indian War

    France and Britain close a war that drove France from most of North America
  • Proclamation Line of 1763

    In order to keep peace with Indians, king George ||| of English forbids English colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.