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Period 2
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Jamestown
On May 14, 1607, the Virginia Company of England, arrived at and established Jamestown, Virginia. The settlement of Jamestown was the first enduring British settlement in North America. Although, the colony suffered greatly in the first few years, once settlers learned to grow and export tobacco the settlement thrived. -
The starving time- winter of 1609-1610
The starving time, during the winter of 1609-1610, affected the Jamestown Colony. During that winter there was a lack of food, bad leadership, and a raid by the Powhatan Indians that caused two thirds of the colonists to die. -
First tobacco crop was planted
The first tobacco crop was planted and harvested in 1612 by Jamestown settler, John Rolfe. The tobacco crop, at the time, was a product from the Caribbean region; however, after successfully growing the plant in Virginia, it quickly became a staple export for the colonies. -
The first African slaves arrived in Jamestown
The arrival of the first African slaves to the American colonies was in August of 1619. Although these first 20 Africans were actually more similar to indentured servant, rather than slaves, this event started a chain reaction in the colonies, which were desperate for a labor force at the time. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was founded on July 30, 1619. It was a democratically- elected body that government the Colony of Virginia and the first democratically-elected representative body in the British American colonies. The House of Burgesses and its members played a large role in starting the American Revolutionary War. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first legislative document in the colonies. It was a list of rules for self-governance created by the Puritans and other sailors on the Mayflower traveling to America to settle in what they thought would be Virginia, but was actually Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
The purchase of Manhattan
In the month of May 1626, Peter Minuit, of the Dutch West India Company, negotiated with the Lenape Indians and bought the island of Manhattan for about $24, or 60 guilders, worth of knives, beads, and other goods. This expansion of the New York Colony eventually grew and became the main city, known as New Amsterdam, of the Dutch colony and was important during the Revolutionary period. -
Establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was established in 1629 by the Puritans and under the guidance of John Winthrop. The economy of the colony was mainly based on fishing, fur trading, and ship building, and the colony quickly became the most profitable and successful colony in New England. -
The Navigation Acts
The Navigations Acts were created by the Oliver Cromwell and the English Parliament to take back authority after the English Civil War and to regulate trade between England, its colonies, and other countries. The Acts stated that all of England’s Colonies could only export their goods on English ships, which challenged the Dutch, who at the time dominated trade. -
King Philip's War
King Philip’s War was fought between the English settlers and the Native Americans in New England. The war started due to more than 50 years of tension between the groups over land claims and rights. The war resulted in major losses for both sides, but more so for the Native Americans; therefore, there was a period of colonial expansion that followed. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion took place in Virginia in 1676. It was a very destructive armed uprising led by Nathaniel Bacon, against the Governor of Virginia, William Berkeley, who failed to address the demands of the colonists regarding their safety against the Native Americans. The rebels included both black and white indentured servants, which alarmed the ruling class because this contradicted the idea that the white people were superior and could control the poorer blacks. -
British Glorious Revolution
Although the Glorious Revolution took place in England it had great influence in the colonies. With James II finally out of power the colonies were temporarily free from strict anti-Puritan law. Also, news of the Glorious Revolution also sparked uprisings and protestant revolutions in the colonies. -
King William's War
King William’s War was fought between the English and French powers in North America and was the start of six colonial wars. The goal was prestige as well as to establish control of the fur trade. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials began after 3 girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused local women of witchcraft. This hysteria, possibly due to anxiety about the nearby Native American wars, quickly spread and by the end of the trials more than 200 people had been accused of witchcraft and 20 were executed. The unorganized trials helped colonists to view the justice system differently and eventually establish better methods for determining if someone is guilty or not. -
First recurring newspaper
The first recurring newspaper to be published in the colonies was the Boston News-Letter. This was an important development for the colonies because it was a way for colonists to know about ship arrivals, deaths, politics, England, accidents, and more. -
The Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht brought an end to the Spanish War of Succession as well as Queen Anne’s War; the latter having great influence in North America. The end of Queen Anne’s War brought about a decline in French influence and an increase in British culture. Also, the treaty increased the exploitation of slavery and caused Native American lands to be claimed by European rulers. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a period of religious, specifically Protestant, revival throughout England and the colonies. At a time when religious fervor in the colonies was stale the Great Awakening brought about a renewed enthusiasm for religion and contributed to the development of an American identity. -
Establishment of Georgia
The establishment of Georgia was the last of the thirteen colonies. James Oglethorpe headed the charter and established the colony as asylum for indebted English and persecuted Protestants; however, these ideals changed and eventually Oglethorpe quit the colony and it became a Royal colony in 1752. The colony also created a land border to protect the northern colonies from the Spanish and French and overtime it became known for its plantations and slavery. -
Freedom of the Press / John Peter Zenger's case
The John Peter Zenger case started as a libel case, because he accused Governor William Cosby of being corrupt. However, the trial focused more on free-press when Zenger’s lawyer argued that it was a fundamental right to speak and write the truth. His victory in the trial was precedent for freedom of the press in the colonies before the First Amendment. -
French and Indian War
The start of the French and Indian War was in 1754. The war was fought between the British and French, with Native American allies, and began due to the issue of whether the Ohio River Valley was part of the British Empire or not. In the end, the British claimed victory therefore expanding their territory and influence in North America.
