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Period: Jan 8, 1400 to
Colonial Timeline
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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus Arives to the Americas
Christopher Columbus arives to the Americas along with his three ships, the "Nina," the "Pinta," and the "Santa Maria." He mistakes the land for the West Indies and calls the people Indians. This markes the first of four voyages. -
Jan 1, 1520
Cortes Conquers the Aztecs
Cortes returns a second time to Mexico with a large army. They then capture the Aztec captial of Tenochtitlan, destroy it, and build in it's place Mexico City - the present day captital of Mexico. -
Jan 1, 1528
Spanish Exploration in Florida
A group of about four-hundred Spaniards explore Florida in hopes of finding gold. Unfortunately, they did not and decide to go farther north. After being attacked by Native Americans, the remaining survivors set sail to escape. -
Jan 1, 1533
Religious Conficts in Europe
At this time, many countries in Euprope have split from the Catholic church. King Henry VIII start the Chruch of England after a disagreement with the pope. The reason being because his wife, Cathrine of Aragon, could not produce a male heir for the throne. -
The Spanish Armada
When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne of England, she rivived the conflicts with Catholic Spain. King Phillip II wanted to make England also Catholic again and force Elizabeth from the throne, and so he assembled a fleet of one-hundred thirty warships to battle England's fleet. Off the coast of France the two forces meet, just about half of the Spanish Armada survives. Because of this, Spain's power and sea control is weakened, giving way for places such as France and England to colonize. -
Jamestown Founded
The fort of Jamestown is founded on the Chesapeake Bay - it is the first permanent English settlement. However, the colony only just survived its first year, suffering mainly from disease and lack of food. -
John Smith
Because the colonists of Jamestown were doing so poorly their first year in the Americas, a man named John Smith was sent over to take comand. He was fairly strict, and forced the men to work by setting a new rule, "he who works not, eats not." the men then began to chop wood for buildings and plant crops for food. Along with this, Smith and his men raided local Native American villages for food. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses meets for the first time, marking the start of North American representative government. -
Arrival of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims, a group of Seperatists from Holland, arrive at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Before going ashore 41 male adults on ship sign the Mayflower Compact. Which becomes the first document claiming self-government by the American colonists. -
Puritans Come to America
A group of Puritans lead by John Winthrop come to america on a charter to settle in Massachusetts and new Hamphshire. this group of Puritans start the Massachusetts Bay company and an elected assembly called the General Court. -
Roger Williams
Rogar Williams was a Puritan minister in Salem who believed that the Puritan church should split entirely from the Church of England. Another one of his beliefs included that the colonists should pay for land from the Native Americans instead of taking it. Because of this, in 1635 he was forced to leave Massachusetts Bay, then in 1636 he bought land from the Native Americans and started the Providence Rhode Island colony. -
New Jersey is established
Southern New York spits from the colony and becomes the propriety colony of New Jersey. -
Beginning of King Philip's War
Metacom - also known as King Philip by the English - chief of the Wampanoag begins an uprising to stop the Puritan expansion. -
Pennsylvania and William Penn
William Penn is granted a charter of land by King Charles the II of England and comes to his colony. He distributed pamphlets across the European contenent in order to attract settlers of diverse religious backrounds for his "holy experiment." The experiment is meant to create a colony of religious freedom and acceptence. -
The Great Awakening
The Christian churches notice the decline of religious enthusiasm in the colonies and begin a riligious rivival, giving surmons and reopening people's eyes to the faith. During this times, many new churches began to rise.
