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1524
Verrazano discovers New York Harbor.
Verrazano sailing for France and discovered New York Harbor. -
1534
Jacques Cartier navigates
Frenchman Jacques Cartier navigates the St. Lawrence River and names an island along the River Montreal. -
Jamestown is founded
James town is founded on the coast of Virginia by 100 English settlers. -
Colony of Quebec
French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founds the colony of Quebec. -
Henry Hudson explores Netherlands
Henry Hudson, exploring for the Netherlands, claims land that will become New Netherlands. -
Smallpox kills
An epidemic of smallpox, brought by the Europeans, kills many native Americans on the New England coast. -
Pilgrim found a colony
Pilgrims from England found an English Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
Duke of York claims colony
The Duke of York drives out the Dutch in New Netherlands. The Duke of York claims the colony for England and renames it New York. -
King Phillips War Begins
King Phillips War Begins in colonial villages of Massachusetts, between colonists and Native Americans. -
Sieur de la Salle explores the lower Mississippi.
Sieur de la Salle explores the lower Mississippi Valley river, and claims the valley for France and names it Louisiana in Honor of the French King Louis XIV. -
War between British and French
War between the British and French, known as the French and Indian War. The war is fought over disputed land claims in the Ohio Valley.
