1609/10
Period in Jamestown Colony history referred to as the Starving Time
1611
The rule of Sir Thomas Dale and Good Order in Virginia
1618
The Headright System was set up by the London company in 1618 that gave 50 acres of land to colonists who paid their own way to Virginia, or paid the way for someone else
1620
1620 - The Pilgrims establish their own government, the basis of which was the Mayflower Compact, which they drafted on their journey to the New World on the Mayflower
1620
The Pilgrim Fathers, or Pilgrims, founded the second colony of the Plymouth Settlement in New England in 1620, located in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. The Mayflower Compact was a legal document written by the Pilgrims to specify basic laws and social rules for their new colony. In 1624, Virginia was made a royal colony.
1620
Massachusetts Bay Colony - refer to Massachusetts Colony. The Pilgrims, the founders of Plymouth, arrived in 1620. John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the "Father of English Colonization in North America" had received land in northern New England which became the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Mason eventually formed New Hampshire and the land of Sir Ferdinando Gorges led to Maine. Massachusetts Bay Colony controlled both regions until New Hampshire was given a royal charter in 1679 and Maine was made its own state in 1820.
1623
New Netherlands, which became New York, was settled by the Dutch - refer to Peter Stuyvesant and Peter Minuit. In 1664, King Charles II granted New Netherland to his brother James, Duke of York who took a fleet to the area. The Dutch surrendered New Netherlands without a fight and it was renamed New York.
1624
1624 Virginia was made a royal colony
1628
Puritans led by John Winthrop formed the Massachusetts Bay Company and many Puritans continued to settle in the areas around Boston.
1630
The Great Migration - Mass migration of thousands of English people to the Americas that took place between 1630 and 1640.
1634
Maryland was settled - refer to Maryland Colony. King Charles I gave land to George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, to create a haven for Catholics in America.
1636
Connecticut was initially settled colonists, led by Thomas Hooker, left the Massachusetts Bay Colony due to dissatisfaction and settled in the Connecticut River Valley. In 1639, three settlements joined to form a unified government creating a document called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the first written constitution in America. King Charles II officially united Connecticut as a single colony in 1662 - refer to Connecticut Colony.
1636
Rhode Island. Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and founded Providence. Anne Hutchinson was also banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and she settled Portsmouth. Two additional settlements were also formed in the area. All 4 settlements received a charter from England creating their own government eventually called Rhode Island - refer to Rhode Island Colony.
1638
New Hampshire was founded by John Mason and settled by John Wheelwright and others
1638
Delaware was settled in 1638 by Peter Minuit and others - refer to Delaware Colony
1640
The Quakers, or Society of Friends, was a Protestant sect founded in England whose members believed that salvation was available to all people
1651
1651 1660 1663 The Navigation Acts. The colonies represent a lucrative source of wealth and trade. Navigation Acts regulate colonial trade and enable England to collect duties (taxes). Refer to Triangular Trade. During this period the Slave Plantations in the Southern colonies were established.
1662
King Charles II officially united Connecticut as a single colony
1663
Carolina was settled. Eight men received charters for the Carolinas in 1663 from King Charles II to settle lands south of Virginia. The area was called Carolina. See the Lords Proprietors and the Charter of Carolina. The main port was called Charles Town (Charleston) after the king. In 1729, North and South Carolina became separate Proprietary Colonies - refer to North Carolina Colony and South Carolina Colony
1664
New Jersey was settled. The Duke of York granted some land to Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley who named their colony New Jersey. They provided grants of land and religious freedom in the colony. The two parts of the colony were not united into a royal colony until 1702 - refer to New Jersey Colony
1673
The Plantation Duty Act
1675
The Lords of Trade are appointed in England to enforce the new mercantile system and maximize potential profits for England
1675
1675-l676 Bacon's Rebellion . Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising in 1676 - 1677 against American Indians and the colonial government in the Virginia Colony and Bacon's Declaration of the People
1679
New Hampshire. John Mason received land in northern New England which formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Mason eventually formed New Hampshire when the region was given a royal charter in 1679 - refer to New Hampshire Colony
1682
Quakers Settle in Pennsylvania. The Quakers were persecuted in England and looked to have a colony in America with religious freedom. William Penn received a grant, which the King called Pennsylvania. The first settlement was Philadelphia - refer to Pennsylvania Colony
1686
Formation of New England - King James II combines the colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire, East Jersey and West Jersey into a single colony: The Dominion of New England.
1688
King James II appoints Sir Edmund Andros to serve as Captain General and Governor in Chief of New England. Sir Edmund Andros causes dissension with the colonists as he does not have to answer to any elected assembly
1688
1688 - 1763 The French and Indian Wars between France and Great Britain for lands in North America
1689
Feb 13, 1689 The Glorious Revolution. The Protestant William III and Mary II officially replace the Catholic James II as monarchs of England. The English Bill of Rights which enables Parliament to control laws and taxes
1689
Mar 1689 Glorious Revolution Sparks Revolt in the colonies. Boston militiamen seize Governor-in-Chief Andros and put him in jail. The New England colonies begin to re-establish governments. Jacob Leisler (1640-1691) was a German immigrant who led the insurrection against local colonial officials from 1689 to 1691 in colonial New York
1691
Plymouth joined with the Massachusetts Bay Colony
1691
Salem Witchcraft Trials - Hysteria over witchcraft accusations consumes Salem Village, Massachusetts
1696
1696 Salutary Neglect. The British government establishes the Board of Trade to oversee colonial policies practicing a policy of "Salutary Neglect," in which it gives the colonies considerable freedom in economic matters.
1702
New Jersey. The two parts of the colony of New Jersey were united into a royal colony until 1702
1703
The Duke of York gained New Netherland and New Sweden which had been founded by Peter Minuit. He renamed the whole region as New York.
1707
1707 The Union between England and Scotland created the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' and the term British, as opposed to English, is then used in reference to the colonists in North America.
1733
1733 - Georgia is settled. James Oglethorpe receives a charter to create a colony between South Carolina and Florida. Georgia became a royal colony in 1752 - refer to Georgia Colony
1765
The Stamp Act and riots in the 13 Colonies
1775
The American Revolution (1775- 1783) ended the Colonial America Time Period also refer to Revolutionary Timeline
1776
A document declaring the US to be independent of the British Crown was signed on July 4, 1776, by the congressional representatives of the 13 Colonies |
