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Jamestown
The first permanent settlement in America, Jamestown, is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia. -
Albany, New York
Henry Hudson sails to New York harbor and up the river that would bear his name to Albany. -
Hudson Bay
Henry Hudson sails into Hudson Bay for the Dutch, searching for the Northwest Passage to the Orient. -
Tobacco in the colony
Pocahontas and John Rolfe bring tobacco seeds to the colony began its harvesting. Their marriage led piece among the colonists and Indians for years. -
The House of Burgesses
The first representative assembly in America, the House of Burgesses, meets for the first time in Virginia and, the first African slaves are brought to Jamestown. -
Plymouth Colony
The Pilgrims from England established the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. They sailed over on the Mayflower and the 41 passengers that survived the journey signed the Mayflower Compact; an agreement that forms the basis of the colony's government. -
The first Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving celebration is held in the autumn for three days between the Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe who helped them settle and plant the colony's land. -
Petition of rights
King Charles receives a Petition of Rights from the English Parliament to gain royal subsidies. Petition of Rights would influence the Massachusetts Bay Colony's Body of Liberties and the 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. -
Great Colonial Hurricane
Great Colonial Hurricane strikes the Atlantic Coast and the colonies of Jamestown, Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay. -
Pequot War
Pequot War begins between Pequot tribe and their alliance against the Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies. The War ended on September 21, 1638 with the Treaty of Hartford with only two hundred Pequot tribe members remained. -
Pequot War ends
Pequot War ends with Treaty of Hartford after three years of battles between the New England colonists and native tribes. -
Slavery
Witchcraft is made a capital crime in English law, and the Massachusetts colony becomes the first colony to legalize slavery. -
Maryland Toleration Act
Maryland passes the Maryland Toleration Act, allowing freedom of religion. -
Slavery
Slavery is legalized in Connecticut and recognized in the American colonies. -
Navigation Acts
English Parliament passes the first in a series of Navigation Acts, banning use of anything but English ships in commerce with its colonies. -
Religious freedom for Quakers
Flushing Remembrance signed in New Amsterdam for Quaker religious freedom. -
New York
English seize New Amsterdam (city and colony) from the Dutch and rename it New York. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion causes the burning of Jamestown. Nathanial Bacon leads the rebellion of planters against Governor Berkeley. Bacon would perish and twenty-three others were executed. -
Pennsylvania
The colony of Pennsylvania is established when William Penn signs a treaty with the Delaware Indians and pays for Pennsylvania lands. -
Burning of Jamestown
Jamestown is abandoned after the statehouse is burned in 1698 with the colonial government moving to Middle Plantation, renamed soon after as Williamsburg.
