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Jamestown is Established
Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia -
Telescope Invention
The first person to apply for a patent for a telescope was Dutch eyeglass maker Hans Lippershey (or Lipperhey). In 1608, Lippershey laid claim to a device that could magnify objects three times. His telescope had a concave eyepiece aligned with a convex objective lens. -
Start of 30 Years War
The Thirty Years' War was a conflict primarily fought in Central Europe, estimates of total military and civilian deaths range from 4.5 to 8 million, the vast majority from disease or starvation. In some areas of Germany, it has been suggested up to 60% of the population died. -
House of Burgesses Meets for the First Time
The House of Burgesses, the first representative assembly in America, meets for the first time in Virginia. The first African slaves are brought to Jamestown -
The Plymouth Colony is Established
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in America from 1620 to 1691 at a location that had previously been surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement served as the capital of the colony and developed as the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
Mayflower Compact
Was a legal instrument that bound the Pilgrims together when they arrived in New England. -
Charles I is Executed
Due to political unrest in England, King Charles I was executed. This resulted in American colonies being forced to define their position regarding British affairs. Most colonies hoped to remain neutral in the political conflict, but other colonies pledged allegiance to the monarch's son. -
Pequot War
The primary cause of the Pequot War was the struggle to control trade. English efforts were to break the Dutch-Pequot control of the fur and wampum trade, while the Pequot attempted to maintain their political and economic dominance in the region. -
Dutch Surrender New Amsterdam
Around the time English settlers were putting down roots in places like Virginia and Massachusetts, there was another colony taking shape in what is now New York. So in 1664, four English ships landed in New Amsterdam and demanded that New Netherland surrender. -
King Phillips War
It was the Native Americans' last-ditch effort to avoid recognizing English authority and stop English settlement on their native lands. The war is named after the Wampanoag chief Metacom, later known as Philip or King Philip, who led the fourteen-month bloody rebellion. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was a popular revolt in colonial Virginia in 1676 which was led by Nathaniel Bacon. The uprising developed because of high taxes, low prices for tobacco, and anger towards Sir Berkeley because he provided special privileges that were given to those close to the Berkeley.