THE SOUTHERN COLONIESNEW ENGLAND COLONIESTHE MIDDLE COLONIESProgress and PopulationEnglish Rulers and EventsVirginiaMassachusettsNew York1603-1625.James I.1603.Union of England and Scotland.1607. The London Company made THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA, AT JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA (May13). Jamestown was named after the English King, James I.1607. The Plymouth Company established a colony on the Kennebec River, in Maine under Sir Ferdinando Gorges. The colony failed.1609.Henry Hudson, employed by the Dutch East India Company,sailed up the Hudson Riversearching for a passage to the Indies.1614. TheDutchestablished trading stations on Manhattan Island and at Fort Orange (Albany) on the Hudson. They called their possessionsNew Netherland.1616.Tobacco first cultivated by the English in Virginia.1619. Virginia settlers establish theFIRST REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY IN AMERICA, calledThe House of Burgesses.TheFIRST SLAVESwere sold in Virginia.1620.The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Cape Cod November 11, and formed the FIRST SETTLEMENT IN NEW ENGLAND AT PLYMOUTH (December 22), under the FIRST REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA.1622. An Indian attack was made on Jamestown.New HampshireNew Jersey1624.Virginia was made into aroyal colony.1623. First settlement on Piscataqua River, by John Mason.1623. The Dutch founded a settlement on Manhattan Island which they called NEW AMSTERDAM (later New York City).1623. Ft. Nassau (now Gloucester, N. J.) established by the Dutch.1625-1649.Charles I.1626. Peter Minuit, director-general of New Netherland, purchased Manhattan Island from the Indians for $24.Delaware1628.The permanent settlement of Massachusetts Bay Colony began by the settlement ofSalemunderJohn Endicott.1627. Swaanendael (now Lewis, Del.) founded.1627. War with France, over the Huguenots.Maryland1629-1640. The “Great Migration” of Puritans to Massachusetts.1629. Establishment of the patroon system to encourage settlement in New Netherland.1630. BOSTON WAS FOUNDED by the English Puritans. The first general court in New England met there October 19.Connecticut1632. Lord Baltimore obtained a charter to Maryland.1633.Settled at Windsor by Pilgrims.1633-1636. Colonization of Connecticut River valley.1634. First permanent settlement made atSt. Mary’sbyCalvert.Rhode Island1636. Roger Williams settles at Providence.1637.Pequot Indian War.1636. Wealthy colonists from Holland settle at Ft. Orange.1636. First college in America founded by Massachusetts. Two years later it is namedHarvardin honor of John Harvard.1638. Ann Hutchinson settled in Rhode Island.1638. A Swedish settlement was made near Wilmington, on the Delaware.1639. Newport founded.1639. First press in America set up at Cambridge. Stephen Daye was the printer, andthe first American BookwasThe Bay Psalm Book.1640. Provisional government established at Dover.1640. English settlements begun on Salem Creek.1640.Whole number of emigrants to New England previous to this time about 21,200.1640. Meeting of the Long Parliament.1642-1652. William Berkeley governor of Virginia, which became a refuge for Cavaliers from England.1641. Massachusetts Bay Colony adopted laws known as theBody of Liberties.1642.Civil war begins.1643. THE FIRST INTER-COLONIAL UNION IN New England. It was formed for protection.1645. Maryland Catholics and Virginia Puritans engaged in rebellion.1647-1664. Peter Stuyvesant governor of New Netherland.1645. Massachusetts established free schools supported by the State.1649. The Maryland Assembly passed a TOLERATION Act.1649. Execution of Charles I.1649-1660. The Commonwealth under Cromwell.1652. Puritan Commissioners with an army compelled Virginia to accept the rule of the Puritan Commonwealth.Carolinas1653. Settlement ofAlbemarle, North Carolina, by Virginia pioneers.1658.Massachusetts made it a capital offense for Quakers to return to the colony after expulsion.1657.Proclamation issued against the Quakers.1655. The Swedish settlements on the Delaware conquered by the Dutch.1660. The restoration of Charles II. in England brought about the return of Berkeley in Virginia.Therestoration was welcomed by the Cavaliers of Virginia, but the Massachusetts Puritans delayed a year before proclaiming Charles king.A second influx of Puritan immigrants followed the restoration.1663.Carolina granted to a company of proprietors.1661.Charles Calvert appointed governor.1663.Charter granted to Rhode Island.1662.Charter granted to Connecticut.1661.Eliot’s “Indian Testament” printed at Cambridge.1660. Restoration of the Stuarts.1660-1685.Charles II.1669.John Locke drafts a constitution for Carolina.1664. Delaware passes under English rule.1664. New Jersey granted to Berkeley and Carteret.1664. Eliot’s “Indian Bible” printed at Cambridge.1668.Triple alliance of England, Sweden and Holland against France.1670.Charleston, S. C., settled and territory divided into North and South Carolina.1670. Staten Island purchased from the Indians.1675. KING PHILIP’S WAR broke out in New England.Pennsylvania1676. BACON’S REBELLION broke out in Virginia.1677.Maine became part of Massachusetts by purchase.1676.Population of New England estimated at 60,000.1680. New Hampshire declared a royal province.1681.Grant of Pennsylvania to William Penn.1680. John Buckner brings a printing press to Virginia and prints the session laws.1684.Massachusetts becomes a royal colony.1683.First Assembly in New York under English rule.1682. Philadelphia laid out by Penn, and Quaker emigration encouraged.Penn’streaty with the Indians.1682. Delaware becomes part of Pennsylvania.1685-1689.James II.1686-1689. Andros governor of all New England by royal appointment.1689-1690. Leisler’s rebellion in New York.1689.First American newspaper published in Boston; suppressed by Massachusetts government.1688-1689. The “Glorious Revolution.”1689-1702.William III. and Mary.1689-1697. KING WILLIAM’S WAR. TheFIRST INTER-COLONIAL WAR. This marked the beginning of a contest which continued with little intermission until the downfall of French power in America.1691-1693. Salem witchcraft.1692.The College of William and Marywas established in Virginia.1700.Population of colonies about 260,000.1701. Penn granted aCharter of Privilegesto Pennsylvania which remained in force until 1776.1701.Yale Collegewas established in Connecticut.1701. War of the Spanish succession.1702-1714. QUEEN ANNE’S WAR. TheSECOND INTER-COLONIAL WARbegan between France and England. This war was confined mainly to the east; the French attacking New England, and the New Englanders retaliating.1702. Joseph Dudley appointed governor.1703.Delaware is made a separate colony.1702. New Jersey becomes a royal province under the governor of New York.1704.Appearance of “The Boston News Letter,” the first newspaper in America.1702-1714.Queen Anne.1702.Queen Anne war against France and Spain.1710. First post office in America at New York.1714-1727.George II.1719.First Spinning-wheel andcultivation of potatoesintroduced by the settlers of Londonderry, N. H.1718. War with Spain.1721-1729. The Carolinas are royal colonies.1720. Tea begins to be used in New England.1728.Boundary established between Virginia and North Carolina.1729.North and South Carolina permanently divided into two provinces.1729.Baltimorefounded.1728-1731. Final boundaries established with New York and Rhode Island.1729.“Pennsylvania Gazette” started by Franklin.1727-1760.George II.Georgia1733. Last of the thirteen original colonies settled by Oglethorpe atSavannah.1734.Assembly meets for first time at Greenwich.1735.Zenger’s trial and acquittal in New York, establishes freedom of the press.1733. Treaty with the “Six Nations.”1733. Delaware boundaries defined after twenty years’ litigation.1736.Appearance of “The Virginia Gazette,” first newspaper in the South.1740.Boundaries of New Hampshire determined.1738. Separate charter granted to New Jersey.1740.University of Pennsylvania founded.1739.War with Spain.1742.Spaniards attacked Georgia; defeated by Oglethorpe.1742.Peter Faneuil builds “Faneuil Hall.”1743.Sir George Clinton, governor.1741. Moravians first settle in United States at Bethlehem.1744-1748. KING GEORGE’S WAR. TheTHIRD INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between England and France. Louisburg was restored to France, much to the dissatisfaction of the New England colonists.1744. Treaty with the “Six Nations.”1745.One thousand men sent against Louisburg.1744. George Whitefield preaches in New Hampshire.1746.Thomas and Richard Penn sole proprietors of Pennsylvania.1746.New Jersey College, afterwardsPrinceton.1744. War between England, France and Austria.1749. First English ship reaches Georgia.1749. Famous Indian treaty renewed at Falmouth.1750.Trenton public library founded.1749.White population of the colonies 1,046,000.1753.GEORGE WASHINGTON was sent by Governor Dinwiddie to order the French out of the Ohio valley.1753.The Potomac River explored to its source.1754.Providence library chartered.1754.Convention at Albany to consider a colonial confederacy.1752.English Biblefirst printed in America.Franklinexperiments in electricity.1754-1763. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. TheFOURTHandLAST INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between the French and English, which was ended by THE TREATY OF PARIS in 1763.1754. King’s College (nowColumbia), New York City, founded.1756-1763. Seven Years’ war.
THE SOUTHERN COLONIESVirginia1607. The London Company made THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA, AT JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA (May13). Jamestown was named after the English King, James I.1619. Virginia settlers establish theFIRST REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY IN AMERICA, calledThe House of Burgesses.TheFIRST SLAVESwere sold in Virginia.1622. An Indian attack was made on Jamestown.1624. Virginia was made into aroyal colony.Maryland1632. Lord Baltimore obtained a charter to Maryland.1634. First permanent settlement made atSt. Mary’sbyCalvert.1642-1652. William Berkeley governor of Virginia, which became a refuge for Cavaliers from England.1645. Maryland Catholics and Virginia Puritans engaged in rebellion.1649. The Maryland Assembly passed a TOLERATION Act.1652. Puritan Commissioners with an army compelled Virginia to accept the rule of the Puritan Commonwealth.Carolinas1653. Settlement ofAlbemarle, North Carolina, by Virginia pioneers.1660. The restoration of Charles II. in England brought about the return of Berkeley in Virginia.Therestoration was welcomed by the Cavaliers of Virginia, but the Massachusetts Puritans delayed a year before proclaiming Charles king.A second influx of Puritan immigrants followed the restoration.1663.Carolina granted to a company of proprietors.1661.Charles Calvert appointed governor.1669. John Locke drafts a constitution for Carolina.1670.Charleston, S. C., settled and territory divided into North and South Carolina.1676. BACON’S REBELLION broke out in Virginia.1689-1697. KING WILLIAM’S WAR. TheFIRST INTER-COLONIAL WAR. This marked the beginning of a contest which continued with little intermission until the downfall of French power in America.1702-1714. QUEEN ANNE’S WAR. TheSECOND INTER-COLONIAL WARbegan between France and England. This war was confined mainly to the east; the French attacking New England, and the New Englanders retaliating.1721-1729. The Carolinas are royal colonies.1728. Boundary established between Virginia and North Carolina.1729.North and South Carolina permanently divided into two provinces.1729.Baltimorefounded.Georgia1733. Last of the thirteen original colonies settled by Oglethorpe atSavannah.1742. Spaniards attacked Georgia; defeated by Oglethorpe.1744-1748. KING GEORGE’S WAR. TheTHIRD INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between England and France. Louisburg was restored to France, much to the dissatisfaction of the New England colonists.1744. Treaty with the “Six Nations.”1749. First English ship reaches Georgia.1753. GEORGE WASHINGTON was sent by Governor Dinwiddie to order the French out of the Ohio valley.1753. The Potomac River explored to its source.1754-1763. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. TheFOURTHandLAST INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between the French and English, which was ended by THE TREATY OF PARIS in 1763.NEW ENGLAND COLONIESMassachusetts1607. The Plymouth Company established a colony on the Kennebec River, in Maine under Sir Ferdinando Gorges. The colony failed.1620. The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Cape Cod November 11, and formed the FIRST SETTLEMENT IN NEW ENGLAND AT PLYMOUTH (December 22), under the FIRST REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA.New Hampshire1623. First settlement on Piscataqua River, by John Mason.1628. The permanent settlement of Massachusetts Bay Colony began by the settlement ofSalemunderJohn Endicott.1629-1640. The “Great Migration” of Puritans to Massachusetts.1630. BOSTON WAS FOUNDED by the English Puritans. The first general court in New England met there October 19.Connecticut1633. Settled at Windsor by Pilgrims.1633-1636. Colonization of Connecticut River valley.Rhode Island1636. Roger Williams settles at Providence.1637.Pequot Indian War.1638. Ann Hutchinson settled in Rhode Island.1639. Newport founded.1640. Provisional government established at Dover.1641. Massachusetts Bay Colony adopted laws known as theBody of Liberties.1643. THE FIRST INTER-COLONIAL UNION IN New England. It was formed for protection1658. Massachusetts made it a capital offense for Quakers to return to the colony after expulsion.1663.Charter granted to Rhode Island.1662. Charter granted to Connecticut.1675. KING PHILIP’S WAR broke out in New England.1677. Maine became part of Massachusetts by purchase.1680. New Hampshire declared a royal province.1684. Massachusetts becomes a royal colony.1686-1689. Andros governor of all New England by royal appointment.1689-1697. KING WILLIAM’S WAR. TheFIRST INTER-COLONIAL WAR. This marked the beginning of a contest which continued with little intermission until the downfall of French power in America.1691-1693. Salem witchcraft.1702-1714. QUEEN ANNE’S WAR. TheSECOND INTER-COLONIAL WARbegan between France and England. This war was confined mainly to the east; the French attacking New England, and the New Englanders retaliating.1702. Joseph Dudley appointed governor.1728-1731. Final boundaries established with New York and Rhode Island.1734. Assembly meets for first time at Greenwich.1740. Boundaries of New Hampshire determined.1742. Peter Faneuil builds “Faneuil Hall.”1744-1748. KING GEORGE’S WAR. TheTHIRD INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between England and France. Louisburg was restored to France, much to the dissatisfaction of the New England colonists.1745.One thousand men sent against Louisburg.1744. George Whitefield preaches in New Hampshire.1749. Famous Indian treaty renewed at Falmouth.1754. Providence library chartered.1754-1763. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. TheFOURTHandLAST INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between the French and English, which was ended by THE TREATY OF PARIS in 1763.THE MIDDLE COLONIESProgress and PopulationEnglish Rulers and EventsNew York1603-1625.James I.1603.Union of England and Scotland.1609.Henry Hudson, employed by the Dutch East India Company,sailed up the Hudson Riversearching for a passage to the Indies.1614. TheDutchestablished trading stations on Manhattan Island and at Fort Orange (Albany) on the Hudson. They called their possessionsNew Netherland.1616.Tobacco first cultivated by the English in Virginia.New Jersey1623. The Dutch founded a settlement on Manhattan Island which they called NEW AMSTERDAM (later New York City).1623. Ft. Nassau (now Gloucester, N. J.) established by the Dutch.1625-1649.Charles I.1626. Peter Minuit, director-general of New Netherland, purchased Manhattan Island from the Indians for $24.Delaware1627. Swaanendael (now Lewis, Del.) founded.1627. War with France, over the Huguenots.1629. Establishment of the patroon system to encourage settlement in New Netherland.1636. Wealthy colonists from Holland settle at Ft. Orange.1636. First college in America founded by Massachusetts. Two years later it is namedHarvardin honor of John Harvard.1638. A Swedish settlement was made near Wilmington, on the Delaware.1639. First press in America set up at Cambridge. Stephen Daye was the printer, andthe first American BookwasThe Bay Psalm Book.1640. English settlements begun on Salem Creek.1640.Whole number of emigrants to New England previous to this time about 21,200.1640. Meeting of the Long Parliament.1642.Civil war begins.1647-1664. Peter Stuyvesant governor of New Netherland.1645. Massachusetts established free schools supported by the State.1649. Execution of Charles I.1649-1660. The Commonwealth under Cromwell.1657.Proclamation issued against the Quakers.1655. The Swedish settlements on the Delaware conquered by the Dutch.1661.Eliot’s “Indian Testament” printed at Cambridge.1660. Restoration of the Stuarts.1660-1685.Charles II.1664. Delaware passes under English rule.1664. New Jersey granted to Berkeley and Carteret.1664. Eliot’s “Indian Bible” printed at Cambridge.1668.Triple alliance of England, Sweden and Holland against France.1670. Staten Island purchased from the Indians.Pennsylvania1676.Population of New England estimated at 60,000.1681.Grant of Pennsylvania to William Penn.1680. John Buckner brings a printing press to Virginia and prints the session laws.1683.First Assembly in New York under English rule.1682. Philadelphia laid out by Penn, and Quaker emigration encouraged.Penn’streaty with the Indians.1682. Delaware becomes part of Pennsylvania.1685-1689.James II.1689-1690. Leisler’s rebellion in New York.1689.First American newspaper published in Boston; suppressed by Massachusetts government.1688-1689. The “Glorious Revolution.”1689-1702.William III. and Mary.1689-1697. KING WILLIAM’S WAR. TheFIRST INTER-COLONIAL WAR. This marked the beginning of a contest which continued with little intermission until the downfall of French power in America.1692.The College of William and Marywas established in Virginia.1700.Population of colonies about 260,000.1701. Penn granted aCharter of Privilegesto Pennsylvania which remained in force until 1776.1701.Yale Collegewas established in Connecticut.1701. War of the Spanish succession.1702-1714. QUEEN ANNE’S WAR. TheSECOND INTER-COLONIAL WARbegan between France and England. This war was confined mainly to the east; the French attacking New England, and the New Englanders retaliating.1703.Delaware is made a separate colony.1702. New Jersey becomes a royal province under the governor of New York.1704.Appearance of “The Boston News Letter,” the first newspaper in America.1702-1714.Queen Anne.1702.Queen Anne war against France and Spain.1710. First post office in America at New York.1714-1727.George II.1719.First Spinning-wheel andcultivation of potatoesintroduced by the settlers of Londonderry, N. H.1718. War with Spain.1720. Tea begins to be used in New England.1729.“Pennsylvania Gazette” started by Franklin.1727-1760.George II.1735.Zenger’s trial and acquittal in New York, establishes freedom of the press.1733. Treaty with the “Six Nations.”1733. Delaware boundaries defined after twenty years’ litigation.1736.Appearance of “The Virginia Gazette,” first newspaper in the South.1738. Separate charter granted to New Jersey.1740.University of Pennsylvania founded.1739.War with Spain.1743.Sir George Clinton, governor.1741. Moravians first settle in United States at Bethlehem.1744-1748. KING GEORGE’S WAR. TheTHIRD INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between England and France. Louisburg was restored to France, much to the dissatisfaction of the New England colonists.1746.Thomas and Richard Penn sole proprietors of Pennsylvania.1746.New Jersey College, afterwardsPrinceton.1744. War between England, France and Austria.1750.Trenton public library founded.1749.White population of the colonies 1,046,000.1754.Convention at Albany to consider a colonial confederacy.1752.English Biblefirst printed in America.Franklinexperiments in electricity.1754-1763. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. TheFOURTHandLAST INTER-COLONIAL WARbroke out between the French and English, which was ended by THE TREATY OF PARIS in 1763.1754. King’s College (nowColumbia), New York City, founded.1756-1763. Seven Years’ war.
When first visited by Europeans, the country now comprised within the United States was exclusively inhabited by the race commonly called American Indians.
Period of Discovery.—According to the Scandinavian sagas, Leif, a Norwegian, sailed about 1001 from Iceland for Greenland, but was driven southward by storms till he reached a country called Vinland, which is supposed to have been Rhode Island or some other part of the coast of New England.
It is possible that some vague rumors of the Norse journeys had come to Christopher Columbus when he set out on Friday, August 3, 1492, to discover the western route to India. He sighted one of the Bahama Islands on October 12, and landed the following day. After cruising about for some time, he returned to Spain. He made in all four voyages to the New World for treasure-getting and discovery. His discoveries, it should be remembered, did not extend to the territory now occupied by the United States, but were confined to certain of the West India Islands, and parts of Central, and possibly, South America. (See further, underOutlines of American History.)
Among the earliest of his followers was Amerigo Vespucci, who in 1497-1498 explored the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, and who has given his name to the whole continent.
In 1497, about five years after the discovery of America by Columbus, John Cabot sailed westward from Bristol, England, and on June 24 discovered land (Labrador), along which he coasted to the southwest nearly one thousand miles. In 1498 his son, Sebastian Cabot, sailed from the same port in search of a northwest passage to China, but finding the ice impenetrable, he turned to the south and coasted as far as Chesapeake Bay.
In 1513 the Spaniard Ponce de Leon discovered Florida. In 1539 took place the expedition of the Spaniard De Soto, who in the course of two years penetrated overland from Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida to a point two hundred miles beyond the Mississippi.