1603
|
Death of Elizabeth I; accession of James VI
of Scotland as James I.
|
1607
|
Foundation of Jamestown colony.
|
1608
|
Samuel de Champlain claims North American
territory for France.
|
" "
|
Captain James Smith takes over leadership of
Jamestown colony.
|
1609
|
Henry Hudson explores Hudson River Valley for
Holland and Dutch East India Company.
|
1611
|
Scrooby Village Separatists leave England for
Leyden in Holland
|
1612
|
John Rolfe returns from Jamaica with tobacco.
|
1614
|
Jamestown sends first crop of tobaccco to
Europe.
|
" "
|
Peter Minuit and the Dutch
buy Manhattan Island.
|
1617
|
Powhatan retires; Opeacancanough takes over
leadership of Powhatan Confederation.
|
1618
|
The Virginia Company allows formation of
House of Burgesses.
|
1620
|
Scrooby Village Separatists leave Holland for
New World; land in New England and form colony of Plymouth Plantations.
|
1621
|
Dutch investors form West India Company.
|
1622
|
First Anglo-Powhatan War
|
1624
|
The Virginia Company declares bankruptcy;
Virginia becomes a royal colony.
|
1625
|
James II dies; Charles I succeeds as king.
|
1627
|
Cardinal Richelieu establishes Company of New
France.
|
1628
|
Charles grants a charter to the Massachusetts
Bay Company.
|
1629
|
Charles I dissolves Parliament.
|
" "
|
Puritans land in New England and establish
Massachusetts Bay Colony.
|
" "
|
Dutch West India Company forms patroon system
in New Netherland colony.
|
1636
|
Puritans banish Roger Williams from
Massachusetts Bay; he founds new settlement of Rhode Island
|
" "
|
Reverend Richard Hooker and Newton settlers
moved to Connecticut River Valley; sign Fundamental Orders, the first
constitution in America.
|
1637
|
Richelieu reorganizes Company of New France.
|
" "
|
Pequot War.
|
1638
|
Colony of New Haven founded.
|
1640
|
Charles I convenes the "Short Parliament,"
then dismisses it, the summons the "Long Parliament."
|
1642
|
English Civil War begins.
|
" "
|
Richelieu dies; French Crown organizes
Company of Habitants of New France.
|
1643
|
Oliver Cromwell emerges as leader of Puritan
forces.
|
1644
|
Second Anglo-Powhatan War
|
" "
|
Rhode Island received a colonial charter.
|
1645
|
Dutch West India Company appoints Peter
Stuyvesant governor of New Netherland.
|
1646
|
Virginia signs treaty with Indians
establishing, effectively, the first "reservation" in America.
|
1649
|
Charles I executed; Interregenum begins.
|
1651
|
Cromwell dissolves Parliament and rules alone.
|
1658
|
Cromwell dies; his son Richard takes over.
|
1660
|
Restoration occurs when Parliament asks
Charles II to return to England as monarch.
|
" "
|
William Penn joins the Society of Friends
(Quakers).
|
1663
|
Charles II grants charter for Carolina colony
to eight "lords proprietor"
|
" "
|
King Louis XIV makes New France a royal
colony; Jean-Baptiste Colbert founds Company of the West.
|
1664
|
The Dutch surrender New Netherland colony to
James, Duke of York, who then establishes the colony of New York.
|
1672
|
Parliament gives the Royal African Company a
monopoly
on the African slave trade.
|
1673
|
Joliet and Marquette explore the upper
Mississippi River valley.
|
1676
|
Bacon's Rebellion.
|
1679
|
New Hampshire receives a royal charter.
|
1681
|
Charles II granted William Penn the charter
to
a proprietary colony, Pennsylvania.
|
1683
|
de la Salle explores Mississippi River all
the way to Gulf of Mexico and claims territory for France.
|
1685
|
Charles II dies; James, Duke of York, becomes
Kind James II.
|
1686
|
James abolishes charters of seven New England
colonies and forms Dominion of New England.
|
1688
|
Massachusetts drives Governor Edmund Andros
out of colony.
|
" "
|
"Glorious Revolution" drives James II from
throne; William and Mary become monarchs after agreeing to the
Declaration of Rights
establishing Parliamentary supremacy.
|
1692
|
Massachusetts becomes a royal colony.
|
1695
|
Carolina turns to rice as a cash crop.
|
1698
|
Parliament repeals Royal African Company's
monopoly
on the slave trade.
|
1702
|
New Jersey becomes a royal colony.
|
1705
|
Virginia published its first Slave Code
|
1718
|
French build New Orleans at mouth of the
Mississippi River.
|