Background
- 1585, England’s first colony at Roanoke established. It failed and a second group
- 1590, no trace of any person is found at Roanoke
- 1607, more colonists arrive for a second attempt in Virginia, or Jamestown
- Capt. John Smith is captured by locals, and then saved by Pocahontas. She marries John Rolfe, and the colony survives. Rolfe plants native tobacco, profiting the plantation, which led to more plantations. As Virginia’s economy grows, more labor is needed, and the first black slaves are bought.
- 1620, England had been cracking down on religious sects, and forcing many to flee. One of these, the Pilgrims, sails for America on the Mayflower
- 1622, Pilgrims survive and reap a strong harvest thanks to the help of the Indian Squanto and other local natives, and together celebrate the First Thanksgiving
- 1630, Puritans found a colony near Boston, resulting in new colonies being formed in order to escape their religious persecution.
- Charles II gains power in England, and makes deals that shape other colonies. All these lands are taken from the Indians, leading to Philip’s War and Bacon’s Revolt. Charles also clamps down on Massachusetts colonies, who banned his church and ignored his taxes.
- 1692, all the unrest leads to incidents such as the Salem Witch Trials by the end of the century.