Events with tag - Colonial History

October 12, 1492

Columbus Discovers America

Christopher Columbus's historic voyage in 1492 led to the first sustained European contact with the Americas, when he landed in the Bahamas on October 12 after sailing across the Atlantic with three ships provided by the Spanish Crown.

April 2, 1513

Discovery of Florida

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida on April 2, 1513, marking the first documented European contact with the region. He named it 'La Florida' due to its flowering vegetation and the Easter season.

January 17, 1524

Verrazzano's Atlantic Coast Exploration

Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano conducted the first European exploration of the Atlantic coast from Florida to New Brunswick under French commission, covering over 5,000 nautical miles and making significant discoveries including New York Harbor.

September 7, 1535

Discovery of St. Lawrence River

French explorer Jacques Cartier becomes the first European to navigate the St. Lawrence River, establishing a crucial waterway that would shape North American colonial development and connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

May 8, 1541

Discovery of the Mississippi River

Hernando de Soto became the first European to officially document the discovery of the Mississippi River, leading to a series of explorations that established crucial trade routes and shaped North American development.

September 8, 1565

Founding of St. Augustine

Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established St. Augustine, Florida, marking the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States. The settlement was founded on September 8, 1565, predating Jamestown by 42 years.

May 14, 1607

Founding of Jamestown

The establishment of Jamestown in 1607 marked the first successful permanent English settlement in North America, setting the foundation for colonial America and future United States.

July 3, 1608

Founding of Quebec City

Samuel de Champlain establishes Quebec City at a strategic location along the St. Lawrence River, marking the beginning of permanent French colonization in North America. The settlement, built with three main structures, became the foundation of New France.

July 30, 1619

First House of Burgesses Established

The House of Burgesses, America's first legislative assembly, was established in Jamestown, Virginia, marking a pivotal moment in colonial democracy and laying the foundation for representative government in the United States.

January 1, 1620

Great Migration to New England

A transformative period in American colonial history when 20,000 English Puritans migrated to New England, establishing settlements and laying the foundation for colonial America. Led by religious persecution and economic hardship, these settlers created thriving communities that shaped American culture.

September 1, 1621

First Thanksgiving Celebration

In autumn 1621, 52 English Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered at Plymouth Colony for a three-day harvest festival, marking what would become known as the First Thanksgiving in American history.

May 1, 1624

Founding of New Amsterdam

Dutch West India Company established New Amsterdam by sending 30 families to Manhattan Island, marking the beginning of what would later become New York City. The settlement was strategically positioned at the Hudson River mouth for trade.

May 17, 1673

Marquette and Joliet Mississippi River Expedition

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet led a historic expedition along the Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to systematically explore and document the upper Mississippi. Starting from St. Ignace Mission on May 17, 1673, they traveled over 2,500 miles through present-day Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas.

March 4, 1681

William Penn Establishes Pennsylvania

William Penn receives a charter from King Charles II to establish the Province of Pennsylvania, creating a colony founded on principles of religious freedom and peaceful governance.

April 9, 1682

La Salle Claims Mississippi River

French explorer René-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle led a historic expedition down the Mississippi River, culminating in claiming the entire river basin for France on April 9, 1682. This bold declaration established French control over vast territory later known as Louisiana.

April 1, 1699

First European Settlement on Mississippi River

In 1699, Fort de la Boulaye became the first permanent European settlement along the Mississippi River, following Robert de La Salle's historic 1682 expedition that claimed the territory for France. This establishment marked a crucial turning point in North American colonial history.

September 6, 1717

Mississippi Company

A French colonial trading company founded by John Law in 1717, granted exclusive trading rights in Louisiana Territory by King Louis XV. It experienced rapid growth before collapsing in 1720 during the Mississippi Bubble crisis.

May 7, 1718

Founding of New Orleans

New Orleans was established as a strategic French colonial port city on the Mississippi River, marking a pivotal moment in North American colonial history. The settlement quickly developed into a vital trading hub and cultural melting pot.

November 3, 1762

Mississippi River Transfer to Spanish Control

In a pivotal moment of colonial history, France ceded control of the Mississippi River and Louisiana Territory to Spain through the Treaty of Fontainebleau. This secret agreement, signed on November 3, 1762, transferred 828,000 square miles of territory and marked a significant shift in North American colonial power dynamics.

October 7, 1763

Proclamation of 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 was a landmark royal decree issued by King George III following Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War. It established a boundary along the Appalachian Mountains to restrict colonial settlement and protect Native American territories.

April 5, 1764

Sugar Act of 1764

The Sugar Act of 1764, also known as the American Revenue Act, was Britain's first attempt to directly tax American colonies, reducing molasses tax while implementing stricter trade regulations and enforcement measures.

September 5, 1774

First Continental Congress

A pivotal gathering of 56 delegates from 12 American colonies at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, establishing the first formal inter-colonial alliance against British rule and laying the foundation for American independence.

September 5, 1774

First Continental Congress

A pivotal gathering of 56 delegates from 12 American colonies who met in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall from September to October 1774 to address British oppression and establish unified colonial resistance.

October 1, 1800

Spain Returns Mississippi River to France

Through the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain returned control of the Mississippi River and Louisiana Territory to France, marking the end of 38 years of Spanish dominance in the region. This secret agreement set the stage for the Louisiana Purchase.