1492 Columbus discovers America

1607 - English colonists (John Smith) lands near James River in VA. Established
first English settlement in Jamestown VA. Captured by the Powhatan Indians in
December 1607 while looking for food. He was later released with the help of
the chiefs daughter Pocahontas. Was later elected president of the local
settlement council, under his leadersip the colony grew. He returned to
Enlgand in October 1607. He tried twice to return to America in 1614 and 1615,
but both voyages were unsuccessful and he never returned to America.
1620 -Mayflower Compact
1 Nov1620First governing compact of the plymouth colony. It was singed on
November 11, 1620 by 41 of the ship's 101 passengers. It was a contract that
the settlers agreed to follow the compact's rules and regulations.
4 Jul 1776 declaration of independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental
Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies
then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and
no longer a part of the British Empire.
1664 - 1st naturalization act in American colonies; 1st Baptist Church organizes (Boston); New
Amsterdam renamed NYC; The colony of New Jersey is founded.
1773 - Massachusetts slaves petition legislature for freedom; Capt James Cook becomes 1st to
cross Antarctic Circle (66 33' S); British Parliament passes Tea Act (Boston won't like this); American
Revolutionary War: The United Kingdom's East India Company tea ships' cargo are burned at
Annapolis, Maryland.
1820 - US population announced at 9,638,453 (1,771,656 blacks (18.4%))
Feb 6th - The first 86 African American immigrants sponsored by the American Colonization Society
started a settlement in present-day Liberia.