Timeline of Early American History: 1607-1789

Posted on Feb 18, 2025 in History

1607: Jamestown colony, the first permanent English settlement in North America, is established.

  • John Smith was a leader.
  • John Rolfe introduced tobacco cultivation.

1609-1614: First war between English colonists in Jamestown and the Powhatan Confederacy.

1619: First enslaved Africans are brought to British North America.

1620: Pilgrims arrive and establish Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact is created.

1622-1632: Second war, a massive Powhatan attack on Jamestown.

1636: The Pequot War (Native Americans and Puritans vs. Pequots).

1644-1646: Third Powhatan War.

1670s: King Philip’s War.

1676: Bacon’s Rebellion.

  • Nathaniel Bacon created his own militia against colonists and natives.

1712: North and South Carolina are separated.

1730s: The Great Awakening.

Late 18th Century: The Underground Railroad begins operation.

1756-1763: Seven Years’ War (England vs. France) results in increased taxes.

  • Britain and France wanted to expand their territory (India, trade routes, North America).
  • Alliances with Native Americans complicated the situation.
  • France, Russia, and Austria vs. Britain and Prussia (Europe involved).
  • British East India Company vs. French East India Company.
  • Consequences: Britain in debt, leading to increased taxes.

1763: Treaty of Paris. Britain, the primary colonial power, won (Royal Proclamation).

1763: Pontiac’s War results in the Proclamation Line of 1763.

  • Native Americans vs. English settlers.
  • The Proclamation Line forbid settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains.
  • Settlers largely ignored the Proclamation.

1764: Sugar Act: Required colonists to import sugar and molasses exclusively from the British and to pay duties on them.

1765: Stamp Act leads to the Declaration of Rights and Grievances (which was rejected).

  • Aimed to raise revenue by requiring that a tax be paid on various legal documents, printed materials, and everyday items such as newspapers and playing cards.
  • Consequences: Boycotts of British goods and political activism.

The Stamp Act Congress was created and drafted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, asserting that only colonial legislatures had the right to tax the colonies. They wanted the King and Parliament to consider their concerns.

1767: Townshend Acts (taxes on British goods, such as lead, glass, tea, and paper).

  • Another form of taxation without representation.
  • All were repealed except for the tea tax.
  • Troops were sent to Boston to maintain control.

1773: Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party (stemming from the Townshend Acts).

  • Civilians were killed.
  • Nearly 10,000 pounds of tea were thrown overboard.
  • Significant consequences, detailed below.

1774: Coercive Acts, which included:

  1. Boston Port Act: Closing the port of Boston until payment for the damaged tea was made.
  2. Government Bill Act: Invalidated the representatives in Massachusetts.
  3. Administration Justice Act: Allowed trials to take place anywhere in the British Empire.
  4. Quartering Act: Facilitated the housing of British troops in America.

1775: First Continental Congress.

  • They issued the “Declaration and Resolves,” expressing disagreement with the Coercive Acts and other British actions.
  • Goal: Support Boston against Britain.
  • Goal: Meet again if their concerns were not addressed.
  • The Minutemen were called: a local defense force prepared for rapid response to threats.

April 1775: Troops were sent to destroy colonial arms and ammunition in Concord.

  • The objectives were Boston and the Massachusetts countryside.
  • The Patriots had an intelligence network and warned the rebels.

April 1775: The American Revolution begins.

  • Several battles occurred around Concord and ended in Boston.
  • The British also lost Fort Ticonderoga.

1775: Second Continental Congress.

  • Two groups emerged:
    • Conservatives: Believed in reconciliation and issued the “Olive Branch Petition” (rejected the next day).
    • Radicals: Had no wish to reconcile and issued the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms.”
  • Created the Continental Army.
  • Assumed the normal functions of a government.

1775: George Washington commands at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Spain and France began sending supplies to the rebel cause. With guns from Fort Ticonderoga, the colonists forced the British to leave. Thomas Paine published “Common Sense,” advocating total independence from Britain.

1776: Declaration of Independence. Its aims were to:

  • Attract more colonists to the war effort.
  • Secure aid from other countries, especially France.
  • Establish the colonies as a new country, the United States of America.

1777: Articles of Confederation: Served as the Constitution from 1777 to 1789.

1777: Battle of Saratoga. Patriots, with French and Spanish support, defeated the British in 1781.

1781: The Second Continental Congress’s meetings end.

1783: Treaty of Paris: End of the American Revolution (colonists’ independence confirmed).

  • Colonists gained independence.
  • Cession of territory up to the Mississippi River.
  • Americans would pay debts owed to Britain.
  • Spain received Florida.
  • End of the Proclamation Line.

1785: Land Ordinance.

  • Aimed to facilitate the sale of public lands in the Northwest Territory.
  • Intended to generate revenue for the newly formed federal government.

1787: Northwest Ordinance.

  • The Articles of Confederation could not collect taxes, so they earned money from selling land.
  • Addressed the organization of new states.

1788: The Constitution is ratified.

1789: George Washington becomes the first President (held views similar to the Royal Proclamation).

1789: The Bill of Rights: An assurance to Anti-Federalists.