What years were the colonial period?
Colonial America (1492-1763) Colonial America (1492-1763) The Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock, December 1620. European nations came to the Americas to increase their wealth and broaden their influence over world affairs. The Spanish were among the first Europeans to explore the New World and the first to settle in what is now the United States.
When did the colonial period in America begin?
Society and culture in colonial America (1565-1776) varied widely among ethnic and social groups, and from colony to colony, but was mostly centered around agriculture as it was the primary venture in most regions. While New England had small family farms, the southern colonies had large plantations that required slave labor.
What exactly was the colonial period?
The Colonial Period. "Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation." John Smith, founder of the colony of Virginia, 1607. Within the span of a hundred years, in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, a tide of emigration -one of the great folk wanderings of history-swept from Europe to America.
What was the earliest settlement in America?
- ISABELLA was a small town that Columbus ordered his men to build on the northeastern shore of Hispaniola (in present-day Dominican Republic) during his second voyage to the New World ...
- JAMESTOWN is justifiably called "the first permanent English settlement" in the New World—a hard-won designation. ...
- PLYMOUTH. ...
What is the history of the colonial period?
This section on the American History of the Period covering the first 13 colonies provides comprehensive details of the colonists settlement of early America and the lives of the colonists. Interesting facts and information about early American History of via this American History of the Period covering ...
What was the colonial era?
A complete overview of the history of the era from the discovery and colonization of the lands of America, the Indian Wars, the establishment of the colonies and the Road to Revolution and the American Revolutionary War. The Colonial Period - Food.
What was the backcountry during the colonial period?
Colonial Period - Backcountry. The Backcountry was “off the beaten track”, the uncolonized lands in America during the period of colonialism. Read about the first settlers in the Backcountry, Daniel Boone and the Cumberland Gap, the Scots-Irish settlers and the removal of the Five Civilised tribes from the Backcountry.
What is the early American time period?
The early American Time Period provides a full history timeline detailing the history, facts and information about famous people, important events and key dates during the early Time Period. A complete overview of history during the period when colonists and settlers arrived from Europe looking for religious freedom, ...
What was the food of the colonists?
The Types of food available to the colonists during the period including the meats, fish, shellfish, fruit, vegetables, herbs and dairy products . The food and the cooking methods together with the preservation methods used in preparing the food eaten by the colonists.
Where did the English colony start?
The first English colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Early settlements developed in New England, in the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies. In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower and founded Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. In 1681, William Penn, a wealthy Quaker, received a large tract of land, which became known as Pennsylvania. To help populate it, Penn actively recruited immigrants, among them many religious dissenters, e.g. Quakers, Mennonites, Amish, Moravians and Baptists. The first German community was established in Pennsylvania in 1683. By 1733, thirteen English colonies had been established along the Atlantic Coast.
What were the middle colonies like?
Society in the middle colonies was more varied and cosmopolitan than in New England. By the end of the 18th century, 30,000 people lived in Philadelphia, representing many languages, creeds and trades. Though the Quakers dominated in Philadelphia, elsewhere in Pennsylvania others were well represented. Germans became the colony's most skillful farmers. Important, too, were cottage industries such as weaving, shoemaking, cabinetmaking and other crafts. The Scots and Irish tended to settle in the back country, where they cleared land and lived by hunting and subsistence farming.
How did the New England colonies differ from the southern colonies?
The economic and social structures in New England and the middle colonies differed from those of the southern settlements. New England has generally thin, stony soil and long winters, making it difficult to make a living from farming. Turning to other pursuits, the New Englanders harnessed water power and established grain mills and sawmills. With the bulk of the early settlers living in villages and towns around the harbors, many New Englanders carried on some kind of trade or business. The sea became a source of great wealth.
What was the beginning of the emigration of the 1600s?
The early 1600s saw the beginning of a great tide of emigration from Europe to North America. Emigration from England often was not directly sponsored by the government but by private groups of individuals whose chief motive was profit.
What were the main groups of settlers in the early colonial era?
Most settlers were English, but there were also Dutch, Swedes and Germans, a few French Huguenots and a scattering of Spaniards, Italians and Portuguese. Few colonists could finance the cost of passage and in some cases, they came as indentured servants, agreeing to work as contract laborers for a limited time.
What powers did the colonial legislature have?
By the early 18th century, colonial legislatures held two significant powers: the right to vote on taxes and expenditures, and the right to initiate legislation rather than merely act on proposals of the governor.
When were African slaves brought to America?
The first African slaves were brought to Virginia in 1619. Initially, many were regarded as indentured servants who could earn their freedom. By the 1660s, however, Africans were brought to America in shackles for a lifetime of involuntary servitude.
When did the colonies come to America?
The colonial history of the United States covers the history of European colonization of North America from the early 17th century (i.e., 1600s) until the incorporation of the colonies into the United States of America. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic launched major colonization programs in North America.
What countries were colonized in 1750?
Main articles: New France and French colonization of the Americas. The 1750 possessions of Britain (pink and purple), France (blue), and Spain (orange) in contrast to the borders of contemporary Canada and the United States.
What was the New England colony under?
Under King James II of England, the New England colonies, New York, and the Jerseys were briefly united as the Dominion of New England (1686–89). The administration was eventually led by Governor Sir Edmund Andros and seized colonial charters, revoked land titles, and ruled without local assemblies, causing anger among the population. The 1689 Boston revolt was inspired by England's Glorious Revolution against James II and led to the arrest of Andros, Boston Anglicans, and senior dominion officials by the Massachusetts militia. Andros was jailed for several months, then returned to England. The Dominion of New England was dissolved and governments resumed under their earlier charters.
What was the first successful colony in the world?
The first successful English colony was Jamestown, established May 14, 1607, near Chesapeake Bay. The business venture was financed and coordinated by the London Virginia Company, a joint-stock company looking for gold. Its first years were extremely difficult, with very high death rates from disease and starvation, wars with local Indians, and little gold. The colony survived and flourished by turning to tobacco as a cash crop. By the late 17th century, Virginia's export economy was largely based on tobacco, and new, richer settlers came in to take up large portions of land, build large plantations and import indentured servants and slaves. In 1676, Bacon's Rebellion occurred, but was suppressed by royal officials. After Bacon's Rebellion, African slaves rapidly replaced indentured servants as Virginia's main labor force.
What was the name of the island that Columbus landed on?
In September 1493, Christopher Columbus set sail on his second voyage with 17 ships from Cádiz. On November 19, 1493 he landed on the island of Puerto Rico , naming it San Juan Bautista in honor of Saint John the Baptist. The first European colony, Caparra, was founded on August 8, 1508, by Juan Ponce de León, a lieutenant under Columbus, who was greeted by the Taíno Cacique Agüeybaná and who later became the first governor of the island. Ponce de Leon was actively involved in the Higuey massacre of 1503 in Puerto Rico. In 1508, Sir Ponce de Leon was chosen by the Spanish Crown to lead the conquest and slavery of the Taíno Indians for gold mining operations. The following year, the colony was abandoned in favor of a nearby island on the coast, named Puerto Rico (Rich Port), which had a suitable harbor. In 1511, a second settlement, San Germán was established in the southwestern part of the island. During the 1520s, the island took the name of Puerto Rico while the port became San Juan .
How did the British colonists find themselves more similar than different?
Another point on which the colonies found themselves more similar than different was the booming import of British goods. The British economy had begun to grow rapidly at the end of the 17th century and, by the mid-18th century, small factories in Britain were producing much more than the nation could consume. Britain found a market for their goods in the British colonies of North America, increasing her exports to that region by 360% between 1740 and 1770. British merchants offered credit to their customers; this allowed Americans to buy a large amount of British goods. From Nova Scotia to Georgia, all British subjects bought similar products, creating and anglicizing a sort of common identity.
What territories did New Spain include?
New Spain included territories in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, much of the United States west of the Mississippi River, parts of Latin America (including Puerto Rico), and the Spanish East Indies (including Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands ).
1607 – Jamestown Colony Is Established
- In 1606, the London Virginia Company was granted a charter by King James I of England. This charter allowed the establishment of a settlement or colony in North America. The first group of colonists arrived in 1607 and established a colony at Jamestown, Virginia. This was the first British settlement in North America.
1620 – Mayflower Ship Arrives with Pilgrims
- In 1620, the second notable wave of British colonists arrived in America. These were the Pilgrims on board the ship Mayflower. Pilgrims were puritans who came to North America to escape religious persecution and to practice their beliefs freely. They established the Plymouth colony.
1623 – New Netherland Colony Is Established by The Dutch
- In 1623, colonists from the Netherlands established the colony of New Netherland in North America. This was the only Dutch colony of importance and significance in North America. It was based around New Amsterdam which was the capital of the colony. The colony remained an important Dutch possession until the second half of the 17th century when it was taken over by t…
1628 – Massachusetts Bay Colony Is Established
- After the Pilgrims, more waves of Puritans arrived in North America. Some of these established more settlements near the original Plymouth colony. One group banded together as the Massachusetts Bay Company and laid the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1636 – Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Is Established
- In 1935, Roger Williams was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for having different religious views. He then established the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1636. It eventually evolved into one of the Thirteen Colonies that became the United States.
1636 – 1638 – Pequot War Is Fought
- In 1636, the Pequot War began. This war was fought between the British colonies of Plymouth, Saybrook and Massachusetts Bay at one side, and the Native American tribe of Pequot at the other side. The war continued until 1638 when the Pequot were decisively defeated and most of them were either killed, captured or sold into slavery.
1638 – The First Swedish Colony Is Established in Delaware
- In 1638, Swedish colonists started arriving in North America. They established a settlement in Delaware which became known as New Sweden.
1660 – The First Navigation Acts Are Passed by The British Government
- By 1660, New England or the British colonies in North America were an important source of wealth, trade and resources for Britain. The British government passed the First Navigation Acts. These Acts regulated trade with the colonies and levied taxes on this trade.
1663 – Province of Carolina Is Established
- In 1663, the British crown granted the permission to establish the Province of Carolina. Most of the land was given to Lord Proprietors by King Charles II and it remained in the ownership of their heirs all the way until 1729.
1664 – English Forces Capture New Netherland
- In 1664, King Charles II decided to attack and take over the Dutch possessions in North America. Four British frigates entered the harbor of the Dutch colony, New Netherland. They quickly gained control of the colony and renamed it New York.
Overview
The colonial history of the United States covers the history of European colonization of North America from the early 17th century until the incorporation of the Thirteen Colonies into the United States of America, after the War of Independence. In the late 16th century, England (British Empire), Kingdom of France, Spanish Empire, and the Dutch Republic launched major colonization programs in North America. The death rate was very high among early immigrants, and some early attemp…
Unification of the British colonies
Efforts began as early as the 1640s toward a common defense of the colonies, principally against shared threats from Indians, the French, and the Dutch. The Puritan colonies of New England formed a confederation to coordinate military and judicial matters. From the 1670s, several royal governors attempted to find means of coordinating defensive and offensive military matters, notably Sir Edmund Andros (who governed New York, New England, and Virginia at various times…
The goals of colonization
Colonists came from European kingdoms that had highly developed military, naval, governmental, and entrepreneurial capabilities. The Spanish and Portuguese centuries-old experience of conquest and colonization during the Reconquista, coupled with new oceanic ship navigation skills, provided the tools, ability, and desire to colonize the New World. These efforts were managed respectively by the Casa de Contratación and the Casa da Índia.
Early colonial failures
Several European countries attempted to found colonies in the Americas after 1500. Most of those attempts ended in failure. The colonists themselves faced high rates of death from disease, starvation, inefficient resupply, conflict with Native Americans, attacks by rival European powers, and other causes.
Spain had numerous failed attempts, including San Miguel de Gualdape in Georgia (1526), Pánfil…
New Spain
Starting in the 16th century, Spain built a colonial empire in the Americas consisting of New Spain and other vice-royalties. New Spain included territories in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, much of the United States west of the Mississippi River, parts of Latin America (including Puerto Rico), and the Spanish East Indies (including Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands). New Spain encompassed the territory of Louisiana after the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762), though Louisian…
New France
New France was the vast area centered on the Saint Lawrence River, Great Lakes, Mississippi River and other major tributary rivers that was explored and claimed by France starting in the early 17th century. It was composed of several colonies: Acadia, Canada, Newfoundland, Louisiana, Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island), and Île Saint Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island). These colonies came under British or Spanish control after the French and Indian War, though Fr…
New Netherland
Nieuw-Nederland, or New Netherland, was a colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands chartered in 1614, in what became New York, New Jersey, and parts of other neighboring states. The peak population was less than 10,000. The Dutch established a patroon system with feudal-like rights given to a few powerful landholders; they also established religious tolerance and free trade. The colony's capital of New Amsterdam was founded in 1625 and locat…
New Sweden
New Sweden (Swedish: Nya Sverige) was a Swedish colony that existed along the Delaware River Valley from 1638 to 1655 and encompassed land in present-day Delaware, southern New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania. The several hundred settlers were centered around the capital of Fort Christina, at the location of what is today the city of Wilmington, Delaware. The colony also had settlements near the present-day location of Salem, New Jersey (Fort Nya Elfsborg) and on Ti…