US History timeline & concept chart: 16th-18th centuries (to 1754) British-American colonies

US History timeline & concept chart: American colonies 17th & mid-18th centuries

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Index

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• Category:US History timelines & concept charts pages list

Page structure & format guide

• US History timeline & concept chart page structure format guide

U.S. History course pages:

• US History
• AP US History

Article objectives

• exploration & colonialism motives & purposes
• review of British internal politics, events, civil and religious conflicts
• impact of domestic Britain events, ideas & rule in American colonialism
  • especially religious & political conflict, population & economic growth
• regional, economic, and demographic aspects of colonial expansion
• timeline up to the French-Indian War (1754)

Protestant Reformation, British political and religious conflicts & impact on American colonies

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1517 Protestant Reformation 1527 Henry VIII separates from Catholic Church 1642–1651 English Civil War 1649-1653 Oliver Cromwell & the Commonwealth of England (Protestant rule) 1649 Maryland Toleration Act (religious tolerance) 1661 "English Restoration" of Charles II 1688-1689: Glorious Revolution Catholic James II deposed & replaced by protestant rulers William & Mary 1688-1689 Tolerance Act of 1688 & English Bill of Rights of 1689	Martin Luther & Protestant Reformation Church of England Thirty Years War, 1618-1648 & European nationalism English Civil War, 1642–1651 & the Commonwealth Religious conflict & persecution as push factor on migration to colonial America Anti-Catholicism in colonial America	BIG IDEAS Protestant Reformation creates conflict between Catholics & protestants Protestant Reformation propels European nationalism Henry VIII’s break from Catholic Church & create Church of England ("Anglican church") English Civil War (religious and political) DETAILS Protestant Reformation 1517 Martin Luther's "protest" against abuses of the Church (the "95 Theses") Luther was excommunicated in 1521 excommunication means to be denied holy rites, which Catholics believed were necessary in order to go to heaven thus excommunication is the most serious punishment the Catholic church can issue the Protestant Reformation marked a defining moment in Western European history regions and countries divided by religion and was thereby a significant contributing force to the modern nation state by rejecting Church hierarchy, and professing that individuals can have a direct relationship with God, Protestantism promoted individualism, equality, and political independence weakening of the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire religious conflict protestants considered the papacy an agent of the anti-Christ Catholics considered protestants heretics and thus against the Church and God subsequent wars between Catholic & protestant people and nations Thirty Years War French genocide of Huguenots (protestants) Protestant Reformation propels European nationalism printing of the Bible in local dialects religious self-identity has political implications on notions of self-rule Church of England & Protestantism in England (English Reformation) 1534 Henry VIII’s break from Catholic Church & create Church of England ("Anglican church") the break ensures English-Spanish/French competition / wars attending Anglican church was required of all citizens attending mass was required, so "Non-conformists" held gatherings and mass in secret Non-conformists did not "conform" to the central, state-run Church of England Protestant objections to centralized Church of England doctrine leads to the splinter religious dissenters known generally as "Separatists" and "Puritans" and their offshoots, including Anabaptists (opposed infant baptism; included Amish and Mennonite movements) Brownists followers of Robert Browne in 1550s who were among the first separatists who opposed the Church of England most of the pilgrims on the 1620 Mayflower were Brownists Quakers (who would settle in Pennsylvania) Congregationalists (believe in autonomous, self-run "congregations") Levelers -- arose during the English Civil War: believed in popular sovereignty and religious tolerance behaved like populists with speeches, pamphlets, rallies, etc. in 1553, the adamantly Catholic Mary Tudor was crowned ruling Queen of England Mary attempted to reverse the English Reformation, including to return property that was seized by Henry VIII to the Catholic Church. she officially reunited the Churches of England and Ireland to Catholicism she is known as "Bloody Mary" for putting to death 283 religious dissenters by burning them at the stake, most for not repudiating Protestantism the burnings were very unpopular and prompted anti-Catholicism sentiment Mary was opposed by Parliament and did not succeed in her counter-reformation her protestant sister, Elizabeth, succeeded Mary in 1558 Elizabeth I reversed Mary's counter-reformation Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy of 1559 which reestablished the Churches of England and Ireland and declared their independence from papal authority. the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth and all her loyal subjects in 1570 England reacted by persecuting Jesuit priests the 1571 "Ridolfi" plot was an unsuccessful Catholic attempt to murder Elizabeth and put the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots on the throne Elizabeth subsequently cracked down on pro-Catholic agitators and sympathizers Thirty Years War, 1618-1648 Habsburg possessions in Europe, ca 1700 background: in 1500s, Protestant movements, mostly Lutheran, had spread across central and northern Europe as local Lutheran rulers separated from the Catholic Church, they seized Church properties the 1555 "Peace of Augsburg" settled many of these disputes, affirming " Cuius regio, eius religio ("whose realm, his religion") = local rulers could declare an official religion within their domain residents who did not wish to live under that religion would be free to leave without harassment these realms (principalities) would remain under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire the Holy Roman Empire was a loose collection of states, either directly or indirectly ruled by Spain and Austria direct Spanish rule included Netherlands, parts of northern Italy and southern Italy Austrian rule ("House of Habsburg") included Hungry, Bohemia (eastern Germany, largely today's Czech Republic) Austrian rule over German territories was loose and non-contiguous (not directly connected) other causes: spread of Protestantism beyond accepted borders under the Peace of Augsburg growth of Calvinism, which was opposed by Lutherans and not protected under the Peace of Augsburg economic competition between Calvinist and Lutheran states, including Baltic and Scandinavian countries (especially Sweden, which was Lutheran) direct cause: re-imposition of Catholicism and former Catholic properties in Bohemia led to a revolt there called the "Bohemian Revolt" Catholic forces defeated the Bohemian rebels, but Denmark and Sweden joined the war, spreading it across Germany click EXPAND for notes on Bohemian Revolt: [[File:Prague Castle defenestration site.jpg|thumb|The window (top floor) where the defenestration occurred in 1618, when Protestant locals threw two Catholic agents of the Holy Roman Emperor out the window; they both survived]] * Bohemia had a long history of quasi-independence from Catholic rule ** including the right to publish the Bible in Slavic (see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Cyril_and_Methodius Saints Cyril and Methodius (wikipedia)] * Bohemian priest Jan Hus led a reform movement, especially in protest of papal selling of "indulgences" (forgiveness for sins for money) ** Hus was excommunicated and burned at the stake in 1415 ** Hus's followers led a successful peasant revolt in the "Hussite Wars" ** ultimately, the Hussites surrendered to the Catholic King of Bohemia ** Hus's reform movement came over 100 years before that of Church reformer Martin Luther (the 1517 "95 Theses"), who inherited Hus' ideas * the Bohemian Revolt (1618-1620) was precipitated when royal governors (agents of the Holy Roman Emperor) attempted retake Catholic properties and rule ** Protestant leaders threw two of the royal governors out the window of a castle *** both survived *** the Catholics claimed that Mother Mary descended from heaven and gently set them on the ground *** the Protestants claimed that they fell into donkey dung, thus saving them from the fall *** one of the royal governors was later rewarded by the Emperor and given the title, "Baron of Highfall" overall, the Thirty Years War: war between Catholic and protestant nations & regions war between protestant sects, principally Lutherans and Calvinists tremendous negative impact on European populations & economies estimates of 4.5 to 8 million dead (some parts of Germany suffered 50% population declines) the war ended when the Holy Roman Emperor decided not to press further due to financial strain of the constant fighting 1648 Peace of Westphalia the settlement created independent small states indirectly established principles of "national sovereignty" and "non-interference" see Westphalian sovereignty (wikipedia) created independent Dutch state (freed from control by Spain) France, which joined the war late, was empowered by the war Spain and Austria were weakened England remained largely free of involvement or impact of 30 Years War impact of Thirty Years War on American colonies: shift in European balance of power from Spain & Portugal to England, France & Netherlands competition for American colonial possessions increased increase in slave trade to include Dutch, French and English and not just Portuguese and French English Civil War, 1642–1651 extremely violent, disruptive period across the British Isles, hundreds of thousands of deaths from combat "Royalists" (also called "Cavaliers") v. "Parliamentarians" (also called "Roundheads") Royalists supported Charles I's attempts to consolidate power over Parliament Charles I was crowned in 1625 as King of England, Scotland and Ireland Charles immediately exerted "royal privilege" and the "divine right of kings" (royal absolutism) he introduced taxes without Parliament's consent Parliamentarians wanted to limit the King's powers, including his control of the Church of England and appointment of his ministers religious disagreement contributed to tensions in 1625 Charles married a Catholic, Henrietta Maria (Queen Mary), upsetting protestants who feared Catholicism royalists supported the King has head of the Church, as well as accommodation of Catholicism in Ireland and Scotland Parliamentarians wanted a more "presbyterian" church whose hierarchy was separate from the monarchy they accused Charles of being sympathetic to Catholicism and of trying to re-impose Catholic forms and perhaps Catholicism itself historians divide the English Civil War into three periods (not our concern here) key dates: 1629-1640 "Eleven Years' Tyranny" Charles dissolved Parliament and ruled under "Royal Prerogative" as absolute ruler under financial pressure, Charles called Parliament then dissolved it after a few days (known as the "Short Parliament") Charles is forced to call a new Parliament ("Long Parliament") and make concessions from 1640-1648, 1653-1660 Long Parliament 1648 the Long Parliament is disbanded by the New Model Army (made up of Roundheads) 1649 execution of Charles I 1648-1653 the "Rump Parliament" rules, consisting of members of the House of Commons who stayed in place after the dissolution of the Long Parliament Third Civil War ends in 1651 when Charles II was exiled The Commonwealth (or Interregnum) & Charles Cromwell 1649-1660 variously the Commonwealth of England, Protectorate and English Republic also known as "the Interregnum" (between the period of kings) in 1649 after execution of Charles I, the Rump Parliament issued "An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth" from 1649-1653 the "Rump Parliament" took on legislative and executive powers a "Council of State" was set for executive functions House of Lords was abolished Oliver Cromwell = member of Parliament and a leader of the parliamentarian army the "New Model Army," was the first "professional army" (paid, full-time soldiers) and it wielded political power over Parliament Cromwell was a fervent Puritan believed he was acting on God's providence 1653-1659 the Protectorate period Cromwell took over as "Lord Protector" of the Commonwealth ruled along with the Protectorate Parliament until his death in 1659 Interregnum period religious environment: the legal requirement to attend Anglican mass was ended Puritan moral rule imposed with such things as shutting down theatres general tolerance for the Protestant sects ("Non-conformists") leading to a period of vigorous theological and political debate Catholics were persecuted, especially in Ireland Interregnum period political environment: more open to political discussion, however, the Commonwealth was marked by political dissention only Cromwell held it together, falling apart a year after his death in 1658 and his son's unsuccessful attempt to take over the execution of Charles I was unpopular and delegitimized the Rump Parliament after death of Cromwell, his son Richard Cromwell unsuccessfully attempted to replace him 1659 the Rump Parliament was briefly restored leading to the 1660 "Restoration" of Charles II English Civil War & the American colonies colonialists were divided in loyalties to Parliament or King Puritan colonies, especially Massachusetts, aligned with the Parliamentarians with the Parliamentarian victory, some Puritan colonialists returned to England the protestant "Rump Parliament" opposed colonies that remained loyal to the King Maryland & Virginia as well as Newfoundland (Canada) and Antigua, Barbados & Bermuda (Caribbean) in 1650 Parliament issued a ban on trade with those colonies called, "An Act for prohibiting Trade wit Barbadoes, Virginia, Bermuda adn Antego" it authorized privateers (pirates) to enforce the ban in 1651 Parliament issued the "Navigation Act" (see below for more) the Act centralized trade within the British empire under direct British control migration to colonies (English Civil War as "push" factor" on migration) with Parliamentarian victories, many Royal loyalists migrated to the Colonies in the American colonies, they settled mostly in the mid-Atlantic (Maryland and Virginia, especially) in Virginia these royalist migrants are known as "Virginia Cavaliers" (thus the name for the Virginia Tech sports teams) with the Restoration, a second wave of puritans migrated, mostly to Pennsylvania conflict in the colonies: Virginia (a "crown colony" as of 1634) and Maryland ("proprietary colony" but owned by the Catholic Calver family) were strongly allied with Royalists The "Plundering Time" or "Claiborne and Ingle's Rebellion" = Protestant invasion of Kent Island and St. Mary's City in Maryland, 1644-46 two years of raiding and turmoil Maryland governor, Cecilius Calvert (2nd Lord Baltimore), fled to Virginia Lord Baltimore regained power 1646 during the Commonwealth, Parliament appointed protestant commissioners who opposed Lord Baltimore the commissioners essentially ran the state from 1654-1658 under protestant rule, Maryland repealed the 1649 Maryland Toleration Act (which had provided for religious tolerance) in 1652, Virginia Governor William Berkeley, a royalist, surrendered to Commonwealth representatives who installed protestant "Richard Bennett as Governor of Virginia the House of Burgess elected him, but he acted under authority of the Commonwealth Bennett help to enforce Protestant rule in Maryland "Battle of the Severn" in 1655 near Annapolis, MD, called "the last battle of the English Civil War" (see Battle of the Severn (wikipedia) a protestant settlement at Horn Point on the Severn River skirmished with Lord Baltimore's forces in 1657, former Virginia Governor Bennett singed a treaty with Lord Baltimore (Cecilius Calvert), ceding control of Maryland back to him an amnesty was declared Parliamentarian rule punished Virginia and Maryland and effectively shut down Chesapeake trade under Governor Bennett the Protestant rulers opposed plantation owners and, following Puritan theology, opposed slavery (but did nothing to stop it) following Bennett's departure (back to England) in 1655, control of Virginia was still held by Parliamentarians, but they exercised more independence from the Commonwealth and tolerance towards Virginia and Maryland royalists in 1660, with the Restoration of the King, control of Virginia fell back into the hands of Royalists and large plantation owners Berkeley became Governor again as a reward for its loyalty, King Charles II gave Virginia the title "Old Dominion" See: History of Religion in the United States (wikipedia) Significance of English Civil War & Legacy on American Colonies Parliament's victory ensured the English "constitutional" monarchy over the French form of absolute monarchy i.e., Parliament would exercise significant powers over British governance and policies known as "Whiggism" or "Whig philosophy" of parliamentarian rule influence on Colonists: parliament as central to government taxation only with consent of the governed dislike of a "standing army" nevertheless, while Parliament reinforced is powers and its status as representative of the people, the English people generally disliked the execution of Charles I, as he was king and head of the Anglican Church, making the act of "regicide" not just a political but a religious heresy Charles II was extremely popular at the beginning and in the early stages of his reign reinstatement of the king meant that Britain and its colonies would remain under a strong executive the idea of a strong executive would influence the American constitution England remained dominantly protestant anti-Catholicism would remain strong among British protestants both at home and in the colonies American colonial anti-Catholicism drove colonial identity and served as a catalyst for American Revolution following British take-over of French-Canadian Catholic provinces in Canada just as British rule of Catholic Ireland created religious tensions & resentments, eventual British colonial rule of Catholic Quebec, Canada, created religious tensions and resentments in the 13 American colonies Glorious Revolution & English Bill or Rights & Tolerance Act 1688-1689 "Glorious Revolution" after the restoration of Charles II and his death, James II attempted to impose authoritarian rule as had Charles I James II was Catholic he was deposed in 1688 (and tried to raise an army to take over England but failed) the Dutch prince, William of Orange, invaded and took the crown as co-regent with Mary II, daughter of James II Mary was an Anglican and not a Catholic as was her father Parliament passed: the Tolerance Act of 1688 affirmed religious rights to non-conformist protestants English Bill of Rights of 1689 clarified royal succession & protected certain rights of citizens

British exploration and early settlements in North America

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1497 Cabot expedition to explore coast of North America 1585 Roanoke colony fails; knowns as the "Lost Colony" 1578 "Frobisher expedition" to find the Northwest Passage (route to Asia over Canada) failed but spurred British interest in North America 1607-11 Henry Hudson explorations of Canada in search of Northwest Passage 1607 Jamestown settlement 1614 Tobacco 1st shipped to England 1620 Mayflower sails 1624 Virginia becomes a Royal colony & the Headright system started 1634 Maryland founded by Catholic George Calvert	early British expeditions not successful because goals were to find gold & a route to Asia 1609 Jamestown settlement was designed to find wealth and a route to Asia Massachusetts Bay Colony established for religious and not strictly commercial purposes British internal politics and strife led to absence of direct rule over the early colonies After English Civil War, British government sought more direct control over the colonies Failure of the 1686 "Dominion of England" meant that northeastern colonies remained mostly self-governing until 1763 Concept of "Salutary Neglect"	BIG IDEAS during 1500s Britain sponsors several exploratory expeditions to the Americas the goal is to find gold and a passage to Asia settlements attempted without success in 1500s early 1600s, successful settlements in Chesapeake region & Massachusetts Headright system used to encourage migration to colonies British competition with Dutch British seize Dutch colonies in central Atlantic DETAILS Early British explorations of North America British interest & plans after news of Columbus’ expeditions, the British organized an exploration headed by John Cabot Cabot was an Italian navigator from Venice (a maritime empire at the time) Cabot's name was Giovanni Caboto he became the 1st European to visit to coastal North America since the Vikings it is possible that Columbus had, prior to his 1492 expedition, visited Iceland, Greenland or, possibly, Canada in 1477 Columbus is thought to have visited Bristol, England, which maintained trade with Iceland Cabot sailed from Bristol, so he used the knowledge of Bristol mariners Cabot’s explorations laid the basis for subsequent British and French competition for control of modern Canada, especially Newfoundland, Quebec and the Great Lakes regions. 1497 Cabot expedition Henry VII sent Cabot to explore North American coast and find gold or other riches and to by-pass the Americas and find a western route to Asia his 1st expedition was unsuccessful the 2nd reached "Newfoundland", the easternmost point of modern Canada he may also have encountered Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and/or Maine a third expedition was organized in 1498 it was unsuccessful, and Cabot may have been lost at sea 1508-1509 Sebastian Cabot's expedition John Cabot's son he explored the North American coast from the Hudson Strait (and possibly the Hudson Bay itself) to the Chesapeake Bay Henry VIII became king in 1509 and had no interest in further explorations of North America 1607-11 Henry Hudson seeks the Northwest Passage Hudson explored the Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware Bay, the Hudson River, Nova Scotia and the Hudson Bay Hudson made land claims and traded with Native Americans (fur) after spending the winter of 1611 at James Bay (southern part of Hudson Bay), Hudson's crew mutinied and sent him, his son, and a few crewmen into the Bay in a small boat, where after they disappeared Hudson's primary accomplishments were British claims on land development of fur trade competition with the Dutch for North American lands and fur trade British governance of early colonies only "Royal colonies" (such as Virginia) were directly governed by the British otherwise, up until 1763, Britain largely ruled the colonies indirectly events leading up to and after the English Civil War occupied British attentions outside of the colonies English Civil War Glorious Revolution Restoration the primary method of governance was through charters, grants and trade regulations King James II's 1686 attempt to impose more direct rule of the colonies by revoking existing charters of most northeastern colonies into the "Dominion of New England" failed (see below) many large landowners of Chesapeake and southern colonies stayed in England = "absentee landowners" = those colonies were more directly ruled by British than other colonies in which the landowners were dominantly local Royal charters & mercantilism colonial reorganization in order to control the colonial possessions, the British government/ King created or reorganized colonial charters Plymouth colony, for example, never received a Royal charter and thus lacked legal standing after dissolution of the Dominion of New England in 1689 and the Massachusetts Bay Colony's charter was revoked by James II the British "Lords of Trade" incorporated them in 1691 into Province of Massachusetts Bay along with coast islands and most of modern Maine (but without New Hampshire) Dominion of New England in response to colonial resistance of the Navigation Acts, as well as in order to more directly rule the region in 1686 King James II reorganized various New England and Mid-Atlantic colonial entities into the Dominion of New England the proprietary colonies of Delaware and Pennsylvania were excepted especially targeted was the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Boston merchants for resisting the Navigation Acts colonial resistance: resented the revocation of their charters and feared that the English King was trying to impose the Church of England the 1689 Boston revolt and Leisler Rebellion (in New York) resisted Dominion rule the Dominion was dismantled in 1689 and new charters were granted after the Glorious Revolution under William & Mary mercantilism European political and economic policy of forcing colonial possessions to trade directly with the home country and not others Navigation Act of 1651 enacted under the Commonwealth (Parliamentarian control of England under Oliver Cromwell) required that all trade to/from colonies had to be conducted on English ships designed to force American colonists to trade directly with England targeted at colonial trade with the Dutch, which the English wanted to halt the Act contributed to the Anglo-Dutch war of 1652-54 (impacted colonial trade but no battles in North America) Navigation Acts, 1660- 1673 (various) with the Restoration of Charles II, the Navigation Act of 1651 was nullified however, the new government wanted to maintain similar control over trade so issued the Navigation Act of 1660 it strengthened the terms of the Act of 1651 the Acts targeted specific goods that were to be transported only on English ships including: sugar, tobacco, fabric, indigo (dye), ginger required that ships trading with American colonies must first stop at British ports for inspection and taxes required annual reports on trade from colonial Governors by the late 17th century Navigation Acts were largely unenforced in the American colonies the Navigation Act of 1696 was issued to strengthen enforcement of the Navigation Acts Salutary neglect "salutary" = "producing good effects," usually as result of something unwanted lax British control of the colonies up until 1763 (after the French-Indian War) Britain governed through granting or reorganization of land and colonial charters, taxes on imports into England and occasional enforcement of "Navigation Acts" British fiscal policy 1721 followed the idea of "salutary neglect": Robert Walpole, British Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in 1721: sought to increase taxes on colonies by reducing them, which would allow for greater economic activity Walpole wrote: " “if no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish” which would lead to an increase in trade with the colonials, and, thus, higher tax receipts on duties on that trade the term "salutary neglect" was coined in 1775 by Edmund Burke, a pro-colonial Irish-British politician click EXPAND for excerpt from Burke's speech to Parliament in 1775: “That I know that the colonies in general owe little or nothing to any care of ours, and that they are not squeezed into this happy form by the constraints of watchful and suspicious government, but that, through a wise and salutary neglect, a generous nature has been suffered to take her own way to perfection; when I reflect upon these effects, when I see how profitable they have been to us, I feel all the pride of power sink, and all presumption in the wisdom of human contrivances melt, and die away within me.” see What Was the British Policy of Salutary Neglect? (historyofmassachusetts.org)

Timeline of migration in British-American colonies

Timeline of Colonial Migration

Period	Pattern/ Type	Notes
1609-1620s	Initial settlement	Virginia & Plymouth colonies
1630-1642		- 16,000 migrants arrive to Massachusetts Bay colony - inland migration as settlers expand across New England
1634	Catholic migrants to Maryland	about 200 settlers, mostly Catholic settled in Maryland--
1635-38	inland migration to Connecticut and Rhode Island	- Roger Williams creates Rhode Island (1636) - Ann Hutchinson & associates move to Rhode Island (1638)
1665	colonial population estimates:	- total population estimated at 75,000
1680-1776	Scottish-Irish, German migrants	- push cause: British wars/ occupation of Scotland & Ireland - settlement to Piedmont region (Eastern slope of Appalachians) - Chesapeake and Atlantic coast settlement in "tidewaters" of Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas
1683	arrival of the Concord	- considered the "German Mayflower" - had 33 German Mennonites on board; landed near Philadelphia
1681	WIlliam Penn granted land by Charles II	- names it Pennsylvania - Quaker refuge - settlers include Germans
early 1700s	Mennonite settlements in Pennsylvania	mostly Swiss and German religious dissenters
1700	colonial population estimates:	- 275,000 in all colonies - 7,000 in Boston - 5,000 in New York City
1718	French establish New Orleans	receives migration from Canada and France
1725	black slave population	- starting w/ first importation of African slaves in 1619 (about 20) to Jamestown - by 1725 black slave population estimated at 75,000
1760	colonial population estimate:	- total population est. at 1,600,000 - estimated 350,000 white migrants were indentured servants
1790	loyalist emigration from American colonies	the 1790 census showed emigration of - 46,000 went to Canada - 10,000 who returned to England - 6,000 who went to the Caribbean (including Bahamas)
Sources: British Colonial America Migration Timeline 1607 to 1783 (National Institute) • FamilySearch

U.S. historical populations (from wikipedia)

Country	Immigrants before 1790	Population 1790
Africa	360,000	757,000
England*	230,000	2,100,000
Ulster Scots-Irish*	135,000	300,000
Germany	103,000	270,000
Scotland	48,500	150,000
Ireland*	8,000	(Incl. in Scot-Irish)
Netherlands	6,000	100,000
Wales*	4,000	10,000
France	3,000	15,000
Jewish	1,000	2,000
Sweden	1,000	6,000
Other	50,000	200,000
British total	425,500	2,560,000
Total	950,000	3,900,000

Early British North American colonization

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1583: English claim Newfoundland 1585: first English settlement at Roanoke, VA 1587: "Lost colony" of Roanoke (abandoned by 1590) 1603: King James I crowned 1606 First Charter of Virginia 1607 Jamestown settlement 1608 Separatist group moves to Holland 1618 Great Charter (established VA self-governance) 1620 Mayflower Company/ Plymouth settled by Pilgrims 1622 Jamestown Massacre 1624: Virginia Company abolished; royal Colony 1639: Fundamental Orders of Connecticut 1642: House of Burgesses 1651 British Navigation Act 1676 Bacon's Rebellion 1681, William Penn granted charter for Pennsylvania 1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials 1721 British policy of "Salutary Neglect"	British colonial population growth 1530-1680: 200,000 immigrants arrived to the colonies Migration Push / Pull factors conditions that "pushed" British emigration conditions that "pulled" colonial immigration Push/Pull factors for British settlement in North America Push factors Pull factors population growth in England land use focus in England went from rents (collecting rent) to sheep herding for wool, which displaced tenants religious & political persecution English Civil War primogeniture (1st born inherits), so 2nd+ sons seeking opportunity political advantage corporate organization (formal structures for exploration & migration) criminality economic opportunity adventurism religious freedom political opportunity economic opportunity "new start" demand for labor slavery Joint Stock Company shared ownership for commercial venture; used by England for 1st colonies Virginia Company: to establish colonies & find gold (didn’t) Headright System land grant for brining laborers to colonies Indentured servants House of Burgesses legislature, governing body of VA colony Separatists (religious) wanted autonomous congregations “separate” from Church of England Puritans: anti-papal/ anti-Catholic, wanted to “purify” English Churches Pilgrims: separatists group sailed to Plymouth from Holland Mayflower Compact: Pilgrim contract for self-rule William Bradford: became Plymouth Colony governor; wrote book “On “Plymouth Plantation” John Winthrop & "city upon a hill" “A Model of Christian Charity”: Winthrop sermon declaring Christian mission of the colony	BIG IDEAS Corporate structure & charters of British colonial enterprises British settlements & interactions/ conflicts with Native Americans Religious movements & motivations Concept of self-governance expressed/ experienced: House of Burgessses John Winthrop Fundamental Orders of Connecticut DETAILS British colonial population growth & demographics 1625: 2,000 1775: 2.4 million from 1530-1680 200,000 immigrants arrived to the colonies of approx 500,000 European migrants to the American colonies before 1775, approx: 55,000 were prisoners 215,000 came as indentured servants 75% of those were under the age of 25 most of the indentured children were related to the sponsor demographic impact increasing diversity of migrants from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany diverse origins, religions, and motives headright system & indentured servitude led to diverse economic class African slavery 1630-1770s, 1/2 to 2/3rds of European migrants to the American colonies came as indentured servants see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servitude#North_America https://web.viu.ca/davies/H320/population.colonies.htm Early British settlements of North America 1583 St. Johns, Newfoundland colony 1585 Roanoke colony ("Lost Colony") original 112-121 colonists died, dispersed or were killed by Indians had poor relationship with local tribes a rescue expedition in 1590 found the settlement abandoned 1607 Jamestown colony established relations with local Algonquin tribes by 1617 only 351 out of the original 1700 English had survived 1617-1620 population grew to 1240 in response to tobacco farming relations with Indians deteriorated Joint-stock company = artificial entity to limit liability and distribute profits/losses across multiple ownership via “stocks” or portions of the enterprise originated in order to distribute risk in dangerous/ uncertain ventures such as trans-oceanic trade or colonial enterprise generally require legal authorization, esp. from monarchs in early modern Europe Virginia Company of London aka the "London Company" or the "Virginia Company," 1607-1624 1624: abolished and Virginia became “crown colony” Chartered by James I, actually a series of companies and colonial activities goal = establish English settlements on N.A. east cost also = find gold (didn’t), but did learn tobacco from Indians, John Rolfe (married Pocahontas) cultivated new strains for European market self-governed enterprise = possible source of democratic impulse among colonials Jamestown, 1607 in 1606 three ships sailed for North America, landing at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in 1607 105 men and boys made it to Jamestown (1 died on the voyage) purpose was to exploit resources of the "New World" also with hopes to to discover a passage to Asia settlement named for King James I selected "Jamestown Island" the site because the Native Americans had abandoned it the land was swampy and not suitable for farming 1st settlements nearly failed, resupplied in 1608 upon landing the voyage's Chaplain declared, We do hereby dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains. May all who see this Cross, remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this Covenant and in this most noble work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. the settlement was attacked by Indians within the first two weeks led by John Smith, the English built a fort and engaged in trade with the Indians only 40% of the English settlers survived the winter of 1607-08 had to trade for food from the Indians some of the settlers were aristocrats who refused manual labor in 1608 Smith declared, "He who does not work, will not eat" Anglo-Powhatan wars English became enmeshed in Indian tribal warfare 1610: English attacked tribes, took hostages, 1612 tribal leader Powhatan arranged peace, married daughter to Rolfe Powhatan’s successor took anti-English position, led attacks Jamestown Massacre, 1622, Indians murdered colonials peace agreements by 1627-32, but English expansion westward continued, led to war in 1644, finally Treat of 1646 turned tribes into English subjects, Virginia Colony expansion Virginia "tobacco economy" while tobacco was grown by Native Americans, John Rolfe planted tobacco seeds from Trinidad in Virginia which were sweeter than the local variety 1614 fist tobacco shipment to England European markets demanded more tobacco spurred colonial growth and migration headright system enacted to bring more labor to the colony headright system = land grant for settlers who paid for transport of indentured servants to the colonies 1619 Virginia set the value of "high quality" tobacco at 3 shillings 1642 tobacco became "legal tender" (official currency/money) goods, services and taxes could be paid with tobacco 1727 Virginia created "tobacco notes" or "tobacco receipts" = official certificates or "receipts" representing a certain amount of tobacco stored in a government warehouse instead of exchanging actual tobacco, these "receipts" were used like paper money see https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/tobacco-money Tobacco As Money (Encyclopedia.com)] Early American Colonists Had a Cash Problem. Here's How They Solved It (Time.com) use of tobacco as currency led to great expansion of tobacco planting and overall economy but also led to inflation of value of goods in tobacco (more tobacco needed to pay for goods) the colony attempted to limit tobacco production in order to keep prices down farms were burnt quality of tobacco went down as farmers sought to produce more quantities Headright System/Headrights = grant of land to colonial settlers first employed w/ VA colony, then Plymouth and others the “great charter” 1816 established headright system purpose was to populate, invest and procure labor land grants up to 1000 acres prior to departure in exchange for sending labor, usually indentured servants offered land in the colonies in exchange for paying passage for someone to migrate those people became "indentured servants" = "served" their sponsor without pay for a certain period of time (typically 3 years) 1 headright = 50 acres sponsors living in the colonies received 2 headrights per passage (paying for 1 person to sail to colonies) immigrants who paid for their own passage received 1 headright immigrants who paid for another person's passage received 1 headright per passage passage typically cost 6 pounds per person this system incentivized passage of families as a single household (multiple headrights to one family) headright system was mostly used in central Atlantic colonies system was used must less in New England Colony of Maryland 1634 Maryland founded by Catholic George Calvert, Lord Baltimore; granted by English King Charles I = the first proprietary colony = owned and governed by an individual >> notes: Mayflower Compact Rhode Island & religious freedom * 1636 Rhode Island passed acts to prohibit religious persecution of "non-Trinitarians" ** "Trinitarian" refers to believers of the "Holy Trinity", which is a core Catholic belief ** Rhode Island is considered the first government to separate "Church and State" * 1649 Maryland passed the Maryland Toleration Act to enforce religious tolerance for Catholics ("Trinitarians") ** the Rhode Island and Maryland laws explicitly protected only Christians *** after the English Restoration, Rhode Island welcomed Quakers, Jews and others seeking religious liberty Rhode Island was started by Puritan Roger Williams who was exiled from Massachusetts Williams named Rhode Island "Providence Plantation" and established religious tolerance Quakers = "Religious Society of Friends" Puritans who were considered extremists for their belief that the "Light of Christ" resided in every person in 1681, the Quaker William Penn traded a debt owed to his father by King Charles II for the province of Pennsylvania by 1685, 8,000 Quakers had moved to Pennsylvania Penn encouraged protestant German immigrants, including Lutherans, Mennonites, Amish, and other sects many of these groups settled on farm land, thus "Pennsylvania Dutch country" Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639 Ii 1636, disaffected Massachusetts Puritans settled in Connecticut River valley 1638 Roger Ludlow petitioned Governor Winthrop for authority for those settlements to “united ourselves to walk and lie peaceably and lovingly together” 1639 Connecticut established as separate colony Fundamental Orders document declared protection of certain rights of individuals, limits on the government and the secret ballot for election of magistrates = considered first written constitution in English tradition and important step towards “self-goverance” thus the modern “Constitution State” state motto House of Burgesses, 1642-1776 local assembly/ legislature for Virginia colony, bicameral replaced the “Council of State” which operated under the Great Charter gained power over governors over time, representation expanded w/ colony tension w/ British government Separatists, 16th-17th centuries Protestants who wanted independent churches from Church of England initially illegal and persecuted but gained power under Oliver Cromwell, a separatist (1649-1660) wanted congregations to be self-determinant (i.e., anti-centralized church, = democratic spirit) 1608 separatist group fled to Holland (under James I of England who was persecuting them) 1620, off-shoot group, Pilgrims sailed to Plymouth, MA from Holland where they had lived apporx 10 yrs to escape persecution in England; wanted religious freedom but didn’t want to become Dutch Puritans wanted to “purify” Church of England from Catholic remnants strongly anti-papist (“popery”) want total separation from Catholic church most stayed with Church of England (see separatists and pilgrims) established Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1630 w/ Pilgrim separatists Mayflower Compact signed on the ship, Nov. 11, 1620 just off Cape Cod destination was Virginia Colony, but the ship landed at Cape Cod, and stayed there used that as excuse to declare self-governance maintained allegiance to England & James I text: “IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We… Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience …” = declaration of self-governance/ democracy William Bradford, 1590-1657 of Plymouth Plantation Separatist, Pilgrim, 2nd & on/off governor of Plymouth Colony starting 1635 inherited farm & wealth interested in philosophy & religion, was persecuted as separatist in 1607 left for Holland to escape, started a business, married into a wealthy English family became ill during 1st winter at Plymouth (others died) as governor negotiated w/ local Indians (Massasoit of the Pokanokets), created alliance w/ Pokanokets wrote “on Plymouth plantation” = important historical record click EXPAAND for Bradford's account of the cicada outbreak of 1633: "It is to be observed that, the spring before this sickness, there was a numerous company of Flies which were like for bigness unto wasps or Bumble-Bees; they came out of little holes in the ground, and did eat up the green things, and made such a constant yelling noise as made the woods ring of them, and ready to deafen the hearers; they were not any seen or heard by the English in this country before this time; but the Indians told them that sickness would follow, and so it did, very hot, in the months of June, July, and August of that summer." John Winthrop, 1587-1649 Pilgrim, arrived 1630, settled in area of Boston today leader of Mass Bay Colony encouraged common effort (not relying on servants for labor) helped shape legal system, opposed magistrate (officials in the “General Court” which served as the government) powers as arbitrary, called for laws to shape policies opposed pure democracy but supported rights of members of community, especially in church / congregation affairs did not support offshoot religious views, including Ann Hutchinson and other new arrivals (1630s), who were banished “antinomians” argued against following strict religious law and for salvation through grace famed for vision of colony as “city upon a hill” , saw the movement as a modern biblical exodus and example for the world “the eyes of all people are upon us” "A Model of Christian Charity" started as a diary of voyage to America and life in the colony, important primary source document later expanded on his philosophy and religious/ political outlook from it, “Model” was a sermon to define Christian community “City upon a Hill” from this speech saw puritan society as a model state saw religious rules as essential, called them “Justice and Mercy” and should apply to all, rich and poor historians see “City upon a Hill” as a statement of “American exceptionalism”

Southern colonial economies & demographics

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1660–1677 Governor Sr. William Berkely in office 1660s settlers encroach upon Indian lands along "Northern Neck" land between Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers 1666 colonists declare war upon Native Americans in Northern Neck region 1675-76 Bacon's Rebellion 1680s significant growth in slavery 1730s rice economy	cash crops plantation economy coastal elites Governor Berkeley backcountry farmers yeoman farmers Bacon's Rebellion slavery >> to do known as the "Second Atlantic system" was focused on Caribbean destinations slave trade grew in American colonies in 1670s, especially in Carolina and Georgia colonies coincided with Indian slavery in Carolinas and Georgia between 1670 and 1715 an estimated 24,000-51,000 Native Americans were shipped to Caribbean sugar plantations from South Carolina	BIG IDEAS plantation economy social/ economic stratification frontier settlements & conflict with Native Americans Bacon's Rebellion expansion of slavery by early 1700s VA & MD planters switch from indentured servants to slaves DETAILS cash crops: tobacco in NC, VA and MD rice/ indigo in SC plantation economy increasing use of slaves demographics stratification of southern society Southern gentry large estates gentry lifestyle, including hunting, horse racing, gambling, dancing coastal or Tidewater elites based on plantations and ports indentured servants and "backcountry" farmers: half of indentures servants died in colonies before earning freedom yoeman farmers owned their land, engaged in subsistence farming many former servants become tenent farmers (rent not land ownership) due to costs of land surveys, fees, farming equipment & animals, etc. general trend is towards small-farm ownership and westward expansion in search for new lands to farm rice economy 1730 Parliament removed rice from mercantalist restrictions, freeing sale directly to other nations rice economy rose/fell with wars when price was high benefited freeholders and not large plantations Bacon's rebellion background: Governor Sr. William Berkely controlled House of Burgesses via political patronage and favors among elites exempted himself and ruling "governor council" members from taxes restricted right to vote to property ownership (cut vote rolls by half) growing conflict with Native Americans over colonial encroachment on frontier lands 1675 war between Native Americans and frontier settlers coastal elites did not want war with Indians Nathaniel Bacon = wealthy landowner, buys frontier land, attacked by Indians member of the governor's council but sides with frontier farmers on war with Native Americans Bacon leads his own militia to fight Native Americans Gov Berkeley calls for new election but new legislators back Bacon and authorize militia known as "Bacon's Laws" also restores vote to all free men and removed Berkeley's tax exemptions Bacon still opposes Berkeley regime, with small army takes over capital at Jamestown and charges Berkeley with corruption Berkeley flees, raises his own army and battles Bacon's army Bacon escapes but dies while hiding in a swamp and his army disintegrate

Colonial slavery

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1619 first Africans colonial America 1638 Maryland legally recognizes slavery 1705 Virginia slave code enacted	subtitle	BIG IDEAS DETAILS 1619: first African slaves brought to British colonies by Dutch merchants British entry to slave trade via Royal African Company (1672) 1680s growth in central / south colonies slavery & slave culture growth in slavery in 1680s after Bacon's rebellion wealthy planters increased reliance on slaves instead of indentured servants expanding frontiers, especially in Pennsylvania, had diminished flow of indentured servants increase in transatlantic slave trade, including by British under the Royal African Company starting 1672 slave culture maintain oral traditions, songs mixture of African and colonial cultures for Colonial populations, including slaves and free blacks see: https://web.viu.ca/davies/H320/population.colonies.htm ESTIMATED POPULATION OF AMERICAN COLONIES (viu.ca)

New England colonial expansion

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
	subtitle	BIG IDEAS coastal economy townships frontier Indian Wars DETAILS coastal economy King George's War spurred adventurism and privateerism >> see Taylor on 1/4th of Boston freeman had ownership of a ship

central colonies

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
	subtitle	BIG IDEAS DETAILS PA land >> = decline in indentured servitude Quakers During King George's war European demand for food due to war and poor harvests increased demand for grain Chesapeake region conversion to diverse crops tobacco still largest export growth in central coast ports, especially Baltimore

Colonial wars

War Timeline	Colonial name	European name	Consequence
1675-1763	"French & Indian Wars" include: King Philip's War King William's War Queen Anne's War King George's War French-Indian War		BIG IDEAS the colonial "French & Indian Wars" were part of various European "dynastic wars" in French known as "Intercolonial wars" all of these wars were largely result of American colonial expansion, including: rising population frontier settlement, especially by small farmers' European political and religious dynamics deeply influenced British and French colonial interactions as well as among and between the British colonies
1675–1678	King Philip's War	n/a - independent of European conflicts or involvement	early Pilgrims & Wampanoag chief Massasoit maintained friendly relations upon his death, his son, Metacom, accused colonists of violating agreements (land use) led raids on Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut villages & settlements colonial militia responded considered the most deadly of all colonial wars half of colonial towns attacked and 12 destroyed 1/10 colonial males killed 100s of Wampanaogs executed or enslaved Wampoaaogs lands entirely lost to them impact upon New England identity war conducted without British involvement or support created distinct identify and sense of independence from Britain
1688–1697	King William's War	War of the Grand Alliance War of the League of Augsburg Nine Years' War	started due to New England expansion into Acadia, a region of New France France aligned Wabanaki Confederacy opposed colonialists and their allied Iroquois Confederacy wiki: The Iroquois dominated the economically important Great Lakes fur trade and had been in conflict with New France since 1680.[15]:43 At the urging of New England, the Iroquois interrupted the trade between New France and the western tribes. In retaliation, New France raided Seneca lands of western New York. In turn, New England supported the Iroquois in attacking New France, which they did by raiding Lachine. also konwn as Second Indian War resulted in no changes in British of French colonial territories Wabanaki Confederacy" held off colonial American attempts to expand into southern Main
1702–1713	Queen Anne's War	War of the Spanish Succession	War of Spanish Succession over death of Spanish King Charles II France and England wanted colonies to remain neutral existing colonial border tensions were enflamed by the European conflict included French, Spanish & British boundaries in Newfoundland & Hudson Bay Massachusetts & Maine Carolinas English colonial population 250,000 French & Spanish populations were negligible, relying mostly on Indian allies outcome: British take Acadia, Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, and Saint Kitts
1722–1725	Dumner's War	n/a - colonial war not part of European dynastic wars	series of conflicts between New England colonials and Wabanaki Confederacy William Dummer was governor of Massachusetts fought mostly in Maine and Nova Scotia source of conflict was ongoing British colonial settlements in Maine and (modern) Vermont the Wabanaki Confederacy had not been party to French and English settlement of Queen Anne's War and so did not adhere to the French-British agreement outcome was that New England colonials took over most of Acadia (Maine)
1739	War of Jenkin's Ear	n/a - colonial conflict not part of European dynastic wars	a Spanish commander sliced the ear of a British merchant captain the conflict was largely in the Caribbean British colonials from Georgia attacked the Spanish St. Augustine, FL in 1740 Spanish forces retaliated in 1742 with an attack upon the Georgia coast, which was repelled the conflict did not involve the French, but did morph into the larger European conflict in the War of the Austrian Succession
1744–1748	King George's War	War of the Austrian Succession	New England colonists organized invasion of Nova Scotia led to heavy losses of colonial forces, 8% of males were killed the war energized New England ship building industry adventurism / privateers & investments in expeditions on Spanish ships & possessions in Caribbean European demand for food due to war and poor harvests increased demand for grain & rice conclusion of the war changed no boundaries and did not settle tensions may be considered as contributor to French-Indian War of 1754
1754–1763	French-Indian War	Seven Years' War	to be discussed in subsequent timeline & concepts chart