25,000 B.C.E.

: Migration of Asians to the Americas across the Bering Straight begins 1492: Voyage of Columbus to the Americas 1519: Cortes enters Mexico 15201530: Smallpox epidemic devastates Native American populations in many parts of South and Central America, virtually wiping out some tribes 15341535: French adventurers explore the St. Lawrence River 15411542: Spanish explorers travel through southwestern United States 1607: The English settle in Jamestown 1619: Virginia establishes House of Burgesses (first colonial legislature) 1620: Plymouth colony founded 1629: Massachusetts Bay colony founded 1634: Maryland colony founded 1636: Roger Williams expelled from Massachusetts Bay colony and settles in Providence, Rhode Island; Connecticut founded by John Hooker 1642: City of Montreal founded by the French 1651: First of several Navigation Acts approved by British parliament 1676: Bacons Rebellion takes place in Virginia 1682: Dutch monopoly on slave trade ends, greatly reducing the price of slaves coming to the Americas 1686: Creation of Dominion of New England 1688: Glorious Revolution in England; James II removed from the throne 1689: Beginning of the War of the League of Augsburg 1692: Witchcraft trials take place in Salem, Massachusetts 1702: Beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession 1733: Enactment of the Molasses Act 1739: Stono slave rebellion in South Carolina 1740: George Whitefield tours the American colonies the high point of the Great Awakening 1754: Representatives of colonies meet at Albany Congress to coordinate further western settlement 1756: Beginning of Seven Years War 1763: Signing of Treaty of Paris ending Seven Years War 1764: Parliament approves Sugar Act, Currency Act 1765: Stamp Act approved by Parliament; Stamp Act Congress occurs and Sons of Liberty are formed, both in opposition to the Stamp Act 1766: Stamp Act repealed, but in Declaratory Act, Parliament affirms its right to tax the colonies 1767: Passage of the Townshend Acts 1770: Boston Massacre occurs 1773: Boston Tea Party takes place in December in opposition to the Tea Act 1774: Intolerable Acts adopted by Parliament. First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord. Meeting of Second Continental Congress 1776:Common Sense published by Thomas Paine. Declaration of Independence approved. Surrender of British forces of General Burgoyne at Saratoga 1777: State constitutions written in ten former colonies 17771778: Continental Army encamped for the winter at Valley Forge 1778: French begin to assist American war efforts 1781: Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown. Articles of Confederation ratified 1783: Signing of the Treaty of Paris 17861787: Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts 1787: Northwest Ordinance establishes regulations for settlement of territories west of the Appalachian Mountains