1492 – Spanish expedition headed by Chrstopher Columbus

1565 - First permanent European settlement in North America - St Augustine, present-day Florida -
founded by the Spanish. North America is already inhabited by several distinct groups of people, who go
into decline following the arrival of settlers.

1607 - Jamestown, Virginia, founded by English settlers, who begin growing tobacco.

1620 - Plymouth Colony, near Cape Cod, is founded by the Pilgrim Fathers, whose example is followed
by other English Puritans in New England.

17th-18th centuries - Hundreds of thousands of Africans brought over and sold into slavery to work on
cotton and tobacco plantations.

1754 – 1763 - French and Indian War

The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War, the American phase of a worldwide nine years’
war fought between France and Great Britain. (The European phase was the Seven Years’ War.)

As a result of the war, France ceded all of its North American possessions east of the Mississippi River to
Britain.

The costs of the war contributed to the British government’s decision to impose new taxes on its
American colonies.

1763 - Britain gains control of territory up to the Mississippi river following victory over France in Seven
Years' War.

1765 – The English parlament passed the stamp act. Tax imposed on American colonies by the British in
1765. It covered printed materials (newspapers, magazines and legal documents). The materials had an
official stamp which meant that person paid the taxes.

05.03.1770 - Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre started when people were angry with the British Army having a place in their

City.

Soldiers killed 5 people and injured 6 (2 of them died eventually). 8 soldiers were arrested, 6 released
and 2 were charged with manslaughter.

The punishment was branding of the thumb (Theft,

Felon, Murder)

16.12.1773 - Boston Tea Party

In 1773, a group of conspirators from the "Sons of

Freedom" disguised as Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 boxes of
tea in water.
1774 - Colonists form First Continental Congress as Britain closes down Boston harbour and deploys
troops in Massachusetts.

1775 - American Revolution: George Washington leads Continental Army to fight against British rule.

1776 4 July - The Declaration of Independence was prepared by the Continental Committee of Five
Congress. It was led by the future third US President Thomas Jefferson. The committee included Roger
Sherman and Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Robert R.

Livingston.

21.09.1776 - Nathan Hale Executed. On September 21, 1776, having penetrated the

British lines on Long Island to obtain information, American Capt. Nathan Hale was captured by the

British.

23.09.1779 The war spread far beyond North America

1781 - Rebel states form loose confederation after defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown.

03.09.1783 Peaceful Agreement