Early American Settlements and Colonies

Early American Settlements and Colonies

• St. Augustine was the first permanent European settlement in the New World.
• Roanoke, founded by Sir Walter Raleigh, is known as "The Lost Colony."
• The English defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.
• Jamestown was founded in 1607.
• The Separatists initially moved to Holland for religious freedom.
• The Pilgrims established Plymouth in 1620.
• The Mayflower Compact was the first written agreement for self-government in America.
• The Ole' Deluder Satan Act (1647) established the first public schools in Massachusetts.
• The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written constitution in America.
• The House of Burgesses was Virginia's elected body of representatives.
• The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery brought settlers to Jamestown.
• Samoset was the first Native American to welcome the Pilgrims.
• Savannah was Georgia's first permanent settlement.
• Virginia was the first royal colony, owned by the King of England.
• Charleston was South Carolina's first permanent settlement.
• Williamsburg became Virginia's capital in 1699.
• Lord Baltimore established Maryland as a colony for English Catholics.
• The Ark and the Dove brought settlers to Maryland for religious freedom.
• New Netherland was the colony that became New York.
• Peter Stuyvesant was the Dutch governor of New Netherland, who surrendered to the English.
• Swedes in Delaware built the first log cabins.
• The Quakers were formally known as the Society of Friends.
• William Penn established Philadelphia.
• Count von Zinzendorf led the Moravian missionary group.
• Squanto helped the Pilgrims survive.
• John Cabot claimed part of North America for England in 1497.
• David Brainerd was an early missionary spurred by the Great Awakening.
• Lord De La Warr was the first governor of Jamestown.
• Elder Brewster was the minister of the Plymouth colony.
• William Bradford was the second governor of Plymouth and author of Of Plymouth Plantation.
• Roger Williams founded the first colony offering complete religious freedom.
• Jonathan Edwards was a Connecticut-born preacher and a leader of the Great Awakening.
• George Whitefield was an English evangelist who preached to large crowds in the colonies.
• Phillis Wheatley was America's first black woman writer to publish a book.
• Captain Miles Standish protected the Pilgrims.
• James Oglethorpe planned and directed the building of Georgia.
• John Rolfe married Pocahontas.

Key Figures and Events

• Colonial Leaders: William Penn, Roger Williams, Lord Baltimore, William Bradford, John Rolfe, James Oglethorpe, Peter Stuyvesant, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, David Brainerd.
• Early Religious Groups: Pilgrims, Quakers, Society of Friends, Moravians, English Catholics.