Early American Settlements and Figures

Early American Settlements and Figures

• 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 Colony in 1620.
• The Mayflower Compact was the first written agreement for self-government in America.
• Massachusetts established the first public schools in 1647 with the Ole' Deluder Satan Act.
• The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written constitution in America.
• The House of Burgesses was colonial Virginia's elected representative body.
• The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery brought settlers to Jamestown.
• Samoset was the first Indian to welcome the Pilgrims.
• Savannah was Georgia's first permanent settlement.
• Virginia was England's first royal colony.
• Charleston was South Carolina's first permanent settlement.
• Williamsburg became Virginia's capital in 1699.
• Maryland was established for English Catholics by Lord Baltimore.
• The Ark and the Dove brought settlers to Maryland for religious freedom.
• New Netherland was the name of the colony that became New York.
• Peter Stuyvesant was the Dutch governor of New Netherland who surrendered to the English.
• Swedes who settled in Delaware first built log cabins.
• The Society of Friends was known as the Quakers.
• William Penn established Philadelphia.
• Count von Zinzendorf led the Moravians, known for missionary work.
• Squanto assisted the Pilgrims.
• John Cabot claimed land in North America for England in 1497.
• David Brainerd was an early missionary.
• Lord De La Warr was Jamestown's first governor.
• Elder Brewster was the minister of the Plymouth colony.
• William Bradford was Plymouth's second governor and author of "Of Plymouth Plantation."
• Roger Williams founded a colony with complete religious freedom.
• Jonathan Edwards led the Great Awakening in Connecticut.
• George Whitefield was a prominent English evangelist.
• Phillis Wheatley was America's first published African American woman writer.
• Captain Miles Standish protected the Pilgrims.
• James Oglethorpe planned Georgia's first settlement.
• John Rolfe married Pocahontas.

Important Dates and Locations

• 1607: Jamestown founded
• 1620: Pilgrims established Plymouth
• 1647: Massachusetts establishes public schools
• 1699: Williamsburg becomes Virginia's capital

Key Figures in Early American History

• Roger Williams
• Jonathan Edwards
• George Whitefield
• Phillis Wheatley
• William Bradford
• William Penn
• John Rolfe
• Lord De La Warr
• Captain Miles Standish
• Elder Brewster
• James Oglethorpe
• Count von Zinzendorf,
• David Brainerd
• Samoset
• Squanto
• Peter Stuyvesant