Period 2: 1607-1754
This period covers the establishment and growth of European colonies in North America, focusing on the development of distinct regional cultures and economies.
Key events include:
- 1607: Establishment of Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America
- 1619: Arrival of the first African slaves in America and the establishment of the House of Burgesses
- 1620: Arrival of the Pilgrims in Plymouth and the signing of the Mayflower Compact
- 1630: Founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony
Definition: The House of Burgesses was the first elected legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia in 1619.
This period also saw significant conflicts and social developments:
- 1636: Pequot War
- 1675-76: King Philip's War
- 1676: Bacon's Rebellion
- 1680: Pueblo Revolt
Example: Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 was an armed uprising led by Nathaniel Bacon against the colonial government in Virginia, highlighting tensions between frontier settlers and the colonial elite.
The latter part of this period witnessed the expansion of British control and the beginnings of inter-colonial cooperation:
- 1686: Formation of the Dominion of New England
- 1733: Passage of the Molasses Act
- 1734: Beginning of the First Great Awakening
- 1754: Start of the Seven Years' War and the Albany Plan of Union
These events laid the groundwork for the growing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.









