1607–1706 - Exploration & Settlement

Nathaniel Bacon was a Virginia plantation owner who led the first organized uprising against English officials in the colonies — Bacon’s Rebellion.

On July 30, 1676, Nathaniel Bacon issued his “Declaration of the People of Virginia” and attacked Governor William Berkeley and his political allies.

Bacon’s Rebellion was the first armed uprising by colonists against English government officials in the British colonies in North America. It took place from 1676 to 1677 and led to a significant increase in the number of enslaved African-Americans in Virginia.

In the summer of 1676, during Bacon's Rebellion, Nathaniel Bacon issued his “Manifesto Concerning the Present Troubles in Virginia,” which defended the actions he had taken against the Indians and Governor William Berkeley.

In the summer of 1676, during Bacon's Rebellion, Nathaniel Bacon required his men to agree to this Oath of Fidelity. Later, he forced political enemies to do the same.

In May 1676, during Bacon's Rebellion, Governor William Berkeley issued his “Declaration and Remonstrance” which defended his actions and condemned Nathanial Bacon for attacking Native American Indians without his permission.

On October 27, 1675, King Charles II issues a Proclamation to suppress Bacon's Rebellion.

The Beaver Wars were a series of battles that were fought over control of the fur trade in colonial America. During the wars, the Iroquois Confederation took control of the fur trade, eliminated rival Native American Indian tribes, and terrorized French settlements. The French and their Indian allies responded with attacks on Iroquois villages and English settlements. The conflict lasted for nearly a century and ended with the Peace of Montreal in 1701.

The Charter of Massachusetts Bay (1629) set up the government and extent of authority for the New England Company, which later become known as the Massachusetts Bay Company. In 1630, the Massachusetts Bay Company founded the city of Boston.

This Guide to the British Colonies in North America provides essential facts about each colony, along with links to content on American History Central.

Connecticut Colony was one of the 13 Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. The colony started in 1636 and developed the first written constitution in America, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.

Facts about the history, geography, and people of Colonial Connecticut, which was one of the 13 Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. Connecticut started in 1636 and developed the first written constitution in America, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.

The Dominion of New England was created in 1686 to bring several colonies under the more direct control of the English Crown.

In 1611, John Robinson and a small group of Separatists purchased land in Leiden, at and around this location. Robinson's home was located on this spot, and also served as the church for his congregation. When they purchased the property, it was known as Groenpoort — Green Gate — and then became known as Engelese Poort — English Alley.

When he died, Pilgrim Father John Robinson was buried at Pieterskerk — St. Peter's Church — in Leiden. It is just down the street from where he lived.

This historical marker at St. Peter's Church in Leiden pays tribute to John Robinson for his leadership of the Pilgrims while they lived in Leiden.

King Philip's War was a war between the English Colonies in New England and Native American Indian Tribes.

The Leiden American Pilgrim Museum tells the Pilgrim story using collections of furnishings and artworks in a house built in 1370 that recalled Pilgrim times.

Pilgrim Fathers and Leiden University One of the reasons the Pilgrims chose Leiden as their new home was the presence…

“Manifest Destiny” is the idea that Americans had a “God-given right” — a divine right — to expand across the continent, from the east coast to the west coast, from “sea to shining sea,” planting democracy, capitalism, and Christianity along the way.