1607–1706 - Exploration & Settlement

The Siege of Brookfield took place in August 1675, during King Philip’s War. Following an ambush known as Wheeler’s Surprise, Nipmuc Warriors laid siege to the village of Brookfield for nearly four days but were forced to withdraw when Massachusetts Militia forces arrived.

The Canary Islands are a group of islands off the northwest coast of Africa that played an important role during the Age of Exploration. These islands were the first to be colonized by Europeans, and later became a stop for ships sailing to the New World.

Jacques Cartier was a 16th-century French explorer who made three voyages to the St. Lawrence region of North America for King Francis I. Although he failed to find the Northwest Passage or significant mineral wealth, Cartier explored and mapped the Gulf and St. Lawrence River region, helping set the stage for French colonial expansion in North America.

The Casa de Contratación, or House of Trade, was a Spanish government agency established in Seville to oversee and regulate all trade between Spain and its American colonies, manage taxation, supervise shipping, and ensure the Crown received its share of wealth from the New World.

Castile was the dominant Iberian kingdom to emerge during the Reconquista, becoming the political and economic center of Spain in the 15th and 16th Centuries. Shaped by a military and Catholic identity, Castile expanded into the Americas under Charles V and Philip II, gaining significant wealth and influence from New World trade.

Cathay was the name Europeans used to describe China from the 13th Century through the 17th Century. Marco Polo popularized the term, which he used in his account of his travels during the Yuan Dynasty. Cathay was the destination that European explorers hoped to reach when they landed in the Americas.

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.

Colonial Society and Culture is Unit 2, Topic 2.7 in the AP US History curriculum. It covers the social, political, and economic growth of the American Colonies, which was shaped by the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and consumer culture. By 1754, the Great Awakening helped establish a unique American culture, and the first plan to unite the colonies was presented at the Albany Congress.

British Colonies in North America and a guide to each of the 13 Original Colonies, including essential facts, dates, events, and people, plus links to content on American History Central.

APUSH Unit 1, Topic 1.4 covers Spanish Exploration and Conquest, and the Columbian Exchange.

The Company of Cathay was an English joint stock company created to find the Northwest Passage and a western route to Cathay (China). The company was led by Martin Frobisher and was chartered by Queen Elizabeth I.

Connecticut Colony was established in 1636 and developed the first written constitution in America, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. Connecticut was one of the 13 Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, creating the United States of America.

Facts about the culture, society, and nature of the Connecticut Colony, 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.

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was a Spanish explorer, Conquistador, and Governor of Nueva Galicia who led a major expedition across the American Southwest and Great Plains from 1540 to 1542 in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cíbola and the wealthy kingdom of Quivira. Although the expedition failed to find the riches it sought, it expanded Spanish knowledge of the region and led to conflict with Native American Indian groups.

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish explorer and Conquistador who led the Conquest of the Aztecs (1519–1521). With Spanish soldiers and Native allies, he captured Tenochtitlán, established Spanish control over much of Mexico, and helped create a model for later European expeditions in North and South America.

John Cotton was a Puritan religious leader in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who rose to prominence as the leader of the Boston Church, helping shape the colony’s social and political future. He played an important role in the Antinomian Controversy, which challenged the Puritan-led government. He defined Puritan civil, religious, and social systems in the New England Way (1645).

The Council of the Indies served as Spain’s main governing body for its American colonies.

Culpeper’s Rebellion was a short-lived revolt against taxation and oppressive government in the Albemarle Sound region of the Province of Carolina. The rebels controlled the colony for about two years before the government was restored to control of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.

APUSH Unit 1, Topic 1.6 covers cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africa due to the colonization of North America. Significant differences in land ownership, social structure, and religion contributed to misunderstandings and distrust that led to early conflicts.

The phrase “Dark and Bloody Ground” refers to the territory that became the states of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio, which was known for violent conflicts between Native American Indians and European settlers.