Events – Founding the USA

Explore the turning points that transformed thirteen British colonies into the United States. Events are organized chronologically. Entries with existing articles link to our historical library; other milestones are included as subjects for future coverage.

Early Colonial America: 1607–1699

1607 — Founding of Jamestown: England establishes its first permanent settlement in North America.
1619 — First representative assembly in Virginia: The House of Burgesses meets at Jamestown.
1619 — First recorded arrival of captive Africans in English Virginia: A turning point in the history of slavery in colonial America.
1620 — Mayflower Compact and Plymouth Colony: Settlers establish a framework for self-government.
1630 — Massachusetts Bay Colony established: Puritan migration expands English settlement in New England.
1636 — Founding of Providence: Roger Williams establishes a settlement associated with religious liberty.
1676 — Bacon’s Rebellion: Armed rebellion exposes deep divisions in colonial Virginia.
1681 — Founding of Pennsylvania: William Penn receives a royal charter for the colony.
1692–1693 — Salem Witch Trials: Accusations of witchcraft lead to prosecutions and executions in colonial Massachusetts.

Colonial Expansion and Rising Tensions: 1700–1763

1730s–1740s — First Great Awakening: Religious revival movements reshape colonial communities.
1735 — John Peter Zenger trial: A landmark colonial case in the history of press freedom.
1754 — Albany Congress: Colonial delegates discuss collective defense and Benjamin Franklin’s plan of union.
1754–1763 — French and Indian War: The North American conflict transforms imperial relations and colonial finances.
1763 — Treaty of Paris: Britain gains major French territories in North America.

The Road to Independence: 1763–1776

1763 — Proclamation of 1763: British restrictions on western settlement heighten colonial tensions. Article planned.
1765 — Stamp Act and colonial protests: Taxation without colonial representation becomes a rallying issue. Article planned.
March 5, 1770 — Boston Massacre: British troops kill five colonists in Boston. Article planned.
December 16, 1773 — Boston Tea Party: Protesters destroy East India Company tea in Boston Harbor in opposition to British tea policy and parliamentary authority. Article planned.
1774 — Coercive (Intolerable) Acts: Parliament responds to the Boston Tea Party with punitive measures. Article planned.
September 5, 1774 — First Continental Congress convenes: Colonial delegates meet in Philadelphia to coordinate their response. Article planned.
April 19, 1775 — Lexington and Concord: Armed conflict begins in Massachusetts. See also the Battles section (forthcoming).
May 10, 1775 — Second Continental Congress convenes: Delegates begin directing a united colonial war effort. Article planned.
July 5, 1775 — Olive Branch Petition adopted: Congress makes a final appeal for reconciliation. Read the full petition.
August 1775 — Proclamation of Rebellion: George III declares the colonies in rebellion. Explore the king’s response to the Olive Branch Petition.
January 10, 1776 — Common Sense published: Thomas Paine’s pamphlet advances the case for independence. Literature section forthcoming.
July 2–4, 1776 — Independence: Congress votes for independence on July 2 and adopts the Declaration on July 4. Explore the Declaration in Documents.

War, Confederation, and the Constitution: 1777–1791

November 15, 1777 — Articles of Confederation adopted by Congress: The proposed framework for the union is sent to the states. Read the full text.
March 1, 1781 — Articles of Confederation take effect: The last state ratifies the Articles. See the linked Articles of Confederation material above.
October 19, 1781 — British surrender at Yorktown: A decisive allied victory effectively ends major fighting. Battle article planned.
September 3, 1783 — Treaty of Paris signed: Britain recognizes American independence. Article planned.
May 25–September 17, 1787 — Constitutional Convention: Delegates draft the Constitution in Philadelphia. Article planned.
June 21, 1788 — Constitution reaches the required nine state ratifications: The new federal framework is set to take effect. Article planned.
April 30, 1789 — George Washington inaugurated: The first president takes office under the Constitution. Article planned.
December 15, 1791 — Bill of Rights ratified: The first ten amendments become part of the Constitution. Article planned.

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